CRIZ BON APPETITE

Savoring The Best All Over Town…

For this Christmas 2019, Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang would be offering an extensive range of traditional delicacies under the helm of the new Executive Chef, Chef Alex Leong, who had more than 3 decades of culinary skills.

The Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner would be served from 7.00pm to 10.00pm on December 24, 2019, priced at RM128nett (adults), RM89nett (senior citizens aged above 60 years old) and RM64nett (children aged 6-12 years old). Everyone would get a party pack, a chance to meet the Santa Clause and enjoy the music from a live band.

There would be Christmas Day Buffet Lunch and Buffet Dinner too. The Christmas Day Buffet Lunch would be priced at RM88nett (adults), RM62nett (senior citizens aged above 60 years old) and RM44nett (children aged 6-12 years old), whereas the Christmas Day Buffet Dinner would be priced at RM118nett (adults), RM82nett (senior citizens aged above 60 years old) and RM59nett (children aged 6-12 years old). For more information and reservations, please contact +604-612 1111, email to info.pg@eastin.com or Whatsapp +6011-3108 9100 today. All prices are entitled to a 15% off bank promo (applicable to Citibank and Maybank Only) but is not applicable with any other discounts. Fret not if you do not own those credit cards as there’s also the special privileged 15% discount given to my readers for all buffets by quoting “XMAS CRIZLAI”.

The highlight of the promotions would be their Traditional Roasted Turkey with Classic Ingredients and Condiments. Do watch out for the Yorkshire Puddings and various unique stuffing, namely fruit, chestnut & bacon and bread. Other than that, some other dishes were quite unique too such as their Rock Salt Baked Crusted Whole Salmon, Cheese Yule Log with various bread sticks/profiterole, Braised Beef Ribs with Sweet Blueberry Chutney and Smoked Hickory BBQ Glaze, New Orleans Jambalaya, and more.

Here’s a peep at what is in store for you. Some of the items would include Appetizers (Buckwheat Blinis with Shrimp with Sour Cream, Seared Scallops with Lentils and Tomato and Herbs de Provence Dressing, Chilled Green Tea Noodles with condiments, Gimbap aka Korean Sushi), Cold Meat Platters (Lamb Rillettes, Chicken Liver Terrine), Salad Bar (lettuce, Romaine, mesclun, spinach, etc) with Dressings (sweet dill mustard, chili soy, wasabi mayonnaise, spicy chili spread, Gazpacho, raspberry-walnut, spa caesar, olive oil, herbs vinaigrette and balsamic vinegar, lemon and lime, Chipotle balsamic, Roast garlic and green chili, Lime cilantro, Caesar, Smoky thousand islands), Cold Fish Platters (Traditional Gravlax, Cured Salmon with Pineapple and Palm Syrup), Cheese and bread counter (Cheese Yule Log, Bread Sticks/Cheese Profiterole), Canapés (Vanilla-Scented Scallop Escabeche with Yuzu Chili Lime Aioli, Sweet Harissa Chili Prawn Cocktail with Avocado- Black Bean Salsa), Action Station (New Orleans Jambalaya, Bouillabaisse with Chilli Garlic Toast with Seafood Stew), Foie Gras Live Action Station (Pan Seared Foie Gras with Herb Brioche, Fig Chutney, Orange Marmalade, Christmas Burritos filled with Turkey Cha Siew, Avocado, Mango, Cucumber, Chipotle Cranberry Compote), Carving (Festive Roasted Turkey with Giblet Sauce, Cranberry Sauce plus 3 types of Bread stuffing), Festive Oven (Rock Salt Baked Crusted Whole Salmon, Roasted Roots Vegetables and Porcini Cream), Soup (Kim Chi Soup with Clams and Tofu with Freshly Baked Breads and Rolls), Main Western (Braised Beef Ribs with Sweet Blueberry Chutney and Smoked Hickory BBQ Glaze, Shoulder of Lamb, Peperonata Red Lentils and Black Pepper Jus, Poached Salmon with Asparagus & Mornay Sauce, Grilled Tiger Prawns with Ratatouille Vegetables and Salsa Verde, Duck Leg Confit, Flageolet Beans Au Orange, Buttered Chestnut Brussels Sprouts, Trio of Potato Gratin)

There would be more traditional Christmas Desserts this season with options such as Traditional Xmas Pudding, Mini Mince Pie, Assorted Xmas Cookies, Raspberry Yule Log, Mini Strawberry Cheese Cake, Walnut Cream Pie, Fresh Fruit Tart, English Fruit Cake, Mini White Chocolate Brownies, Tropical Fruits Bar and beverages such as Black Coffee and Tea.

You could also make a special order for one whole bird of turkey at RM338nett (2 days prior booking is required and available from 1-23 December 2019 only).

Other ongoing promotions until the end of the year 2019 are as shown below.

Thanks to the management of Eastin Hotel Penang for having us over for the wonderful gastronomy experiences.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you reach a roundabout. Drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor of the lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Eastin Hotel Penang: Eastin Hotel Penang is a contemporary International business class hotel. Strategically located within the integrated waterfront development of Queensbay, Eastin Penang is adjacent to Queensbay Mall. Its superb location is minutes’ drive away from the Penang International Airport and the iconic Penang Bridge as well as within the vicinity of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. It features 328 meticulously decorated guest rooms and suites, facing the shimmering blue sea and the verdant green hills of Pulau Jerejak, home to the tropical rainforest that is over 130 million years old. For more information, please visit www.eastin.com

 

Olive Tree Hotel, Penang, had again impressed the public for the third consecutive year, with the building as well as the surroundings transformed into a colorful Christmas Land (first week of December 2018 to 7 January 2019). With the theme “An Enchanted Christmas”, the premises had been brightly lighted up with wonderful props of Christmas feels and even a selfie corner within to create timeless memories for years to come.

Christmas is about spending time with family and friends and for the joyous and memorable festive season, Sukkah Coffee House @ Olive Tree Hotel, Penang, had set up two specially catered promotions on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day respectively. For reservation and enquiries, please contact at +604-637 7873 to make a prior booking to avoid any disappointment.

There would also be some and Christmas caroling by the Penang Cheshire Home and Glory Mission Church during specific dates as shown below.

For your Christmas Eve feast, celebrate the night with a Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner at Sukkah Coffee House. An array of buffet spreads of a salad bar, Japanese corner, compound salads, cheese platter, hot dishes, carving station, pasta station, Brazilian grilled and sweet delights will satisfy hearty appetites. The selections of tantalizing Christmas dishes are favorites like Roasted Whole Turkey with Raisin & Chestnut Stuffing, Roast Beef Wellington with Rendang Sauce, Seafood on Ice of Scallops, Prawns and Mussels, Pan-fried Salmon with Dill Sauce and many more. For the finishing experience, indulge in sweet delights like our Christmas Tiramisu Cake, Christmas Pudding with Vanilla Anglaise, Raspberry Crème Brulee, Crepes Suzette with Condiments and many more.

Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner
Date: 24 December 2018
Time: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Price: RM138+ (adult), RM69+ (child aged 5 – 12 years old)
Location: Sukkah Coffee House, Level 1
*Top up MYR30+ for a free flow of beer and wine. Diners enjoy 20% discount on adult pricing for bookings made and paid before 16 December 2018.

On Christmas Day, continue to share the joy of Christmas at Sukkah Coffee House. Combining the use of fresh ingredients with classic Christmas trimmings, one can expect something to suit every palate from our buffet brunch. Choose from an ensemble of appetizers, soup, a selection of cold cuts, or whet your appetite with your favorite cheese to celebrate this special day. Wide varieties of hot dishes include highlights such as Beef Stroganoffs with Mushroom and Parsley, Roasted Baby Potatoes with Herbs and Seasoning, Sambal Udang Bistari as well as the carving station of Roasted Lamb Leg with Condiments and Sauce. Have a sweet ending with Christmas desserts like Christmas Pudding, Mixed Fruit Cakes Loaf, Stollen and many more.

Christmas Day Buffet Brunch
Date: 25 December 2018
Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Price: RM95+ (adult), RM47+ (child aged 5-12 years old)
Location: Sukkah Coffee House, Level 1

Delicious items to look out for would be their Roasted Whole Turkey with Raisin & Chestnut Stuffing and Honey Glazed Turkey Square with Pineapples.

Here’s a peep at some of the items available during the promotions.

The Sukkah Coffee House @ Olive Tree Hotel Penang is located just opposite the Subterranean Penang International Conference & Exhibition Centre (SPICE – formerly known as PISA aka Penang International Sports Arena) along Jalan Mahsuri. If you are coming from Bukit Jambul via Jalan Tun Dr. Awang towards the Penang International Airport (PIA), turn left into Jalan Mahsuri at the traffic lights immediately after you have passed the SPICE. Keep right and drive up until the traffic lights and make a U-Turn. You can see the hotel on your left. Park your car and use the elevator or escalator to Level 2 and you can see the Sukkah Coffee House there.

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Name: SUKKAH COFFEE HOUSE @ OLIVE TREE HOTEL PENANG
Address: 76, Jalan Mahsuri, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-637 7856
Business Hours:
Breakfast: 6.00am-10.30am
Lunch (Monday to Friday): 12.00noon-2.30pm
Lunch (Saturday & Sunday): 12.00noon-3.00pm
Dinner: 6.30pm-11.00pm
GPS: 5.327101, 100.279070

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Olive Tree Hotel: Nestled along the industrial and corporate corridors of Penang, the Olive Tree Hotel is a Green Building Index (GBI) compliant hotel that boasts easy access to major landmarks and hosts a convenient and conducive environment for business and leisure travelers alike. A 25-storey statement of well profound architecture and hospitality with a choice of 228 rooms and 24 suites, guests can expect not only a functional space that is sure to give the utmost comfort but also a memorable experience. The Olive Tree Hotel Penang is also built to cater to meetings, conventions, banquets and weddings. It houses a Grand Ballroom with a mezzanine gallery that that can comfortably accommodate up to 720 people and 7 function rooms with various dimensions for various events.

 

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang would be serving their lavish spreads this coming Christmas Eve 2016 and you would get to enjoy the joyous occasion with your loved ones or friends over a wide spread of freshly pepped up mouth-watering dishes. The buffet dinner will be served from 6.30pm to 10.00pm on 24 December 2016, priced at RM178nett. Early Birds for first 80 persons get to enjoy 25% offer for full payment made before 15 December 2016. There would be 20% offer for Senior Citizen aged above 60 years old and children below 5 years old get to enjoy the buffet at no cost. The eve buffet dinner promotion is also included with party pack and a chance to meet the Santa Clause. For more information and reservations, contact Eastin Hotel Penang at +604-612 1111 or you can also email at info.pg@eastin.com / log in to the website www.eastin.com. All the prices above are not applicable with any other discounts including credit card discounts.

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Of course, the highlight of the night would be their Authentic Roasted Turkey with Classic Ingredients and Condiments. Do watch out for the Yorkshire Puddings which would be great with any meat items.

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Other than the turkey at the carving station, there would be another 8 categories of goodies such cold delicacies, cheese corner, soup, carving, seafood on ice, pastas, western delights, hot delicacies and desserts to make your day merrier.

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As for Desserts, you would expect to find many modern and traditional festive bakes and pastries such as Chocolate Truffle Cake, Classic Cheese Cake, Christmas Yule Log, Mousse Cake, Christmas Stollen, Assorted French Pastries, Floating Island with Almonds and Caramel, Fresh Fruits Soup with Whipped Cream, Display of Seasonal Fresh Fruits, House Pudding, Christmas Cookies, Eastin Bread Butter Pudding, Chocolate Fountain and more.

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Do check out the full menu for the Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner as shown below:

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You could also made a special order for one whole bird of turkey at RM368nett (3 days prior booking is required and available from 1-26 December 2016 only) or even order some Christmas cookies. Check out the posters below:

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The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

EASTINHOTELMAP

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Eastin Hotel Penang: Eastin Hotel Penang is a contemporary International business class hotel. Strategically located within the integrated waterfront development of Queensbay, Eastin Penang is adjacent to Queensbay Mall. Its superb location is minutes’ drive away from the Penang International Airport and the iconic Penang Bridge as well as in the vicinity of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. It features 328 meticulously decorated guest rooms and suites, facing the shimmering blue sea and the verdant green hills of Pulau Jerejak, home to tropical rainforest that is over 130 million years old. For more information, please visit www.eastin.com

 

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Have you tried the Olive’s Ramadhan Buffet at Sukkah Coffee House @ Olive Tree Hotel, Penang, during the holy month of breaking fast? The buffet has an array of appetizing yet authentic Malay and Middle Eastern dishes coupled with other international selections. The promotion would be from 6 June 2016 until 5 July 2016 from 6.30pm to 10.00pm. It’s priced at RM98+ (adult) and RM50+ (child), where diners could enjoy the delicious iftar dishes until their hearts’ contents. For reservation and enquiries, please contact Sukkah Coffee House at +604-637 7856 to make prior booking to avoid any disappointment.

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The Appetizers and Salads would include Individual Salad (Chicken Salad, Pasta Salad, Seafood Salad & Mushroom Salad), Gado-gado with Peanut Sauce, Ulam-ulaman with Sambal Belacan, Sambal Cincaluk, Sambal Mempelam, Sambal Udang Kering, Sambal Kelapa, Jelatah, Tau Kua, Acar Buah, Acar Rampai, Sambal Ikan Bilis, Ikan Masin, Telur Masin, Jeruk-jeruk, Keropok Lekor, Keropok Ikan, Keropok Udang, Papadum, Ketupat, Lemang with Serunding Ayam, Serunding Daging, Serunding Udang, Hummus, Babaganoush and Tabouleh.

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There would also be a section for Seafood on Ice which would consist of Shrimps, Snow Crab Legs and Fresh Oysters. For seafood lovers, these would be just some basics but it would still be enough to fill up your appetite.

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For Hot Dishes, you would expect to have dishes such as Sayur Campur, Kobis Goreng Kunyit, Ekor Lembu Masak Merah, Kambing Kerutuk Pantai Timur, Ayam Masak Madu, Burung Unta Goreng dengan Halia, Kari Kepala Ikan, Sotong Goreng, Udang Karang Berlada, Otak-Otak, Tandoori Wrap, Koay Teow Goreng, Nasi Hujan Panas and Nasi Puspa Wangi. For a change, it was great to have tried out their garlic stir fried ostrich meat (Burung Unta Goreng dengan Halia) which was indeed juicy and tender. The aromatic toasted and sambal fried dried cuttlefish (Sotong Goreng) was also another great dish to savor especially with fragrantly steamed rice.

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From the Action Stalls, some of the items would include Beef & Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Beef & Chicken Tandoori, Roti Prata with Dhal Curry, Murtabak with Pickled Onion, Pasembur with Condiments, Roasted Lamb, Sheesh Kebab (Mutton & Chicken), Sup Kambing, Koay Teow Soup with Condiments and Bubur Lambuk with Condiments. From my dining experiences savoring all the buffets amongst the hotels, Sukkah Coffee House indeed served the best Chicken Satay with big chunks of well marinated and juicy skews of grilled meat, just with the right flavors to my liking. Surprisingly, these delicious skews were skillet-grilled until perfection.

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For Desserts and Beverages, you would get items such as Ice Cream Potong, Crushed Ice & Tutti Fruiti with Condiments, Leng Chee Kang, Buah Kurma Madu, Local Seasonal Whole Fruits, Assorted Fruit Platter, Assorted French Pastries, Whole Cakes, Cream Caramel Pudding, Cream Brulee, Bubur Kacang, Linzer Torte, Durian Crepe, Fruit Pavlova, Local Kuih-Muih and beverages such as Air Bandung, Soya Milk with Cincau, Mata Kucing, Young Coconut, Teh Tarik and Kopi Tarik. We did try out their Apple Crumble and it was heavenly with just the right amount of added grounded cinnamon and sweetness to my personal liking. Moreover, the fresh pods made Vanilla Sauce had just the right creamily and consistency to boost up the flavors of the lovely dessert.

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Overall, the spreads for the Olive’s Ramadhan Buffet was up to its standard with some dishes outshone many other buffets out there. However, there are still rooms for improvements especially at the dessert section where the jellies were rather “plain” without much uniqueness to my personal liking. They could have come out with some crystal jellies, puddings, etc rather than having some large servings of konnyaku jellies.

More Ramadhan Mubarak Deal below:

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The Sukkah Coffee House @ Olive Tree Hotel Penang is located just opposite the Subterranean Penang International Conference & Exhibition Centre (SPICE – formerly known as PISA aka Penang International Sports Arena) along Jalan Mahsuri. If you are coming from Bukit Jambul via Jalan Tun Dr. Awang towards the Penang International Airport (PIA), turn left into Jalan Mahsuri at the traffic lights immediately after you have passed the SPICE. Keep right and drive up until the traffic lights and make a U-Turn. You can see the hotel on your left. Park your car and use the elevator or escalator to Level 2 and you can see the Sukkah Coffee House there.

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Name: SUKKAH COFFEE HOUSE @ OLIVE TREE HOTEL PENANG
Address: 76, Jalan Mahsuri, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-637 7856
Business Hours:
Breakfast: 6.00am-10.30am
Lunch (Monday to Friday): 12.00noon-2.30pm
Lunch (Saturday & Sunday): 12.00noon-3.00pm
Dinner: 6.30pm-11.00pm
GPS: 5.327101, 100.279070

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Olive Tree Hotel: Nestled along the industrial and corporate corridors of Penang, the Olive Tree Hotel is a Green Building Index (GBI) compliant hotel that boasts easy access to major landmarks and hosts a convenient and conducive environment for business and leisure travelers alike. A 25-storey statement of well profound architecture and hospitality with a choice of 228 rooms and 24 suites, guests can expect not only a functional space that is sure to give the utmost comfort, but also a memorable experience. The Olive Tree Hotel Penang is also built to cater to meetings, conventions, banquets and weddings. It houses a Grand Ballroom with a mezzanine gallery that that can comfortably accommodate up to 720 people and 7 function rooms with various dimensions for various events.

 

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang, would be having its Ramadhan Peninsula’s Delectable Buffet Dinner 2016 from 7 June until 5 July 2015 (7.00pm-10.00pm). Diners would get to experience various dishes from the different states of the peninsula. The price would be at RM110nett/pax (Adult/Senior Citizens 60 years old and above will get 50% off). Selected cardholders would be charged RM90nett/pax while early birds (pre-booking by 31 May 2016) would be charged RM85nett/pax. Moreover, a convenient surau would also be set up to ease guests to break fast. There would also be a special room package during the holy month for guests to unwind at RM480/night, inclusive of buffet dinner and breakfast for two pax. For restaurant booking, please contact +604-612 1128 or for room booking, please contact +604-612 1111 for more information.

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Some of the attractive dishes would include the Kambing Golek Beratur Panjang (Roasted Lamb) served with Nasi Briyani Pak Raj, Kampung Melayu Lambuk (spiced up porridge), Sup “Gearbox”, Lemang (bamboo grilled glutinous rice) & Serunding (meat floss), Rendang Daging Tok, various Kerabu & Salad and more delicacies from the buffet spread and action stall. Check out the slide show below for more photos.

The dessert section this year was quite abundant with many options for local kuih-muih, Raya cookies and Western cakes. Check out the slide show below for more photos.

Overall, the Ramadan Buffet Dinner spreads at Swez Brasserie have always been my favorites as I like the kampong-style and family-oriented dishes options.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’ clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

EASTINHOTELMAP

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128, 604-612 1138
Business Hours: 7.00pm-10.00pm (Ramadan Buffet Dinner only)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

NEW MENU LAUNCH AT PLAN B @ QUEENSBAY MALL PENANG

Posted by crizlai On May - 4 - 2016

Under the umbrella of The Big Group, Plan B has been around for quite a few years in Malaysia, serving diners with artisan coffee and creative cuisine ranging from salads, sandwiches, pastas, main dishes and a variety of cakes. Recently, the Aussie-meets-New York conceptualized deli has reduced its menu to a smaller selection to stay more focused in delivering a better culinary experience for its diners. We were invited to test out some of their latest spreads from their new menu recently at Plan B @ Queensbay Mall, Penang and it was a totally different approach towards how we look at food. Prices shown are inclusive of 6% GST. There won’t be any additional service charge.

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We started off the meal with Skin on Fries with Dip (RM9) with a choice of dip. You have options for the sauce such as salted egg, cheese, Singapore Chili, curry, ranch, ice cream, lime mayonnaise or halal guys white sauce.

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The Kristy’s Krunchy Kale Salad (RM18) was rather unique and it reminded me of how fun my childhood days were. There were crunchy bits of Mamee! Cool right? The salad had finely julienned Kale (which I presumed were Chinese Kale aka kalian as it was rather hard to source for imported Kale), carrots, purple cabbages, some crunchy bits of deep fried noodles, hazelnuts, tossed in peanuts dressing and garnished with toasted sesame seeds. It was so nutritionally good that we had to order another serving.

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The Buttermilk Fried Chicken (RM33) was also quite unique as the buttermilk batter fried chicken was placed on a waffle and topped with almost coleslaw like salad and served with some tomato ketchup. It was quite tasty except that I hope the kitchen would drain up more of the excess oil on the batter fried chicken.

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For those who prefer meatless pastas, they do have the Zucchini Spaghetti (RM22). It was Aglio Olio style with added blistered cherry tomatoes, garlic confit, sweet basils, julienned zucchini, garnished with shaves of Parmesan cheese and served with a wedge of lemon. It was indeed a hearty and healthy plate of spaghetti to my liking.

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We also tried out their Asian Salmon Rice Bowl (RM33). You could also request for an additional poached egg for this dish at RM3. It came with a bowl of steamed rice, topped with grilled salmon, lots of fresh greens, avocado, edamame with a light sprinkles of furikake (Japanese rice garnish with mixed ground fish, sesame seeds, nori, etc) and served with chili soy dressing.

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As for Desserts, we tried out their Jaffa Cake (RM15), Springfield Donut (RM18) and Black Forest Pavlova (RM18). I personally think that it’s better to consume the desserts with some hot beverages such as coffee or tea as they could be rather heavy and sweet after a heavy meal.

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As for beverages, we tried out their Elderflower Mint Lemonade (RM12), Passionfruit Iced Tea (RM10), Iced Chocolate (RM10) and Cham Affogato (RM10). The best part on the beverages was that all of them were presented quite uniquely.

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The Cham Affogato was something real cool too as it had coffee on “teh tarik” ice cream.

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Overall, I quite like how innovative some of the dishes were at Plan B, especially the Kristy’s Krunchy Kale Salad, which brought back many fond memories during my childhood days. I would love to see what other creative dishes the kitchen could come out with in the near future. You can also check out their sea facing outlet at Gurney Paragon to try out these dishes.

You can view the new menu as below. Do click on the photo for a clearer view.

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Upon entering the main entrance of Queensbay Mall (Central Zone), turn right and walk towards the North Zone (J.Co, Morganfield, T.G.I. Friday’s, Maybank, etc). Just walk a bit further up pass J.Co Donuts and you can see the deli there on your right.

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Name: PLAN B @ QUEENSBAY MALL
Address: GF-112, 113(A) & 146 (A) Ground Floor, Queensbay Mall, 100 Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604- 640 8820
Business Hours: 10.00am-11.00pm
GPS: 5.333909, 100.306759

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

MENYA MIYABI HOKKAIDO RAMEN @ QUEENSBAY MALL PENANG

Posted by crizlai On May - 3 - 2016

Just like our Malaysian Nasi Lemak, various versions of ramen are ubiquitous throughout Japan, from small roadside stalls, restaurants to even within 7-Eleven shops. Each region in Japan would offer their unique versions of ramen with their “secret” soup base which might consist of a mix and match of salt, soy sauce, pork bones and fermented soy beans (shio, shoyu, tonkotsu and miso), served with various toppings. With the globalization of the ramen, competitions had found many eateries serving innovative versions of the noodles with peanut butter or coffee infused broth or even making the ramen into ramen burger. However, Menya Miyabi @ Queensbay Mall, Penang, still insist on pepping up their authentic Hokkaido ramen, using mostly imported ingredients, to ensure that diners would get the best ramen experience as how the people of Hokkaido would consume. The flavors of the ramen dishes are so strictly monitored that the big boss (with 4 other ramen chains in Hokkaido) would fly in every quarterly to check on the food quality. A 10% service charge would be imposed on all orders.

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The first dish which was the Hokkaido Chilled Ramen Salad (RM19+), had us all at cloud 9 with its unique combinations of flavors and textures as most of us had never tried out chilled ramen before. With just some al dente textured ice-chilled ramen with some goma mayo dressing, served with sides of hard-boiled egg, julienned chashu, cucumber, buttered corn kernels and tomato slices, it was a simple yet appetizing salad for everyone.

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For our main, we had their Signature Tonkotsu Ramen (Pork Broth Flavor – RM23+). Wow! I’m impressed with the rich and creamy broth which was filled with collagen with a light tone of natural saltiness. The ramen dish has slices of nicely braised chashu, served with some wood ear fungus, marinated soft-boiled egg, nori (seaweed) and some light sprinkles of spring onions. It was indeed a hearty bowl of perfect ramen, obvious from the time consuming and tedious processes of slow simmering the choice pork bones.

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We also tried out their Yaki-Miso Ramen (Fried Soybean Paste Flavor – RM23.50+). The broth was similar to the Tonkatsu Ramen but with some added fried miso paste to give the broth an extra earth flavor. The toppings were somewhat different slightly with bamboo shoots replacing the wood ear fungus as the former. Taste wise, it was indeed the authentic taste of Japan, which was a bit heavier in saltiness.

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Somehow, the Kara Miso Ramen (Hot & Spicy Miso Ramen – RM24+) tasted superb. Though the broth tasted almost similar to that of the Yaki-Miso Ramen with added chili paste but the overall flavors were quite balanced up with no overpowering saltiness. I guessed raw miso paste was added instead of the fried miso paste which would surely contain more concentrated sodium content. The ramen came with toppings such as chashu cubes, marinated soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, salted mustard stems, nori (seaweed) and some chopped spring onions. For spicy lovers, this might be your ramen dish to go for.

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For those who prefer rice over noodles, you can always try out their Katsu Curry (Katsu Kare – RM24+), a steaming hot Japanese rice dish with non-spicy Japanese style curry gravy, topped with a piece of breadcrumbed deep fried pork cutlet and served with some pickled daikon. Now only was I aware that traditional Japanese Curry would be served plain without the addition of potato and carrot bites as I had consumed elsewhere. The most important ingredient in a Japanese kare is to extract the sweetness from the caramelized onions and traditional recipe might just include only onions, flour and oil. From a clarification by my Japanese friend, potatoes and carrots were later added into the recipe to make the filling bulk when rice supplies were scarce during one period of the past.

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To add on to our orders of ramen, we ordered some Croquettes (Korokke – RM9+ for 2pcs). The potato cakes had a concoction of mashed potatoes, minced meat and some finely chopped vegetables before being coated with panko breadcrumbs and deep fried to perfection. Though the korokke was simple and tasty, I somehow prefer my croquettes to contain more coarsely mashed potatoes such as the Indonesian/Malaysian Bergedil with more bites.

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We also ordered some Gyozas (RM12+ for 6 pcs, RM18+ for 10 pcs). Each bite was filled with the nice juiciness from the well marinated minced meat within. If I were not told by the chef, I would not have realized that each piece was machine made. Menya Miyabi is the only Japanese eatery in Penang having that customized machine specially imported all the way from Japan.

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Overall, I quite like the simplicity of the dishes served at Menya Miyabi. It might depend on the taste buds of the locals to accept a more authentic style of Japanese cuisine which would be stronger in flavors. With mostly imported ingredients used in their cuisine, the prices of their dishes are still competitive on the market.

Upon entering the main entrance of Queensbay Mall (Central Zone), turn right and walk towards the North Zone (J.Co, Morganfield, T.G.I. Friday’s, Maybank, etc). Take the escalator to Level 1 and you can see Espresso Lab kiosk. The restaurant is just opposite the kiosk on the right.

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Name: MENYA MIYABI – HOKKAIDO RAMEN
Address: 1F-152, Level 1, North Zone, Queensbay Mall, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-645 3811
Business Hours: 11.00am-10.00pm
GPS: 5.334311, 100.306685

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

Diners would get the opportunity to dine in Foodcaller (富一碗) @ Queensbay Mall which had relocated from Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Though being at the currect venue for merely few months old, the management had gone through many years of R&D to come out with a menu that would be economical yet tasty for its diners. Located at Level 3 (North Zone) of Queens Street @ Queensbay Mall, Foodcaller promises to bring in exciting arrays of ramen and dumpling for every diner with a twist in adding in local flavors. Since the restaurant is still quite new, all prices would be nett, without GST and service charges.

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Let us have a look at the variety of dumplings available at Foodcaller. They have the Steamed Dumplings (RM6.70 [3pcs] / RM10.90 [5pcs] / RM19.90 [10pcs]), Salted Eggs Baked Dumplings (RM13.90 [5pcs] / RM25.50 [10pcs]) and Pan-Fried Dumplings (RM7.50 [5pcs] / RM11.50 [10pcs]). Though all the dumplings were nice with juicy bites, my personal favorite was the Salted Eggs Baked Dumplings. Somehow, the slightly crunchy skin plus the juicy filling, combined with the sandy saltiness from the added salted egg yolk attributed to the uniqueness of the dumplings.

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We were introduced to some of their recommended ramen dishes, starting with their Braised Pork Pickled Dry Ramen (RM16.70), served with a complimentary bowl of soup. I’m impressed with the texture of the ramen noodles which were al dente to my liking. As for the braised pork, the meat pieces were tender with just the right combination of flavors. The addition of the soft center hard-boiled egg was a bonus as the oozy yolk indeed made the ramen creamier to consume.

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We also tried out their Signature Ramen with Homemade Dumplings (RM15.90). Basically, the filling and taste for all the dumplings were the same as those steamed one. However, what amazed me more was on the broth for the ramen which was filled with rich and creamy flavors. According to the chef, the broth had gone through the process of slow simmering for 7 hours before being extracted. The broth might not be as tasty as from those authentic Japanese restaurants with some “hidden ingredients” but it was good enough for my personal consumption. Again~ I could not get enough of the heavenly prepared soft center hard-boiled egg~ 😛

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Another of their signature dish was the Japanese Chashu Signature Ramen (RM16.90). Basically, the taste was the same as the Signature Ramen with Homemade Dumplings with the dumplings being replaced with slices of Japanese style chashu (braised rolled pork belly). However, I personally felt that chashu should be braised a bit longer as it did not have the melt-in-the-mouth experience as I had tried elsewhere. Moreover, I also felt that the kitchen should garnish the dish with some blended black sesame oil to pep up this dish further.

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For Teppanyaki dishes, each main dish would be served with a bowl of hot steaming fragrant rice topped with some minced meat, some stir fried cabbages with dried chilies, an omelette, a bowl of soup. The portions served were rather large and would be great for diners with great appetite. We tried out 3 options such as the Chef Bean Sauce Fish Teppanyaki (RM18.70), Sour Sambal Curry Prawns Teppanyaki (RM17.80) and Garlic Roast Pork Teppanyaki (RM19.80). Though each main dish had its own unique flavors my liking, I would still chose the Sour Sambal Curry Prawns Teppanyaki as my favorite set due to its aromatic yet generously portioned prawns which indeed was an appetite booster.

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For tomyam lovers, you would be in for a great surprise as Foodcaller has 2 great dishes to tempt your craving. Firstly, we tried out their Tomyam Seafood Fried Ramen (RM18.90) and it impressed all of us as the aromatic yet fragrant flavors of the tomyum indeed seeped into each strain of the ramen and at the moment it was filled with the wok hei (high heat cooking) to my liking. Moreover, it was a heavenly plate of ramen with generous amount of prawns, squids and scallops~ I sure would want to order this dish during my next visit.

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However, for the Tomyam Grilled Chicken Ramen (RM17.90), it could somewhat be a love-hate relationship for some diners. The broth had almost the Southern Thailand’s style of tomyam which was rich, creamy and yet sweet but only with mild sourness. It could be a bit on the sweeter side for some.

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One of the latest additions to the menu was the Hot-Stone Noodles Series (Mixed – RM33.20, Sliced Pork – RM23.50, Fresh Scallop – RM26.70 and King Prawns – RM30.80) with various options and add-ons. The hot-stone dish was served with a basket of flat broad noodles (hor fun), garnished with Chinese Kale (kailian). Either you can pour the noodles into the hot-stone bowl or you pour the soup over the noodles. My advice would be the latter as it would prevent the noodles from getting over soggy with the highly heated broth in the bowl. Please note that you have to pour in the soup as soon as the dish has been served on your table as the broth would evaporate quite fast. Additional request for the broth would be chargeable. The richness and sweetness of the broth was something you just can’t enough of as it has been slow simmered for over 10 hours to extract the natural sweetness from the bones. I’ve never seen or heard of Hot-Stone Noodles before and this could well be the only restaurant serving it this way in Malaysia.

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There are quite a number of hot and cold beverages you could choose from such as those below.

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Overall, the quality of the dishes served here were quite good, comparing to some of those other eateries within the same complex. Price wise, it might be a bit over average for diners but you can be assured of the quality of the food. However, Foodcaller has many ongoing promotions to help you save up more. Do check out their daily promotions (T&C: for FB & WeChat users only) as well as tea time special (not valid on public holidays).

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For more items from the menu, you can view the slides below:

Upon entering the main entrance of Queensbay Mall (Central Zone), turn right and walk towards the North Zone (J.Co, Morganfield, T.G.I. Friday’s, Maybank, etc). Take the escalator to Level 3 and walk towards the Queens Street area. You can see Foodcaller on your right, taking over the former shop lot of Okomen Japanese Restaurant, in between Curry House Coco Ichibanya and Golden Triangle Thai Restaurant.

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Name: FOODCALLER (富一碗)
Address: 3F-03A, Queens Street, Level 3, North Zone, Queensbay Mall, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-638 6602
Business Hours: 11.00am-10.00pm (Last order 9.30pm)
GPS: 5.335052, 100.306708
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foodcaller/

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7.5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

Let’s start the coming Chinese New Year by having lots of “Lou Sang”, an age-old custom in ancient Chinese tradition and culture, symbolizing “upward” health, wealth, luck and happiness in abundance during each brand new year. This year, Swez Brasserie at Eastin Hotel, Penang, would be offering various dinner packages for your reunions from 6.00pm until 10.30pm on 7-9 February 2016 or even Hi-Tea from 12.00pm until 3.00pm on 8-9 February 2016. It could be a table of feasting with your close associates/friends and family members or it could be fresh seafood spreads with unique dishes buffet. Please take note that for the buffet dinner, advanced booking with full payment before 24 January 2016 would be entitled to a 20% discount.

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Do check out the posters below for more details.

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Let’s have a peep at some of dishes to be served for the buffet dinner promotions below.

At the Salad Bar & Soup Sections, you would get to try out dishes such as the Fortune Yee Sang with Condiments, Classic Szechuan Hot & Spicy, Fresh Greens with Dressings, Hot Bread Rolls, a Variety of Cheese, Pickles, Mixed Salads, Sushi and Sashimi. The Yee Sang was great with fresh salmon slices and the Szechuan Soup was heavenly pepped up with lots of ingredients.

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For seafood lovers, you would be impressed with their Seafood on Ice Section where at least 8 Types of Fresh Seafood with Condiments would be served on the day. Of course, the main attraction would be their juicy and succulent Alaskan Crabs.

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Their Hot Dishes Section would one great area to indulge in many newly concocted dishes such as Curry Leave Thai Sweet Kapar, Romeo Sour Curry Fish, Juliet Coconut Squid, Tandoori Lamb Chop with Cucumber Raita, Pan Fried Fish with Saffron Sauce, Creamy Mix Seafood with Cheese, Angel Hair with Bolognese Sauce, Wok Fried Tiger Prawn with Salted Egg Gravy, Stir-fried Broccoli with Mushroom & Sea Cucumber and Pineapple Fried Rice. Although all the dishes were to my liking, my main preferences would still be the Tandoori Lamb Chop with Cucumber Raita, Angel Hair with Bolognese Sauce and Wok Fried Tiger Prawn with Salted Egg Gravy.

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The Dessert Section could be real abundance with selections such as Assorted Fruit Platter, Nyonya/Malay Kuih, Chocolate Fountain, Berries Mizu, Red Velvet, Classic Cheese Cake, Waffle with Condiments, French Pastries, House Pudding, Sweet Roll in the Heart, Jellies and Lovely Banana Chocolate Crumble with Vanilla Sauce.

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For Yee Sang Takeaway with various toppings, you can check out the poster below.

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If you missed out the dinners on 7-9 February 2016, you could always check out their other offers such as their “Seafood Esplora Il Mare” Buffet Dinner on all Fridays and Saturdays.

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Overall, I do find the buffet spreads under the supervision of the new Executive Sous Chef, Chef Johnno Fong, to be quite extraordinary compared to the buffets I had at the same venue for the past few years. The dishes served indeed did set the whole atmosphere to be in celebrative moods. However, I do find the dessert section lacked of some Chinese influence as most were basically Western and Nyonya/Malay cakes and bakes. They should have come out with something like steamed glutinous rice cakes with grated coconut, lo han guo infused snow fungus with dried longan soup, red beans filled sesame balls, glutinous rice ball in ginger syrup, fish shaped crystal jelly, pineapple tarts, peanuts cookies, fortune cookies and more.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

EASTINHOTELMAP

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang will be having “Wonderful Indonesia” Buffet Lunch promotion on Weekdays for the month of August 2015 (1-31 August 2015). Diners will be treated with authentic Indonesian cuisine for all parts of the country. The Buffet Lunch would be priced at RM66nett (adult) and RM33nett (child). Senior Citizen would be entitles to a 50% discount.

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To start off the meal, you might be interested in the infamous Indonesian appetizer known as the Gado Gado (Mixed Salad with Peanut Sauce). It’s a DIY salad which would consist of shredded jicama, cucumber, carrot, blanched long beans, boiled potatoes, deep fried bean curd and hard-boiled eggs with superbly tasty peanut dressing and Emping Melinjo crackers as garnish. That’s a bonus indeed as most eatery would just provide some sort of crackers instead.

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As for soup, you can try out their Sup Buntut (Indonesian Style Oxtail Soup). Well, in Malaysia, we called it Sup Ekor (oxtail) rather than buntut as it meant buttock in Bahasa Malaysia~ LOL~ Anyway, this soup can be considered one of the more expensive dishes in Indonesian cuisine as it would require long hours of simmering as well as the pricey beef option. Compared to the Malaysian version of Sup Ekor, Sup Buntut would have lesser spices and herbs flavors but with a stronger sourness with the generously added amount of fresh tomatoes.

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Do check out their Nasi Goreng Ikan (Indonesian Style Fried Rice with Fish Flakes). I quite like the fragrantly spiced up fried rice with some freshly prepared fish flakes. Other than plain steamed rice, this dish would add on more flavors with the other main dishes. With the add-on of Sambal Ikan Bilis with some hard-boiled eggs. I could have this dish just by itself.

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Indonesia is famous for its Pecel Lele (Fried Catfish). Of course, the smooth and fine texture of the fish was an added bonus to go with the fried rice.

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The thick gravy Beef Rendang Jawa went well with the fried rice as well as the thick gravy based curry was pepped with fragrantly concocted spices.

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For some vegetables instead of the other meaty stuff, you can always try out their Lontong Sayur (Mixed Vegetables in Coconut Broth), a turmeric and coconut base dish filled with lots of vegetables, bean curds and tempeh. However, I did not see any of the healthy tempeh in the dish. Maybe it could be due to its availability as it’s not something easily obtained from the Malaysian market. This is a common Indonesian dish served with lontong (steamed banana leaves wrapped rice cake).

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My favorite Perkadel or commonly known as Bergedil here in Malaysia were very flavorful. However, the potatoes were too mashed up. It would be great if the kitchen could make them more coarsely for that extra bite. Some added green and red chilies within would have pepped up the flavor even more.

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As for side dishes, who could resist Sate Ayam (Grilled Chicken Chunks on Skewers)? These came served with some nasi himpit, cucumber and onions plus the beautifully pepped up peanut sauce. What made me curious was that why they serve Malaysian Nasi Himpit instead of Lontong which is of the same compressed rice cake but with the fragrant from the wrapped banana leaves?

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For a lighter meal, you could also try out their Bakso Ayam (Chicken Meatballs Noodles). I personally prefer the beef balls version as it would be tastier than the ones in chicken stock.

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As for dessert, there would be some items available such as the Pisang Goreng dengan Coklat dan Keju (Banana Fritter with Chocolate Syrup & Grated Cheese), Kek Lapis (Indonesian Layer Cake), Homemade Apom Cawan, Chilled Es Teler and more. Es Teler is somewhat like the Thai’s Tub Tim Krob except it has added condensed milk and palm sugar. Normally, it would have sliced jackfruits, young coconut and avocado but you could also top up with any other fruits you like such as mangoes, strawberries, toddy palm seeds or even jelly noodles.

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Overall, if you are into Malaysian cuisine, there won’t be lots of differences in Indonesian cuisine as most of the dishes would be quite similar but with some extra tweaks. I would prefer if the kitchen would create something out of the norm, something that you could hardly get from the Malaysian culinary scene. Javanese dishes could be quite similar to ours but Balinese dishes could appear to be more outstanding. The kitchen should consider dishes such as Sate Lilit, Sate Udang, Sate Belut, etc instead of the commonly available Malaysian satay choices. As for main dishes, there are more options such as their famous Bebek Goreng (Crispy Fried Duck), Be Siap Betutu (Slow Roasted Chicken), Pesan Be Pasih (Grilled Fish in Banana Leaves), Ayam/Iga Penyet (Fried & Smashed Chicken/Beef Ribs) and more. Even the sambal has to be distinctive compared to the Malaysian version with options such as the Sambal Terasi and Sambal Matah.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

EASTINHOTELMAP

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Buffet Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Ala Carte Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

 

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