CRIZ BON APPETITE

With the long December school holidays, won’t it be nice to strengthen your family bonds by having your annual outing up Penang Hill this year to enjoy the cool breeze and at the same time savor some of the great dishes at David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace? Currently, the restaurant is having its December 2016 Set Dinner Promotion at RM138++/pax (1-31 December 2016 except on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day). Moreover, if you could not make it for their Christmas Eve or Christmas Day promotions, this promotion would be quite similar to their Christmas Menu, with the exception of having more dishes. Dinner time would be from 6.00pm until 10.00pm (8.30pm for the last order for set). In order to get to the restaurant, you would need to take a train up Penang Hill. For MyKad holders, it’s RM10/pax (adult) or RM4/pax (senior citizen, child & student). As for visiting tourists, it’s RM30/pax (adult & senior citizen) or RM15/pax (child & student). Daily train operation hours will be 6.30am-11.00pm (last train from top station). Let’s have a look at what would be served during the December Set Dinner Promotion as per poster below.

Prior to the start of any set dinner, you would be served with an in-house made bread roll each, accompanied with butter.

To start off, you would be served with Turkey Boxing, side with Sauteed Spinach, Caramelized Shallot and Turkey Jus. The sauteed spinach in light oyster sauce complimented the herbs spiced up meaty turkey real well. Moreover, the turkey jus boosted up the flavors further.

As for Soup, we had the Pumpkin Veloute. It was about pumpkin for this dish as each plate of the soup had Pumpkin Croquette, Pumpkin Chips and Shredded Parmesan dressed on the Pumpkin Soup with a light drizzle of cream and herbs. It was a lovely surprise.

As for Entrée, you can opt for any 1 of the 3 options with the first option being the Roasted Chicken Thigh, served with Mushroom Risotto, Carrot Puree, Crispy Enoki and Portwine Jus. I always like how the restaurant prepared their poultry dishes with the outer layer of the chicken being flavorful while maintaining the juiciness within. The batter fried enoki mushrooms indeed added that extra crunch for the dish.

The second option would be the Seared Line-caught Barramundi, served with Sauteed HK Kailan, Potato Pave, Mango-Pineapple Salsa and Romesco Sauce. The freshness of the fish, combined with the appetizing flavors of the side dishes was indeed a taste out of the norm.

Finally, the third option would be the Black Angus Medley which had Black Angus Sirloin & Slow Braised Rump, served with Roasted Plum Tomato, Phyllo Mushroom Bundle, Horseradish Cream and Beef Jus. Wow! I’m impressed with the overall flavors, especially from the slow braised rump which melted right into my mouth. It was a perfect dish to warm the body on a cool night.

As for Dessert, we had the Green Tea Cremeux which had Red Bean Jam, Pistachio Crumble and Green Tea Tuile. Who could decline such a sweet temptation?

To end the dinner, Coffee or Tea would be served.

Overall, I do find some of the dishes served here to be quite impressive, especially the Black Angus Beef option and their dessert. If you can, do find time to pay the restaurant a visit to savor some of their best cuisine.

It’s not hard to find David Brown’s Restaurant and Tea Terraces as it’s located above the small Strawberry Hill next to the train station. Upon disembarking from the train, just walk towards the end and turn right and you can see a stairways leading up to the restaurant.

Name: DAVID BROWN’S RESTAURANT & TEA TERRACES
Address: Lot 400, MK 17, Daerah Barat Daya, Strawberry Hill, Bukit Bendera, 11300 Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia
Contact: +604-828 8337 or +6018-409 6277
Business Hours: 11.00am-3.00pm (lunch), 3.00pm-6.00pm (tea), 6.00pm-10.00pm (dinner – last order at 9.00pm)
GPS: 5.424210, 100.268632

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10 (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)

“Good music and good food always go hand-in-hand and we are looking to make Art & Soul Café the place for people stop by and enjoy both,” said Melvin Ooi, General Manager of Hotel NEO+ Penang by Aston. It was indeed well said as there’s nothing better that would lift the spirit and strengthen the soul more than an array of great food over some soothing yet soulful music. For every Saturdays in the month of September and October 2016, guests would get to enjoy various genre of music from awesome musicians as early as 8.30pm at the Art & Soul Café, located at the ground floor of Hotel Neo+ Penang by Aston. We were serenaded by the amazing duo of Leo & Viv on one fine Saturday night and were truly impressed by the powerful yet soothing voice of Vivian with her jazzy and bossa nova music numbers.

Basically, you can enjoy their Daily Set Menu (Sep/Oct: 11.00am-11.00pm) and/or their Saturday BBQ Skewers (Sep/Oct: 7.00pm-11.00pm) during your visit to the café. Each BBQ Skewers set would be served with a complimentary baked potato. Price would be with a 6% Government Tax per skew and last order from kitchen would be at 10.30pm.

On top of that, there would be two specially concocted beverages for the promotion, namely Captain Oat Milkshake (RM15nett – September only) and Mr. Peanut (RM15nett – October only). The Captain Oat Milkshake would have a concoction of oat, honey, vanilla ice cream and fresh milk whereas the Mr. Peanut would have a concoction of peanut butter, vanilla ice cream and fresh milk. Both beverages had their own unique flavors which I quite like and they could be quite filling too. You could also order other beverages too such as Chamomile Tea (RM8+) or Cappuccino (RM12+).

Do check out on their Daily Happy Hours (3.00pm-8.00pm) too as shown below.

Overall, I loved the BBQ skewers, especially the beef and prawns skewers with their peri-peri condiment.

The Art & Soul Cafe is located at ground floor of the hotel. As you enter the hotel, you can see the café on the left side of the building.

Name: ART & SOUL CAFE @ HOTEL NEO+ PENANG BY ASTON
Address: 68 Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-255 1000 (ext 1103)
Business Hours: 11.00am-11.00pm (Sunday-Friday), 11.00am-12.00am (Saturday)
GPS: 5.479097, 100.254663

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (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: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Hotel NEO: Hotel NEO+ Penang features 196 guest rooms and suites decorated in a modern-contemporary style that befits the new trends in hotel design. With uncluttered open spaces, the atmosphere is at once stylish and relaxed, topped off with twenty-first century conveniences such as complimentary high-speed WiFi, LED TVs and home entertainment systems. The new NEO concept aims to open doors to a world of wellbeing and sensual satisfaction. Designed in a stylish and contemporary style befitting the latest trends in hotel design, NEO Hotels offer uncluttered open spaces for an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility within these chic yet reasonably priced new-build hotels and resorts. The brand has been described as “hip and new,” with aesthetics reminiscent of cutting-edge fashion designs. Customer Focus Groups have credited Archipelago International for “bringing sexy back”, thus hailing NEO Hotels as a brand fit for savvy young travelers and Generation Y parents alike. Images of NEO Hotels can be found at www.neohotels.com

About Archipelago International: Archipelago International is Indonesia’s largest hotel management chain with a portfolio of over 110 hotels and 15,000 rooms. It also continues to have the fastest growing brands with over 100 properties in the pipeline across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Their 7 core brands include favehotel, NEO, Quest, Harper, Aston, Alana and Kamuela, ranging from ultra-luxurious villas to select-service, economy-class hotels to serviced apartment residences. You can view more at www.archipelagointernational.com

From my earlier post, you would have known that 92 Armenian served healthy and hearty desserts with bird’s nest as their main ingredient. For the Mid Autumn Festival 2016, the eatery is also promoting its delicious Bird’s Nest Mooncakes with nicely designed takeaway packaging plus a set of beautifully crafted plastic knife and forks. The eatery produced 2 types of mooncakes such as snow skin and jelly this year with the option of 4 flavors for each type, namely soy bean, pandan (screwpine leaves), pumpkin and coffee, all with natural ingredients and sweetening. Each piece would cost RM25nett or a box of 4 options for RM88nett.

Basically, the snow skin mooncakes has more bites as other than added bird’s nest, option such as the pumpkin snow skin mooncake had some walnuts and melon seeds to the paste. The soy bean had red dates lotus seed paste, the pandan snow skin mooncake had pandan lotus paste and the coffee snow skin mooncake had coffee lotus seed paste. The best about the products is that all of them had just the right sweetness to my liking.

On the other hand, the 4 flavors of jelly mooncakes were just jellies with added bird’s nest. There were nothing much to shout about as the eatery did not add in a different flavored jelly in between to make them look like a typical mooncake. I hope the eatery would consider that next year.

Overall, I quite like the snow skin options as they were filled with nicely concocted natural flavored lotus seed paste with added bird’s nest. On the other hand, the jelly mooncakes were tasty and value for money with the added bird’s nest but not too skillfully prepared as they were just natural flavored jellies with added bird’s nest.

92 Armenian is located just a stone’s throw away from the famous Yap Kongsi Temple along the heritage trail of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site (core zone). Parking space could be rather limited here, so I would advise you to find some available ones along Lebuh Carnarvon or even Lorong Carnarvon and take a light stroll to the café.

Name: 92 ARMENIAN
Address: 92 Lebuh Armenian, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-251 9712
Business Hours: 10.00am-7.00pm
GPS: 5.415689, 100.336730

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (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)

With more than 40 years of mooncake making experiences behind the name, Leong Yin Pastry had again impressed many with their innovations of flavors for their mooncakes this year. Their 2016 Mooncakes Series (RM19.93nett each) would consist of Gridelin Mellow (金芋满堂) – Custard Paste with Lotus Paste, Ardent Rhapsody (菊花台) – Chrysanthemum Pur Erh with Red Dates Paste, Aurulent Lavish (南洋风味) – Gula Melaka with Honey White Lotus Paste, Scarlet Missive (踏雪寻梅) – Cranberry Longan Paste and Wholesome Chocolate Macadamia with Chips (小巧玲珑).

Overall, Leong Yin Pastry’s mooncakes are to my liking as all the fillings had subtle sweetness which was quite suitable for all ages, especially over some unsweetened and non-dairy hot beverages.

On top of coming out with good old traditional and fusion mooncakes, Leong Yin Pastry is also the top supplier of mooncake paste to many branded companies locally and internationally. Who could resist the temptation of being spoiled with over 200 types of choices?

If you are not into mooncakes, you can also opt for their quality assured Moon Biscuits aka Doll Biscuit and Pineapple Biscuits during this Mid Autumn Festival 2016. Those 600g of Special Mixed Nuts Moon Biscuits (RM45.53) could be such a killer during tea breaks.

With the success in gaining HALAL standards accreditation and others such as HACCP, GMP, ISO22000:2005 Food Safety Management System certification as well as the MeSTI certification, the products are now sold worldwide which includes Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippine, USA, Australia, UK and Middle East. You can find their products being sold at some of the major malls throughout Malaysia such as at Gurney Plaza, Gurney Paragon, Gama, Sunshine Bayan Baru, Sunshine Farlim, M Mall O2O Penang, Sunway Carnival Mall, Pacific Megamall, Pacific Taiping Mall, Aeon Bukit Mertajam Alma, Aeon Kinta City, Aeon Queensbay Mall, Aeon Mall Taiping, CMart Aman Jaya Sungai Petani, CMart Simpang Empat Tambun, Sungai Petani Center Mall, Alor Setar Mall and The Store Kampar Road Ipoh. Do click on the photos below to check out the varieties available for this year.

Leong Yin Pastry would also produce around 200 different flavors and combinations of mooncake paste. If you are interested, you could always pay them a visit at their HQ at 71, 73 & 82 Jalan Patani in Penang or call in +604-229 2943. They are also the supplier for their established Sang Yoon brand of noodles.

Bird’s Nest to the East is treasured just like caviar to the West. That’s why it has also being known as the “Caviar of the East”. For tens of centuries, bird’s nest has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as popular tonic to promote cell regeneration, anti-aging, lung health and more. Though little research has been found on the mysterious healing powers of the bird’s nest, the cooling effect (yin) of the bird’s nest (especially when double-boiled in soup form) somehow managed to balance off the heat effect (yang) of the body. Even celebrity chef, Chef Gordon Ramsey, had his curiosity stirred up and flew to Tawau, Sabah, to experience his first hand pick on one of the world’s most expensive delicacies and to find out that the best edible swiftlet nests were just double-boiled in water and rock sugar. However, 92 Armenian, located within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site (core zone), has changed the perception towards bird’s nest with their skillfully and healthily concocted delicacies. Most importantly, their creations have been priced affordably for the general public’s consumption.

Stepping into the premises of the heritage building reminded me of the gingerbread house from the fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, where fresh bakes filled up every nooks and corners of the house. However, 92 Armenian was a bit different with delicate yet sophisticated interiors from the Baba and Nyonya days plus boxes of premium quality bird’s nest, systematically arranged everywhere. The best part was the aroma of the fresh bakes lingering in the air which managed to capture my attention. My senses led me to the kitchen with a tray of freshly baked egg tarts in the oven. The Bird’s Nest Egg Tart (RM8/piece) had richly buttered short crust pastry with silky soft egg filling and topped with a generous portion of bird’s nest. It was so heavenly delicious with just the right amount of sweetness that I gobbled up a few without any hesitation. Compared to the madness of queuing up for the latest craze of the Japanese Baked Cheese Tart, I would rather go for these bakes as it more nutritious for my intake.

Their Bird’s Nest Pineapple Tart (RM20 for 5 pieces) was also something to yearn for as each tart was filled with their freshly made pineapple jam with some bird’s nest dressed on it. Each bite would lead to more bites and eventually all would be gone before you realized it.

We also tried out their Bird’s Nest Rice Dumpling (RM 25/bowl) with a mix and match of freshly made pumpkin glutinous rice balls filled with bird’s nest and grounded black sesame, served with a bowl of fresh soy milk with additional bird’s nest. Everything about this hot dessert was about the freshness which you would not find from other commercialized eateries.

For those cake lovers, you should try out their Bird’s Nest Cake (RM25/slice). Who would have thought of incorporating bird’s nest onto a mango cake? It was something simple and yet irresistible that caught me calculating the amount of calories I’m going to put into my body. However, upon biting onto a small mouthful, I threw my calorie calculator away. I was at Cloud 9 by then. Each bite was filled with the light sponge cake filled with layers of chunky mangoes in mango fresh cream. Though the bird’s nest was overpowered by the sweetness of the mango dessert, it was still a great cake to sink your teeth into.

Next on the list was their Bird’s Nest Jelly (RM15/serving) with goji berries and topped with a generous amount of bird’s nest. The texture of the jelly was just nice for it to melt in the mouth and the mild sweetness was just right for my taste bud. Somehow, I personally felt that it lacked some identity to boost up the overall flavors. I would think that a little boost of ginseng in the flavors of the jelly plus a little drizzle of diluted Manuka honey would pep up the flavors even more.

For savory indulgence, you could always order their Bird’s Nest Porridge (RM30/bowl). From the taste of the broth alone minus the toppings of bird’s nest, shredded chicken and fried garlic, you would have tasted the rich sweetness from some added dried scallops within. It was a hearty yet comforting bowl of goodies filled with rich nutrients to rejuvenate the body and soul. It would be great too if the kitchen would just sprinkle some chopped spring onions to pep up the colors and flavors.

On top of all the above delicacies, the kitchen would occasionally pep up more delicious items to cater to your needs. You could preorder Bird’s Nest with Ginseng, Fruit Platters with Bird’s Nest, Hot Pumpkin/Taro Soup with Bird’s Nest & Ginkgo Nuts and more. No matter what, the delicacies served here are of lower sugar content for a healthier lifestyle. After all, they are utilizing natural cane sugar to sweeten the desserts up.

Overall, I love the compilation of the by-products skillfully concocted in the kitchen of 92 Armenian. Not only were those delicacies some great items to tempt your craving for something unique on your palate, they were prepared ingeniously to keep your health at par by utilizing fresh ingredients to further boost up your immune system. The bird’s nest might be bland in taste, but they do have many mysterious health benefits that even science today have yet to prove them all. However, there’s a small glitch in consuming bird’s nest for those suffering from anaphylaxis, a rare condition where a sufferer would have some allergy reactions towards natural antigens. As a hard-hit sufferer of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) with 100+ unexplained symptoms and without any cure from any Western medications, the bird’s nest slowly but surely helped boost up my immune system by enabling its unique proteins and nutrients within to treat my chronic illness. Not only was I relieved of the constant blows of fatigue, my appetite, complexion, digestion, respiratory systems, bowel movements, energy and body resistance towards other common illnesses got better too. However, there are some secrets in consuming the bird’s nest soup for better results. It should be consumed right before sleep on an empty stomach as your body’s cell division would work about 8 times faster than normal hours, between 11.00pm to 2.00am, when your mind is in its subconscious state. Depending on each individual, it might take around 1-6 months to see the prominent effects. As for my personal experiences, it took me almost 3 months on moderate consumptions, on alternate days and with proper rest, to be rejuvenated mentally and physically to continue my work with more alertness. That’s why it’s really important to buy your bird’s nest from a trustworthy brand to benefit from all the positive effects for your well being.

92 Armenian is located just a stone’s throw away from the famous Yap Kongsi Temple along the heritage trail of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site (core zone). Parking space could be rather limited here, so I would advise you to find some available ones along Lebuh Carnarvon or even Lorong Carnarvon and take a light stroll to the café.

Name: 92 ARMENIAN
Address: 92 Lebuh Armenian, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-251 9712
Business Hours: 10.00am-7.00pm
GPS: 5.415689, 100.336730

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)

For the month of June and July 2016, diners would get to savor the many different Legendary® Burgers from around the world during its World Burger Tour at Hard Rock Cafe @ Hard Rock Hotel, Penang. The promotion would be available daily from 11.30am until 10.30pm at RM65nett per set. All sets (except the Tandoori Chicken Burger) would be served with beef patty unless special request is to be made to replace it with chicken patty. Please call +604-886 8050 or email hrc.admin@hardrockhotels.net to make your reservation.

For June 2016, you would get to try out 4 delicious burgers.

The first one would be the Cuban Burger Miami (Cuba, USA), a tantalizing twist on the Cuban classic with mojo marinated pulled chicken, sweet plantain slices, pickle slices, melted swiss, tomato and yellow mustard, served with golden fries and special Cuban dipping sauce.

The next one would be the I Love NY Burger (New York, USA) as you would get a cross between a burger and a pizza, served with French fries to remind you that it would still be a burger. You would get your mouthwatering burger stuffed with pepperoni, fried mozzarella cheese, sautéed mushrooms and pizza sauce.

Of course, you should not miss out their Tandoori Chicken Burger (Mumbai, India) with fresh and light flavors of mint mayo, Monterey jack cheese and crisp cucumber planks cover a tandoori seasoned chicken burger, topped with iceberg lettuce, tomato and complimented with seasoned fries and mint mayo dipping sauce.

You would also get to try out the El Toro Burger (Barcelona, Spain), a fury of red peppered Romesco sauce, roasted vegetables, goat cheese crumbles and arugula, dancing on an all-beef patty and between toasted slices of a bun. This set would come with seasoned fries as well.

For July 2016, there would be another 4 delicious burgers for you to try out.

There would be the Hollywood Burger (Hollywood, USA), famously delicious with melty brie cheese, caramelized shallots, garlic aioli, fresh arugula and tomato on a toasted bun, served with golden, award-worthy French fries.

For goat cheese lovers, there’s the Greek Burger (Athens, Greece) with Tzatziki sauce, arugula, tomato and a legendary take on feta cheese including capers, black olives, peppers and onions. This set would be presented with piping hot French fries paired with Tzatziki sauce for dipping.

Spicy lovers must watch out for their Jamaican Jerk Burger (Montego Bay, Jamaica), a smooth and spicy fusion of mango and jalapeno cream cheese and jerk mayo, banana peppers and iceburg lettuce, chilling on an all-beef patty between a buttered and toasted bun, served with crispy French fries and jerk mayo dipping sauce. I’m impressed on how they had pepped up the burger with some fruitiness. It was indeed a great combination.

A unique option would be their English Breakfast Burger (London, England), a proper combination of fresh tomato, slices ham and grilled Portobello mushroom, paired pleasantly with breakfast sausage and a fresh-cracked egg, simply seasoned and served with golden French fries and baked beans. Can you imagine having your usual items on your breakfast plate combined into a burger? This was one cool burger that I could consume daily except that I might add in more greens to balance it up further.

In case you wanted more of their delicious crispy fries, you could always order their Poutine Fries (RM17nett) which would be topped with Cheddar cheese curds and potato gravy or simply add on another RM5nett to savor their Artisan Fries (Herb & Garlic Fries) which would be served with Hard Rock’s signature dipping sauce, the Chimichurri Mayo. Regardless how they prepare their fries, the crispiness on the 1/8 cut fries were amazingly addictive.

To complement the Legendary® Burgers, Hard Rock Café Penang had created 4 types of cocktails and a mocktail to quench your thirst. These beverages would be served in pint glasses where guests would have the option to bring home the glass with a small fee. Here’s a peep at those beverages that would be available for June and July 2016. They are Crisp Sipper (RM58nett/RM130nett) with a mix of Hendrick’s gin, Monin Cucumber, lemon, orange, raspberry and topped with tonic water and garnished with rosemary and thyme, Black Cherry Melonade (RM29nett/RM85nett), a mocktail with a mix of Black Cherry Real, Monin Cucumber and topped with ginger beer, garnished with a cucumber slice and a cherry, Sweet & Fiery (RM58nett/RM130nett) with a mix of Absolut Peppar Vodka, Canton Ginger Liquor, Blue Curacao, lemonade and ginger beer and garnished with a red pepper, All Jacked Up (RM58nett/RM130nett) with a mix of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, PJ, Orgeat and lime juice, garnished with orange and pineapple wedges plus a cherry, a cocktail best paired with the Jamaican Jerk Burger and lastly the Melonpalooza (RM58nett/RM130nett) with a mix of Midori Melon Liqueur, Malibu Rum, Hard Rock’s house-made sour mix and PJ, garnished with slices of pineapple and strawberry, thus best to complement the fresh flavors of the Greek Burger.

Here’s a quick glance on the June & July 2016 World Burger Tour Promotion:

Overall, I like all their WBT burgers as each had their individual flavors which indeed did impress me, especially when all of them arrived in their individual “heavenly cloud” of greatness. The meatiness, juiciness and flavors on both their beef and chicken patties sure did earn them in my newest list of great burger places to dine in.

The Hard Rock Cafe is located just next to the front entrance of the hotel. After parking your car, just head to the left wing of Hard Rock Hotel Penang and you can a little glass door leading to the cafe.

Name: HARD ROCK CAFE @ HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG
Address: Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-886 8054 or email hrc.admin@hardrockhotels.net
Business Hours: 11.00am-2.00am
GPS: 5.467568, 100.241382

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: 9/10 (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)

RESERVATIONS:

Starz Diner/Pizzeria: Call +604-886 6057 or email fb.penang@hardrockhotels.net.
Hard Rock Café Penang: Call +604-886 8050 or email hrc.admin@hardrockhotels.net
More information: Hard Rock Hotel Penang’s F&B Promotions

About Hard Rock International: With venues in 69 countries, including 165 cafes, 23 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fl., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Chicago, Cancun, Ibiza, Las Vegas, Macau and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include San Juan, Reykjavik and Lyon. New Hard Rock Hotel projects include Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Berlin, Dubai, Itapema, Los Cabos, Tenerife, and Shenzhen, Dalian and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

From breakfast, lunch, dinner until supper, Wembley Café at The Wembley Hotel Penang would surely impress any diner with their sumptuous buffet spreads. Wembley Cafe provides accessible and affordable high quality food and service to everyone. Recently, I tried out their Thursday Japanese & Western themed buffet and was blown away by the amount of Japanese inspired dishes rather than being served with just sushi and sashimi. The buffet which would be served from 7.00pm until 10.00pm is priced at RM95nett (adult), RM48nett (child) and RM67nett (senior citizen).

Let’s take a look at the buffet spreads. From the Salad & Appetizer Sections, you would find the “Make Your Own Salad” with a selection of greens such as Beet Root, Carrot, Cherry Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini, Cucumber, Corn Kernel and Mix Leaves accompanied by Dressings & Condiments (Thousand Island, Lemon Herb Vinaigrette, Italian dressing, Caesar Dressing, Turkey strips, Grated Parmesan, Olives, Crouton, Pumpkin Seed, Sunflower Seeds & Fruit Pickles), Japanese Potato Salad (Potato, Carrot, Red Onion, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Boiled Egg & Spring Onion), Crabstick Salad (Japanese Cucumber, Salt, Kani & Mayonnaise), Chuka Idako, Chuka Kurage, Vegetable Anti Pasto (Roasted Abalone Mushrooms, Roasted Bell Peppers, Roasted Zucchini, Olives & Artichoke) and Penang Rojak (Young Mango, Jicama, Cucumber, Dough Stick, Rose Apple, Guava, Pineapple, Bean Curd, Pounded Peanut & Rojak Sauce)

Their Seafood on Ice has always been the crowds’ favorite as they do serve Snow Crab Leg, Half shell oyster, Mussel, Scallop, Flower Crab & Tiger Prawn (with Tabasco, Lemon, Spicy Cocktail Sauce, Chili & Lime Dressings)

The Sushi & Sashimi Section would include Tuna, Butter Fish, Salmon Sashimi, Nigiri and Rolled Sushi (served with Kikkoman, Wasabi & Pickled Ginger)

For Cheese, Soups and Bread, you would expect to find some International Cheese (with Crackers, Dried Fruits, Grapes & Honey), Kimchi Soup with Chicken, Miso Soup with Salmon Head & Belly plus Assortment of Rolls, Loaf Bread with Butter. There was also the Bubur Lambuk for the Ramadhan period.

For Main Course, you would get a mix and match of Japanese and Western cuisine such as Yaki Udon with Seafood, Stir Fried Miso Butter Prawns, Mixed Vegetables (Yasai Itame), Roasted Tenderloin with Mustard & Peppercorn, Miso Honey Lamb Ribs, Chicken Teriyaki, Hasselback Potatoes, Baked Mussels with Ebiko Chili Mayo, Stuffed and BBQ Squid, BBQ Saba Mackerel, Barbecue Chicken with Italian Herbs, Garlic & Chili Flakes, Silver Anchovies XO fried Rice and Steamed Rice.

At the BBQ, Tempura and Steamer Sections, you would find delicious items such as Chinese BBQ (Roasted Chicken, Roast Duck & Chicken Char Siew, served with Chicken Rice and Condiments, various ad-hoc prepared Tempuras (with Grated Radish, Ginger & Tempura Sauce) plus Chawan Mushi.

The Asian Tapas Section would consist of Chicken Satay with Condiments and Peanut Sauce, Grilled Sausage with Chili Mayo, Sesame Balls, Corn on Cob, Japanese Okonomiyaki and Korean Pancake (with shoyu, vinegar, onion, garlic & green chili).

For Fresh Fruits and Desserts, you would get items such as Assorted Fruit Platters, Cakes, French Pastries, Jellies, Tart, Kuih, Omochi, Ice Kacang (Red Beans, Herbed Jelly, Cendol, Cream Corn, Red Jelly & Pickled Nutmeg), Ice Cream (Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Green Tea and Yam with Mango Sauce, Strawberry Sauce, Vanilla Sauce, Chocolate Sauce and Condiments), Chocolate Fondue (Marshmallow, Cookies & Dried Fruits) and Freshly Brewed Coffee & Tea.

Overall, I like the buffet spreads here as the dishes are of quality and freshness. The differences compared to many other hotels are that most of the dishes served here are in smaller portions and would be replenished freshly from the kitchen. Moreover, the different themes available daily would ensure that diners would get the best dining experiences.

Let’s have a look at the dining promotions for the hotel from July to October 2016 as below. Do click on the photo for a clearer view.

To get to the Wembley Cafe, just walk into the main entrance of the hotel and head to the elevator to go up to Level 2 of the building. You would see a bunch of friendly staff at your service. Wembley Café has a 24-hours in-room service to cater to in-house guests.

Name: WEMBLEY CAFE @ THE WEMBLEY HOTEL
Address: 183, Jalan Magazine, 13000 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-259 8123
Business Hours: 24 Hours
GPS: 5.413164, 100.330428

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)

About Cititel Hotel Management Sdn Bhd (CHM): Cititel Hotel Management Sdn Bhd (CHM), is an established hotel management company with an inventory of over 4400 rooms and employee strength of over 2300. It is known for its collection of centrally located hotels and continues to actively seek opportunities in key Asian cities to build and expand its portfolio, particularly in the three and four-star categories. CHM is a subsidiary of the renowned IGB Corporation Berhad, a Malaysian property and investment holding company, acknowledged for its excellence in both commercial and residential property development.

About The Wembley, Penang: The Wembley, Penang accommodates 415 well-appointed guestrooms located in the heart of George Town. Furnished with batik-style designs and complementary broadband internet access, The Wembley, Penang, also provides exclusive privileges such as private check in, complimentary broadband internet usage and access to the private lounge on the Executive Floor. The Wembley houses a pillar-less grand ballroom which can accommodate approximately 1,200 persons, 10 meeting rooms, Wembley Café – 24-hours dining restaurant, lobby lounge, a salt-water infinity swimming pool, a gymnasium, a helipad (the first for a Penang hotel and in the Northern Region), Executive Suites and Executive Lounge and the DSRT Sky Room. For more information, please contact +604 259 8000 or visit www.StGiles.com

About Cititel Express, Penang : Adjacent to The Wembley is the 3-star Cititel Express, Penang which is the epitome of a Smart, Clean and Simple hotel has also open its doors for both the business and leisure travellers. Cititel Express accommodates 234 guestrooms and family rooms with all the essential amenities for a refreshing experience with great value. The hotel appeals to busy executives seeking affordable accommodation within a functional environment with a local identity and service that is friendly, attentive and yet unpretentious. Enoshima Japanese Restaurant offers delectable cuisine at the Lobby Level. For more information, please contact +604 259 1188 or visit www.cititelexpress.com

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

The Eatery @ Four Points by Sheraton Penang has launched a specially designed Selera Warung Buffet Dinner from 13 June 2016 – 26 June 2016 (*Extension of promotion would be advised). The promotion would start from 6.30pm until 10.00pm daily. Diners would get to enjoy their over 30 selections of Malaysian themed enticing buffet spreads for only RM54nett (adult) and RM27nett (child from 4 to 11 years old). All Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) members would be entitled to an exclusive discount on food. You can check out the dining offers at the hotel’s website. Terms and conditions apply. From the al fresco area until indoor, it would be like going food hunting from one stall to another in a food bazaar with items ranging from snacks, main dishes to desserts. Please call +604-371 8706 or email eatery.03947@fourpoints.com to make your reservation today.

From Starters and Appetizers, you would get a mix and match of local and Western items such as Pasembur Pulau Mutiara with Spiced Sweet Potato Dips, Ayam Daun Pandan, Masala Ubi Bengala Samosa, Loh Bak Ayam, Kerabu Daging dan Tang Hoon Ala Thai, Kerabu Sotong Limau Bali, Pucuk Paku dan Udang Kapas, Kupang Degang Kerisik, Kacang Botol Dengan Dada Ayam Carik, Kerabu Manga Muda dan Udang Kering, Kerabu Taugeh dengan Kerang, Ulam-Ulaman Kampung (with condiments such as acar buah, sambal belacan, air asam, sambal belacan, kicap bercili, kuah kacang, chutney manga, acar rampai, telur masin & ikan masin), crackers (ikan parang, papadum, lekor, udang & binjau), squid & orange with shaved fennel salad, tuna & potato with green bean salad, Greek salad with Spanish feta & olive and mixed garden salad (with dressings such as thousand island, Caesar dressing, herbs vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, balsamic dressing, stuffed olive, shaved parmesans & capers).

As for soup, you would be served with Sup Ekor Berempah, served with Roti Bengali and Roti Perancis.

Out from “Mum’s Food Diary” would be some notable home-style main dishes such as Daging Batang Pinang Goreng Halia Muda, Kupang Goreng Cabai Kering, Sambal Tumis Udang, Ayam Masak Merah, Ikan Bawal Hitam Goreng Bercili, Rendang Daging Pahalawan “Temasik”, Kebab Ayam, Kupang Masak Cabai Kering served with steamed rice.

From the Action Sections, you would be served with some nostalgic dishes such as their Kaki Kambing Bakar Rempah Ratus, Ayam Tandoori, Nasi Briyani, Bombay Onion Pickled, Cucumber Raita, Dhal Tadka, Penang Char Koay Teow and Salmon Laksa. You should not miss out the Salmon Laksa as it was one of the best around as the creamy flavors was just out of this world.

From fruit cuts, local desserts to cakes and pastries, there would surely some hidden gems for you to savor such as the Penang Rojak (jicama, guava, pineapple, cucumber, water apple, young mango and green apple with rojak sauce), preserved fruits (kedongdong, cermai, betik, api-api, manga, ceri merah & hijau), fresh tropical fruits and whole fruits (watermelon, honey dew, pineapple, papaya & jackfruit, orange & green apple), Assorted Malay Kuih, Lempok Pandan, Creme Caramel, Pudding Jagung, Pudding Manga, Sago Gula Melaka, Pandan Custard Cake, Chocolate & Walnut Brownies, Apple Crumble Tart, Buah Kurma, Pengat Pisang, Bubur Cha Cha, Pengat Labu, Ais Kacang & Chendol with assorted Ice Cream and Ice Cream Potong. Beverages wise was rather unique as they were served chilled in water jars soaked in crushed ice. These include Air Bandung, Jus Kurma, Jus Cincau, Jus Oren and Jus Manga.

Overall, the Malaysian dishes served here had many delicious options compared to their buffet spreads I had tried earlier throughout the last few years. It was indeed a great value-for-money deal you should not miss out.

The Eatery @ Four Points By Sheraton is located along the main road of Jalan Tanjung Bunga. To get there, just use the road going towards the beaches of Batu Ferringhi. As you reach a curving part of the road, keep to your right after the first traffic lights (Chinese Swimming Club on your right). At the second traffic lights, turn right into the hotel’s premises to find a car park. Walk straight into the lobby and you can find The Eatery located at the ring wing of the hotel.

Name: THE EATERY @ FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PENANG
Address: 505 Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-371 8888 (General), 604-371 8706 (The Eatery)
Business Hours: 6.30am-11.00pm (Daily), Sunday Brunch: 12.00pm-3.00pm
GPS: 5.463681, 100.301836

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: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About Four Points: Four Points is travel reinvented. With over 200 hotels in nearly 40 countries, Four Points meets the needs of the everyday traveler and offers guests exactly what they need on the road. Four Points combines timeless style and comfort and an authentic sense of the local as well as genuine, always-approachable service, all around the world. To learn more, visit www.fourpoints.com/experience. Stay connected to Four Points on facebook.com/fourpoints.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in some 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, element® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2016 would be approaching real soon in July and it’s time to celebrate the auspicious occasion with lots of delicious cuisine. Pamper your family members, relatives and friends with lots of seafood dishes with the products by Golden Fresh Sdn. Bhd. this year. Do grab the opportunity to take advantage of the forthcoming Jualan Aidilfitri 2016 organized by Golden Fresh Sdn. Bhd. at its warehouse, Butterworth Iceworks Sdn. Bhd., from 10.00am until 7.00pm on 23-24 June 2016. Those products are indeed fresher and way lot cheaper than those you get from hypermarket. Various seafood and seafood products are up for grab on these 2 days. It’s a “Cash & Carry” sale while stock last. In line with being environmental friendly, please bring along your own carriers.

To find out what are the items on offer, you can view the slides in the slideshow below:

If you are coming out from the ferry terminal, just drive straight into Jalan Chain Ferry and drive on until you see a Shell petrol kiosk on your left (as well as right). Drive up until the traffic lights and turn right into Jalan Kapal. You can see Restoran Nasi Kandar Al-Bismi Maju at the corner unit. Drive on until you see Lengkok Kapal on your left. Drive in further and you can see the Butterworth Ice Works factory on your right. Alternatively, if you are driving via Penang Bridge, turn left into the second exit leading to Megamall. Drive on Jalan Baru until you see a flyover. Drive up the flyover and turn right into Jalan Chain Ferry. Drive all the way, crossing over Sungai Perai until you see a tall metallic silver building (Wisma Unimech) on your left. Drive on until you see the traffic lights and turn left into Jalan Kapal. Perodua Service Center is just opposite at the corner unit. You can also see a sign leading you to Taman Limbungan Indah/Econsave Butterworth. Drive all the way until the end and you would see the factory on your right.

Name: BUTTERWORTH ICEWORKS SDN. BHD.
Address: 4402 Jalan Chain Ferry, 12100 Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-333 3388
Business Hours: 10.00am-7.00pm (23 & 24 June 2016 only)
GPS: 5.397600, 100.378252