CRIZ BON APPETITE

Penang, the food paradise of Malaysia, has long being known for its diversity in many choices of cuisine due to its heritage as well as the different ethnic populations living within. From every nooks and corners of Penang, you would surely find something that would suit your taste bud well. However, to savor all the few hundreds of delicious items in Penang could be quite an impossible feat, even for the locals. Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang has now made your life easier by pepping up great Penang dishes, all under one roof, with its current Chiak Penang Buffet Lunch Promotion from now until June 2015. You would get to savor Penang own local delicacies plus a slight mix of international cuisine. The Chiak Penang promotion is priced at RM66nett (adult) and RM33nett (child) with different menus rotation daily. You can also get more discounts with credit cards as mentioned below.

Let’s start with a typical menu you might get for lunch during weekdays. At the Salad Bar, Appetizer & Cold Dishes Section, you would expect to get a selection of fresh greens, condiments and dressings, accompanied by some ready-made salads and cold cuts such as Kerabu Telur, Kerabu Mango, Roasted Chicken with Mushroom Salad, Gado Gado, Fajita-Marinated Beef with Avocado Cream, Penang Famous Fruit Rojak, Cold Cuts, Prawn Crackers, Fish Crackers and Papadum.

As for the Soup Section, you would get items such as Chinese Style Bitter Gourd Chicken Soup, Chicken and Smoked Sausage Soup and Assorted Bread Roll & Butter.

At the Main Dishes Section, you would have a selection of local cum international dishes such as Ikan Panggang dengan Air Assam, Wok Fried Mussels with Black Bean Sauce, Fried Okra with Belacan, Nyonya Chicken Pong Tei, Ayam Masak Madu, Kambing Masak Merah, Dhall Masak Sayur, Kari Ikan Kepala dengan Bendi, Mee Mamak, Steamed Rice, Nasi Minyak Hujan Panas (also known as Nasi Dhalca), Minced Lamb Kofta on Onion Compote, Chicken Scaloppini with Beef Bacon and Sage, Oven Baked Red Snapper Fillet Lemon Infused Cream Sauce, Baked Fennel with Pepper and Tomato, Homemade Mushroom Cannelloni Filled with Cheese and Spinach and more.

There will also be the Action Counter where you can get other deep fried items for your Nasi Kandar, such as Udang Goreng, Ayam Goreng, Ketam Goreng and Ikan Goreng. Do also take note that there might also be a special dish of the day such as the Telur Ikan Masak Lemak Seri Kayangan being served here. Other than that, you might find dishes such as Yong Tau Foo, Mamak Popiah, Murtabak Ayam, Teppanyaki Chicken, Ais Kacang and Cendol available here.

At the Desserts Section, other than your fresh fruit cuts, you would get an assortment of cakes, pastries, jellies and Nyonya kuih here. Free flow of ice creams, coffee and tea are also available.

Overall, the food served here can be quite interesting as you would get to try out multi-national Malaysian cuisine as well as different Penang street food on different days during this promotion.

Here’s the summary of all the promotions throughout the year.

SWEZ BRASSERIE PROMOTION 2015 (JANUARY-DECEMBER 2015)
Monthly Themed Buffet Lunch (12.00 noon – 2.30pm): Monday – Friday
RM66nett (adult), RM33nett (child)
Seafood Extravaganza 6.30pm – 10.00pm) : Friday & Saturday
RM106nett (adult), RM53nett (child)
Hi-Tea (12.00 noon – 3.00pm): Saturday & Sunday
RM77nett (adult), RM38.50nett (child)

For Citibank card members, you can enjoy a “Buy 1 Free 1” offer for Buffet Lunch until September 2015. Other than that, Maybank and Citibank car members get to enjoy a 15% discount for the Full Buffet Dinners from 6.30pm – 10.00pm until end of 2015. Terms and conditions apply.

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.

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

While Earth Day will fall on 22 April each year, “Every day is Earth Day in the Shangri-La’s Kitchen,” said Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, Director of Communications, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and Golden Sands Resort, Penang. With the theme “Rooted in Nature”, Shangri-La Group of Hotels and Resorts worldwide support sustainable food produces from its local agriculture and aquaculture sectors. It’s an initiative to raise awareness on consuming freshly farmed food which had gone through strict international standard requirements without harming the environment. Not only will this campaign support the livelihood of its local farmers and fishermen, it will also enable diners to have fresher and healthier choice of diet without worrying about the presence of pesticide, hormone or antibiotic in their food. Moreover, dishes on offer will include produce and herbs grown on hotel grounds, locally sourced organic vegetables and fruits, line-caught fish, free-range poultry and beef, honey from a hotel’s own beehive, etc. According to Peter Finnegan, Shangri-La’s Group Director of Food and Beverages, “Our goal is to serve 75% more sustainable sourced food on the menus by year 2020.”

While engaging local partners such as the GST Group (seafood) and Ayamplus Food Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (poultry) in their “Rooted in Nature” campaign, we were fortunate to be given the opportunity to attend a food source trail at GST Group Fish Farm located offshore of Pulau Jerejak, Penang. GST Group is also the only European Union compliant fish farm in Malaysia, with two other fish farms in Pulau Aman and Pulau Pangkor plus a retail shop located in Simpang Ampat, Penang. The initial GST actually came from the founder’s name, Goh Siong Tee, 90 years old, decades ago and not to be confused with the recently implemented GST (Goods & Services Tax). “The name did draw a lot of attentions but in a good way too as it helps us to promote our business better,” jokingly stated by Joey Ong, Senior Business Development Executive. After having some breakfast sponsored by the hotels, we embarked on our journey via 3 fishing boats towards our destination. Anyway, we did not spot any mermaids or mermen on the way~ LOL~ 😛

We were briefed by En, Mohd Addin Aazif, Senior Aquacultural Technician, as well as by Mr. Goh Chin Twan, GST Group Marketing Manager, on the ecologically and ethically farmed fishes which ranged from species such as red (crimson) snapper (ikan merah pucat/ang sai/紅雞), golden snapper (ikan jenahak/ang cho/紅鰽), giant (goliath) grouper (ikan kertang/long dan/龍膽), pearl grouper (kerapu mutiara/long hu ban/龍虎斑 – a 2006 hybrid species between giant grouper and tiger grouper), cobia (ikan haruan tasik/hai lay/海鱺 – sashimi species), giant trevelly (ikan gerepuh/gu kang cheoh/牛港鰺 – commonly known as GT) and more.

Of course, the chefs from both Golden Sands Resort (Chinese Chef, Chef Danny Tan) and Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Executive Chef, Chef Lim Soon Leong & Chef de Cuisine, Chef Matthias Tretbar) could not resist camwhoring with some “edible fishes”, especially with the juvenile 17kg Giant Grouper (Ikan Kertang/Long Dan/龍膽). The Giant Grouper can reach to a maximum size of 2.5m and weigh more than 350kg.

After a fun-filled and knowledgeable expedition, we continued our journey up Batu Ferringhi towards the two participating Penang hotels – Golden Sands Resort and Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa. Each hotel has two participating eateries. Diners can identify the Rooted in Nature dishes by spotting a “pea shoot” logo printed alongside the dish description. It’s to ensure that the fresh ingredients used strictly follow at least one of the 5 guidelines, which are local produces, pesticide-free products, free-range livestock & poultry, sustainably sourced food and organic & fair trade products. You can check out the “pea shoot” logo as printed on the hot beverage below.

At Golden Sands Resort, we were led to Sigi’s Bar & Grill (the other Rooted in Nature participating eatery is their Garden Café). At the venue, we had the opportunity to try out some of the chefs’ skillfully prepared dishes from their “Rooted in Nature” menu from Grilled Sea Bass, Grilled Free Range Chicken & Organic Tofu to SIGI’s signature dessert of Double Scope Yam and Coconut Ice Cream with Fresh Whipped Cream.

On the other hand, Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa’s Spice Market (the other Rooted in Nature participating eatery is their Feringgi Grill) indeed do serve an extensive varieties of fishes, namely the Pearl Groupers and Red Snappers, cooked in a few unique flavors. These dishes will be available amongst the buffet spread from time to time.

We actually started the meal off with a bowl of Double-Broiled Free-Range Chicken Herbal Soup. Wow! I was impressed by the flavorful and nourishing herbal soup. It was indeed a great bowl of soup to replenish all the sweat and energy lost under the scorching sun during our field trip earlier. In fact, it was one of the best soups I’ve tasted with the usage of quality herbs, combined with the rich flavors from the hormone-free and antibiotic-free range chicken.

Amongst the many fish dishes served on the day, we were presented first with the non-spicy Chinese Style Steamed Pearl Grouper with Superior Sauce. It was just a commonly prepared banquet style dish but you could ascertain that it was at its freshest. How would you judge a fresh and mud-free fish from any restaurant? It’s in the basic ingredients used to pep up the flavors without the presence of julienned ginger.

We were also served with the Indian Style Red Snapper Curry. It may be another commonly available dish at most Indian and Mamak restaurants but again Spice Market lived up to its name by infusing quality herbs and spices into the dish. Moreover, the added sliced tomatoes and lady’s fingers were great complements. Can I have more steamed rice with this dish?

We then had the Malay Style Ikan Merah Masak Tiga Rasa (Malay Style 3-Flavors Red Snapper). I guessed each restaurant has its own style of presenting this dish. Most of the time, it was just batter fried fish in sweet and sour sauce with added bird eye chilies (cili padi). However, the chef here presented the dish with their own concocted gravy. It was indeed a dish favorable to my taste bud.

Somehow, the next dish which was the Nyonya Style Steamed Pearl Grouper had me indulged sinfully with more steamed rice. It was heavenly. Most the distinctive flavors from the usage of fresh ingredients used in Nyonya cooking were present with the additional refreshing flavor from the added mint leaves. However, I found the gravy to be too finely presented as in the herbs and spices being too finely blended. It would be great if the kitchen would coarsely blend them to give that little bit of bites. A little bit more of added ginger flower (bunga kantan) would surely pep up the dish further too.

The last of the fish dish was the humongous sized Italian Style Baked Pearl Grouper Parmigiana. If my guess were to be right, it could be around 5kg or more. It was like having pizza but with fish instead of dough as base. Though it was real presentable as a whole fish, it would be better to work with fish fillet instead. The whole dish was delicious but somehow the thick slab of flesh did not absorb the flavors from the ingredients used. This could be my personal preference dealing with meaty fish but I can assure you that the fish was extremely fresh without any trace of muddy after taste.

We ended up with a sweet treat created by their skillful pastry chef. It was the Lemongrass Crème Brulee with Coconut & Pandan Sauce. It had a smooth texture with a mild spiced up flavor from the lemongrass. The dessert went well with the condiment of coconut and pandan sauce.

Somehow, something got the sweet tooth out of me on that day which was never a norm for me. I could not have enough of desserts! LOL~ In the end, I adjourned to the FIP (Fun, Interactive & Play) Lounge next door and ordered the first thing that caught my attention. It was the Black Forest Chocolate Pizza served with Fresh Vanilla Pods Ice Cream. It was a decision I would never regret as the pizza had just the right ratio of bitterness against sweetness, from the base, shaved chocolate, black forest right up to the ice cream. By then, I was already up Cloud 9, indulging in the heavenly dessert. By the way, you could always check out FIP’s Weekend Coffee & Cakes Buffet at RM47nett/adult and RM24nett/child, serving from 3.00pm until 6.00pm (Saturday & Sunday).

Overall, from my previous dining experiences at both Golden Sands Resort’s Sigi’s Bar & Grill and Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa’s Spice Market, compared to now, the quality of dishes always gets better, with their assurance on the usage of the freshest ingredients plus high quality herbs and spices. Do support them on their mission to accomplish the best out of their Rooted in Nature campaign. It’s not only a WIN-WIN working relationship between the hotels and local suppliers but a WIN-WIN-WIN scenario for us diners as we are served with healthier and sustainable sourced food.

Name: GOLDEN SANDS RESORT
Address: Batu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-886 1911
GPS: 5.476330, 100.251440

Name: RASA SAYANG RESORT & SPA
Address: Batu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-888 8888
GPS: 5.478365, 100.253709

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

Mahatma Gandhi once quoted “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” How true this saying is as our own health lies within our own control. No matter how much materialism one would pursue, without proper health nothing could be accomplished well, physically and mentally. That’s how bad it was for me during the last three quarters of 2014, going through bouts of stress related illness, rather than maintaining a healthier lifestyle. This year, to usher in the Wooden Green Goat for this coming Chinese New Year, it’s all about organic and earthly diets that I have to take heed. Coincidentally, Idealite – Malaysia’s First Wholesome Dining Place had come out with meatless, gluten-free, MSG-free, lactose-free, etc healthy menu for me to kick start a brand new 2015. Let’s start by “Lou Sang”, an age-old custom steeped in ancient Chinese tradition and culture, to wish for “upward” health, wealth, luck and happiness in abundance during this coming Chinese New Year.

Idealite has a few package options for this Chinese New Year with 2 packages (RM488 and RM688) for a table of 10 pax and 2 set meals (RM128.88 & RM168.88) for 3-4 pax. You can click on the poster below for a clearer view of the dishes served.

For the abovementioned packages and set meals, each table with be given a complimentary plate of Lou Sang worth RM48.88 and RM28.88 respectively. Instead of the commercialized Lou Sang with dried and pickled items, all ingredients in Idealite’s Lou Sang are fresh produce such as cucumber, pumpkin, carrot, beetroot, red cabbages, jicama, lettuce, tomatoes, mint leaves, pomelo, Mandarin oranges, ginger flower, cashew nuts, seaweed & spring roll crackers and topped with their homemade special sauce. The whole combination was superb.

To start off the meal, we had the RM488 full course package and a few other notable options from the RM688 package. The starter was the Smooth & Happy Appetizer which consisted of 4 dishes such as the Harmony & Peace Scallops (Eryngii Mushroom), Pattaya Salad (Sea Bird Nest), Happy Mutton (Monkey Head/Hericium Mushroom) and Dumplings.

Next on the menu was the Nourishing Soup filled with different varieties of mushrooms, some wolfberries, infused with a light herbal flavored soup base and thickened with some egg white. This was one of my favorite dishes in the menu. However, it would be better if the kitchen were to use wet bean curd to keep the dish as vegan as possible.

The Hong Kong originated Treasure Pot (commonly known as Poon Choi or Phen Cai) was a hit amongst us. If you are a fan of all the different varieties of mushrooms, you would surely love the rich yet earthly flavors from the treasure pot. The dish has about 15 types of ingredients and would be sufficient for me to get my appetite growing.

The Wealth & Prosperity Taro Fish was one unique dish that I fell in love with. The painstaking hours of combining mashed taro with oat milk and skillfully shaped the concoction into the shape of a fish is worth mentioning here. With a light drizzle of hot oil to make the outer crust crispy while maintaining the moist within, the “fish” combined with a somewhat spicy sweet sauce complemented each other well. The only setback was that the “fish” was too big and very filling. I won’t mind if the kitchen could come out with some stuffing for the “fish” in near future.

We were also served with the Fortune Claypot Rice. This dish may not look that impressive but it was filled with flavors. It had a light hint of herb flavors, lots of fresh ingredients with some crispy “salted fish”. The whole concoction was not as “sinful” as the name since it did not contain any meat at all.

Lastly, it was the Fruitful Year, a dessert of the day. We had a nicely simmered snow fungus in a naturally jujubes sweetened soup with added wolfberries.

We also did try out two items from the RM688 package. The first one was the Ideal Fo Tiao Qiang, an aromatic yet nourishing soup to rejuvenate your body against lethargy and other sickness. The two main herbs found here consisted of ginseng and dang gui which have been traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to maintain the well being of the consumer.

We also tried out the Auspicious Golden Crispy Salmon which was actually made from a combination of carrots and oat milk. this was served with their homemade condiment of a white sauce.

Overall, you can be assured that the dishes served here are extremely healthy for the palate of all diners. Compared to when Idealite first started in Penang with only a few selection of dishes, the restaurant now had evolved into a wholesome dining place to be loved by many, whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or a meat eater. Once awhile it’s great to get some detox over here, not solely from the vegetables and fiber served but also to strengthen your digestive systems from their homemade enzyme which can be found in some of their dishes.

It’s not hard to find Idealite at it’s located just two shop houses away from Hotel Waterfall (Little Cottage 2) and next to Double Dragon Inn Restaurant along Jalan Gottlieb. Parking spaces could be rather limited during weekends especially when Little Cottage 2 is having their weekend buffet.

Name: IDEALITE – MALAYSIA 1ST WELLNESS EDUCATIONAL RESTAURANT(品味舒食 – Beside Waterfall Hotel)
Address: 27C Jalan Gottlieb, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-226 3650
Business Hours: 8.00am-8.00pm (Closed on Monday)
GPS: 5.430574, 100.299698

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

It’s time to celebrate the festive seasons of 2014 with some traditions be under the culinary skills of Sous Chef, Chef Harmizi and Award Winning Pastry Chef, Chef Tan. Get spoilt with a scrumptious buffet at G Café @ G Hotel Penang featuring festive specialties, international & local selection of soups, appetizers, main courses and desserts, a perfect venue for the whole family and friends to dine in together.

Here’s a summary of what G Café @ G Hotel Penang will be offering:

Christmas Eve Dinner on 24 Dec 2014 / 6.30pm – 11.00pm
Priced at RM 148++ per adult & RM 68 per child (7-12 years)
Free flow of soft drinks & Juices
A glass of traditional glue wine on arrival
Add RM 99++ for free flow of house beer or wine

Christmas Day Sparkling Brunch on 25 Dec 2014 / 12pm – 3pm
Priced at RM 138++ per adult & RM 68++ per child (7-12 years)
Free flow of soft drinks & Juices
A glass of sparkling wine on arrival
Add RM 99++ for free flow of house beer or wine

Boxing Day Buffet Lunch on 26 Dec 2014 / 12pm – 3pm
Priced at RM 98++ per adult & RM 50 per child (7-12 years)
Free flow of soft drinks & Juices
Add RM 99++ for free flow of house beer or wine

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet on 31 Dec 2014
7pm – 11pm (Buffet) / 11pm – 3pm (Party)
Priced at RM 168++ per adult & RM 88++ per Child
Free flow of soft drinks & Juices
A glass of champagne on arrival

New Year’s Day Brunch on 1 Jan 2015 / 12pm – 3pm
Priced at RM 138++ and RM 68++ per child
Free flow of soft drinks & Juices
A glass of sparkling wine on arrival
Add RM 99++ for free flow of house beer or wine

For reservations and enquiries, kindly please contact +604-238 0000 or email to food.beverage@ghotel.com.my

Let’s have a little preview on what food you would expect for the Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner 2014.

APPERTIZERS: Seafood Cocktail in Martini Glass, Smoked Duck Breast with Fruit Chutney Platter, Marinated Capsicum Salad with Fennel & Olive Dressing, Roasted Chicken Salad with Bean Sprout, Christmas Coleslaw with Apples and Raisins, Assorted Cold Cut with Pickled Vegetables and Sweet Relish, Spicy Pasta Salad, Tomatoes, Avocado & Cheese with Raspberry Dressing, Drunken Chicken Platter, Smoked Salmon & Tenggiri Fish with Horseradish, Assorted Chinese Cold Cut, Cheese Platter with Nuts, Dried Fruits & Pickled Fruits, Vegetables Antipasto.

VEGETABLES FROM THE SALADS BAR: Ice Berg Lettuce, Romaine, Red Chicory, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes, Carrot, Baby Corn, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Red Cabbage, Lollo Rossa & Bionda, Green & Red Capsicum.

DRESSINGS & CONDIMENTS: Thousand Island, French, Italian, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Cocktail Honey Mustard, Mint, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Whole Grain Mustard, Dijon Mustard, Yoghurt, Parmesan Cheese, Black and Green Olive, Sweet Relish, Capers, Gherkin and Pickled Onions.

FRESH SEAFOOD ON ICE: Flower Crab, yabis, Prawns, Mussels & Scallops with lemon wedge, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Kikkoman soy, gari & wasabi Japanese sushi bar, California hand rolls, sashimi, tuna, salmon and butterfish.

SHOW KITCHEN LIVE COOKING: The SMP pizza, Marguerite Pizza, Salmon Fantasy Pizza, Surf N Turf Quesadilla, Pasta Station – Penne, Spaghetti, Linguine, Napolitana, Carbonara and Bolognaise.

SOUPS: Cream of Pumpkin with Smoked Chicken, Braised Dried Scallop and Crab Meat Soup

CARVERY: Roasted Turkey with Apple Cranberry Sauce & Giblet Gravy with Traditional Stuffing, Roasted Beef with Green Pepper Corn Sauce, Garlic Sauce, Mint Sauce and Condiments.

FROM BARBEQUE GRILLER: Salmon, Cat Fish, Squid, King Prawn, Steak, Slipper Lobster, Lamb Chop, Chicken Chop, Beef Steak, Chorizo & Bratwurst Sausage, Grilled Vegetables, Corn on Cob & Baked Potatoes with 6 Types of Sauce and Condiments.

HOT FROM THE CHAFING DISH: Turkey Piccata Milanese, Sautéed Farmer New Potatoes, Grilled Fish Fillet with Dill Cream Sauce, Oyster al Gratin, Minced Chicken and Mushroom Pie, Roasted Duck with Apricot Glazed, Crispy Chicken with Mango Sauce, Buttered Baby Young Corn, Brussels Sprout, Carrot, Fennel and Cauliflower, Lamb Osso buco with creamy polenta shitake mushrooms, Wok Fried Beef with Capsicum, Almond Butter Rice, Udon Noodle with Bean Sprout and Seafood.

DESSERTS: Warm Christmas Puddings with Vanilla Sauce, Chocolate Banana Cake, Tiramisu in Glass, Assorted Christmas Cookies, Pumpkin Pie, Assorted French Pastries, Christmas Yule Log Cake, New York Cheese cake, Christmas Fruit Cake, Christstollen, Raspberry Panna Cotta in Glass, Macaroons, Cinnamon Banana Bread Pudding, Strawberry Chocolate Mousse, Mini Fruit Tartlets, 8 Types of Fresh Tropical Fruit, Rojak with Condiments & Paste, Dark & White Chocolate Fountain, Ice Cream, Ice Kacang and Waffles with Condiments. There will also be a selections of Coffee & Tea.

For takeaways, Christmas goodies are available at the Gingerbread House and the bakery gifts are a lovely way of sending warm holiday wishes to everyone. Choose from a variety of tasty and freshly baked Assorted Christmas Cookies, Assorted Macaroon, Christmas Fruit Cake, Christmas Log Cake, Christmas Minced Pie and many more sweet delicacies.

The G Cafe is located at the ground floor of G Hotel. If you walk in through the front entrance along Persiaran Gurney, just head towards the end of the reception counter and you will see the café on your left. The café has an al fresco area too.

Name: G CAFE @ G HOTEL
Address: 168-A Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-238 0000
Business Hours: 7.00pm-10.30am
GPS: 5.437637, 100.310567

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 its Magnificent Malaysia Promotion for August 2014 (1-31 August 2014), skillfully handled by Jr. Sous Chefs, Chef Ong Chin Hock and Chef Mohd Fauzi. You would be treated with flavorsome Malaysian delicacies that reflect the tradition of its multi-cultural cuisine of Malays, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian specialties.

To start off, you might get to savor some Malaysian hawker fare dishes such as the Chicken Satay with Condiments (沙爹雞肉串), Pasembur with Peanut Sauce (印度鮮魚配花生醬) or Sup Ekor (牛尾湯). Skews of succulent and well marinated chicken chunks, an assorted of fritters with thick and creamy spicy peanut sauce plus herbs and spices pepped up oxtail soup are some of the Malaysians’ favorites.

As for main dishes, you would expect to find Daging Rendang Tok (仁當牛肉), Ikan Panggang (烤魚), Assam Prawns (亞參蝦), Ayam Percik (香料烤雞), Kambing Masala (馬薩拉羊), Tempe Masak Sambal (叁巴炒天貝), served with some nicely spiced up Nasi Briyani (印度香飯). I so fell in love with their Ayam Percik as it had just the right combination of spices combined with the fragrant flavors from the added coconut milk.

For desserts, you would expect to have the Ice Kacang (紅豆冰), Assorted Malay Kuih (馬來糕點) or Banana Fritters (煎香蕉). Their Ice Kacang was one of the best I have tasted. So was the Banana Fritters.

Overall, the dishes served in the Magnificent Malaysia Promotion 2014 would suit tourists with the knack for Malaysian cuisine which would also include hawker fares right under the same roof.

Here’s the summary of the promotion.

MAGNIFICENT MALAYSIA PROMOTION 2014 (1-31 AUGUST 2014)
Lunch (12.00 noon – 2.30pm): Monday – Friday
RM50++ (adult), RM25++ (child)
Hi-Tea (12.00 noon – 4.00pm): Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
Normal weekend: RM68++ (adult), RM34++ (child)
Festive Occasion: RM78++ (adult), RM39++ (child)
Weekend Buffet Dinner (6.30pm – 10.00pm): Friday & Saturday
Friday (Free Flow Friday with Wine): RM128++ (adult), RM48++ (child)
Saturday (Pirate Seafood Night): RM80++ (adult), RM40++ (child)
Semi Buffet Dinner (6.30pm – 10.00pm):
Sunday – Thursday RM50++ per pax

For American Express, CIMB Bank, Citibank, OCBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, MasterCard Worldwide, Maybank and UOB Bank card members, you can enjoy 15% discount for the Semi Buffet Dinner (Sunday to Thursday) and Weekend Buffet Dinner (Saturday) from 6.30pm-10.00pm.

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.

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)

In the holy month of Ramadhan, The Eatery @ Four Points by Sheraton Penang would be holding its Ramadhan Buffet Dinner (28 June 2014 – 27 July 2014) from 6.30pm until 10.00pm daily. Diners would get to enjoy their enticing buffet spreads which would consist of a mix and match of tantalizing flavors from the locals and international cuisine scenes. You can enjoy your meal over the breathtaking sunset scenery along the horizon of the Andaman Sea, either indoor or at the al fresco area. Dining at The Eatery is all about having your deserved relaxation and dining time after a day’s of hectic work. Priced at RM78+ per person or 50% off for children age 3 years to 12 years old, there are many more discounts in store such as 20% off for Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) members and discounts for selected credit card holders (UOB, Maybank & CIMB) can enjoy up to 50% off. You can check out the dining offers at the hotel’s website. Terms and conditions apply. Children below 3 years old get to eat for free.

You may be in for a surprise to find whole fruits or fresh fruit cuts being served first at the main buffet line. Well, they are right in the major rule of consuming fruits first, meals later. Haha~ Ideally, fruits should be consumed at least an hour before meal or two hours after meal but most Asians don’t follow the golden rule, do they? LOL~ The main reason behind this method of dining, is that your digestive process would work quicker by empowering different enzymes to break the fruits into nutrients, fiber and fructose for easier absorption into your body, thus gaining the maximum benefits from the process. So, remember to eat your fruits first before any meal~ 🙂 The Eatery would serve a variety of local tropical and imported fruits such as red dragon fruits, white dragon fruits, duku langsat, rambutans, papayas, ciku, pineapples, jackfruits, watermelons, grapes, apples, oranges, honeydews and more. Do check out the little compartment below the chiller as there would be different condiments for your fruits such as strawberry sauce, orange sauce, sour plum powder and rojak sauce, pounded peanuts, maple syrup and more. That’s what I call a healthy meal before a hearty meal~ Love it!

The special spreads for the evening was prepared by the skillful Chef Shafiq. Dishes would differ from week to week on a rotation basis. Firstly, let’s start with some assorted crackers followed by some ulam-ulaman (fresh garden vegetables and herbs) with unique condiments such as the sambal cincalok (Fermeneted Krill – Melaka), sambal hijau (Green Chilies & Anchovies – Johor), sambal budu (Fermeneted Seafood – Kelantan & Terengganu), sambal tempoyak (Durian Sambal – Perak), sambal kicap pedas and sambal belacan. You would also get Nasi Himpit/Ketupat Raya (Rice), Ketupat Daun Palas (Glutinous Rice) and Lemang (Glutinous Rice) together with Serunding Daging and Serunding Ayam. For pickle lovers, there would be the assorted fruit pickles, some savories items, kerabu and acar such as Kerabu Udang dengan So Hoon (Glass Noodles Spicy Salad), Kerabu Kacang Botol, Kerabu Telur Permata Hati, Jelatah, Acar Buah-buahan and more. There would also be some soup based dishes such as Noodle Soup, Bubur Lambuk and Sup Ekor.

As for the main dishes, you would expect to get dishes such as Steamed White Rice, Kari Ikan, Ayam Rendang, Ikan Masak Kicap, Daging Masak Kurma, Kailan Ikan Masin, Sayur Campuran, Kepah Masak Kunyit, Ayam Masak Gulai, Udang Masak, Daging Opor Pahang, Terung Belacan, Prawn Fritters, Deep Fried Calamari Rings and more.

For desserts, Last but not least, dessert lovers would love their Chef Eddie’s Dessert Collections where you would find items such as Kurma, Kuih Balu, Kuih Bijian, Kuih Kapit, Assorted Malay Kuih, Jelly & Pudding, Assorted Cakes, Bubur Cha Cha, Teh Tarik, Air Soya, Air Bandung, Air Sirap Limau, Fruit Cocktail, Ice Cream & Ais Kacang with Condiments and so on.

Overall, the dishes served here during the holy month had more touches of Malay cuisine compared to their normal daily spread throughout the year.

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.

Honest and uncomplicated, Four Points by Sheraton Penang is located on the main road connecting UNESCO World Cultural Heritage city Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi, a popular beach area. The hotel is situated on a stretch of white sandy beach overlooking the shimmering sea of Tanjung Bungah. Ideal for leisure and business travelers looking for a peaceful, yet convenient getaway, the hotel is 12 minutes from the bustling city center and 45 minutes from the Bayan Lepas International Airport by bus or taxi.

Known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, the what-to-do-list on the island of Penang is plenty. It attracts visitors with its flavorful cuisine, vibrant culture and rich history. For those who are interested in the history and heritage of this island, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is just 15 minutes away from the hotel with numerous old architectures, shops and cafés to admire. Alternatively, take in the spectacular views of Georgetown and the iconic Penang Bridge from a distance on top the Penang Hill, via a cable car ride up. For more information or to make reservation please call +604-371 8888 or email reservations.03947@fourpoints.com or visit www.fourpoints.com/penang.

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 8707 (The Eatery)
Business Hours: 6.30am-11.00pm (Daily), Sunday Brunch: 12.00pm-3.00pm
GPS: 5.463681, 100.301836
Please refer to: The Eatery Menu

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: 7/10 (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 those who would enjoy Malay cuisine from every part of Malaysia as well as Middle East, you should check out what G Café @ G Hotel, Penang, is offering during the holy month of Ramadhan. G Café’s Ramadhan Dinner Buffet is available daily starting from 29 June 2014 until 28 July 2014 (6.30pm to 10.00pm) at RM88++ per person (Children below 12 years old eat for free & Senior Citizen above 60 years old at 50% off). On top of that, there will be the Aidilfitri Lunch and Dinner priced at RM68++ and RM88++ respectively available on the 29 & 30 July 2014. The Ramadhan spread would be under the culinary skills of Sous Chef, Chef Harmizi.

Summary of the various themes for the G Café’s Ramadhan Buffet:
Monday: Rasa Utara
Tuesday & Wednesday: Selera Pantai Timur
Thursday & Friday: Juadah Selatan
Saturday & Sunday: Middle East & Peranakan Fiesta

Rasa Utara offers interesting and tasty dishes from the North such as Laksa Kuala Kedah, Nasi Hujan Panas and Kari Kepala Ikan. As for Selera Pantai Timur, the stars of the line will be Ayam Percik Kelantan, Laksam, Kari Ikan Tongkol and Nasi Dagang. Meanwhile, Juadah Selatan offers delightful Sup Tulang Sum Sum, Briyani Gam, Laksa Johor and Ikan Tenggiri Masak Asam Pedas. If those are not enough, something different for you to chew on is a choice from the Middle East and Peranakan recipe too such as Nasi Chicken Manday, Hokkien Mee and Lamb Kofta. All these lines will be set on different days throughout the whole month of Ramadhan as stated in the summary above.

Let’s have a look at all the spreads for this Ramadhan with a mix and match of all the items in the respective themes as a preview starting with the appetizers and salads. The Appetizer & Salad Sections might consist of some Asian Tapas, Tauhu Sumbat, Pasembur, Kerabu Ayam, Kerabu Taugeh, Acar Awak, Prawn Salad, Telur Masin, Ikan Masin, various fresh greens, pickles, ulam-ulaman plus their respective dressings and condiments. There are also various pickles and dried fruit to start your appetite going.

On top of that, you would have the Soup Section where you can savor Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup and Sup Ekor Berempah and more.

For the Action Section, you might get to try out some roasted items such as the Roasted Lamb and hawker fare such as the Laksa Kuala Kedah.

For the Main Dish Section, you can start off with some Singapore Fried Bee Hoon, followed by the chef’s special Nasi Briyani, a smooth and moist spiced up steamed rice, marinated overnight with milk, yoghurt and various herbs and spices. This is one flavorful rice dish to go with the other main dishes such as Fish Curry, Lamb Roganjosh, Ayam Piru Rendang (Turkey Rendang), Redang Daging (Beef Rendang), Ayam Percik, Deep Fried Fish Fillet with Thai Sauce, Black Pepper Prawns, Vegeatable Au Gratin, Curry Kapitan and Stir Fry Mixed Vegetables.

To clear off the heavy meals, you would have a selection of Fresh Fruit Cuts, Cakes, Tarts, Strudel, Jellies, Puddings, Mousse, Gelato Ice Cream, Chocolate Fountain and local desserts such as the Rojak, Bubur Gandum and an assortment of Malays Kuih Muih.

Since it’s the durian season in Penang, my award winning dessert would go to the Durian Mousse filled with fresh durian meat.

Overall, G Hotel has an advantage over other hotels as their Ramadhan packages do cover all the different themes from all over Malaysia as well as Middle East and Peranakan cuisine. Some of the dishes served can really be rather unique for the diners at the Northern region here.

OTHER OFFERS: Please refer to their online brochure

G Hotel also offers Ramadhan Meeting Package from RM50++ per person onwards. This package includes the usage of a conference hall for up till eight hours, free wi-fi internet and also complimentary fitness session, head and shoulder massage and usage of Nintendo Wii. This will allow participants to have a break after sessions of meetings.

G Hotel also do provide Private Buka Puasa Dinner Buffet priced at RM 65++ per person. Both the Private Buka Puasa Private Dinner and Ramadhan Meeting Package are available till the end of July 2014. With a minimum persons of 30, this dinner buffet is inclusive of free flow air bandung, individually packed red dates and usage of surau.

In addition to make your Ramadhan better, the Ramadhan Room Package offers you modern and stylish room accommodation for only from RM498++. The benefits include free WiFi throughout the hotel and non-alcoholic mini bar with chocolate bar on daily replenishment. Staying period is from 29 June to 25 July 2014.

For dinner reservations at G Café, please call 604 238 0000 or email food.beverage@ghotel.com.my. For Meeting Package, Room Package and Private Buka Puasa Dinner Buffet, call 604 238 0000 or email g4u@ghotel.com.my.

The G Cafe is located at the ground floor of G Hotel. If you walk in through the front entrance along Persiaran Gurney, just head towards the end of the reception counter and you will see the café on your left. The café has an al fresco area too.

Name: G CAFE @ G HOTEL
Address: 168-A Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-238 0000
Business Hours: 7.00pm-10.30am (Ramadan Buffet only)
GPS: 5.437637, 100.310567

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

* Published in HungryGoWhere Malaysia Food Guide: HUONG QUE VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT @ Penang

With lots of factories in Penang employing Vietnamese workers, more and more Vietnamese restaurants are popping up on the little food paradise island. The latest would be Huong Que Vietnamese Food located a stone throw away from the Penang Times Square. Quietly tucked within one of the colonial-style houses along Lebuh Melaka, Penang, you could find the humble restaurant bustling with regulars. As it’s quite a normal practice in Penang that if you see crowds, the food must be good. Well indeed, the dishes served here are very homely style and at times you could find some exotic choices too. The menu here could be quite simple. However, there would be a photo album menu for you to choose your meal since most of the items are labeled in the Vietnamese language. All prices are nett.

The first thing to check out at any of the Vietnamese restaurants would be the quality of their signature Huong Que Pho (Vietnamese Beef Noodles – RM8.70). I’m impressed with their rich stock which has obviously gone through many hours of simmering. It had sweet and flavor spices-spiked boney rich flavors with some magical touches of their fish sauce. The noodles’ texture was silky smooth with the right al dente. The portion served was also quite huge with generous amount of beef slices for the price paid. Each set would come with a basket of fresh basils, bean sprouts and a slice of lime. This is the far best pho I had taken in Penang.

Alternatively, for those non-beef takers, you can always opt for their Hu Tieu Gio Heo (Vietnamese Pork Noodles – RM8.70). The taste is almost similar to that of the local Koay Teow Th’ng but with the extra fragrant from their added fish sauce. The big bowl of noodles would come with some minced meat balls, bean sprouts, prawns and some innards. You can always request to omit the innards since most Vietnamese dishes would surely have them.

Another item in their menu would be quite exotic for the palate of major diners but it could be the staple food of another. That would be the Hot Vit Lon (Boiled Fertilized Developing Embryo Duck Egg – RM3.00 each) or also known as Balut. These commonly found street food of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Philippines are quite rare in Penang. I was having the phobia of consuming something not in my daily diet. However, being a food writer, it’s a must to try out anything that’s edible. I would say, the outlook could be quite deceiving as the taste was something like a boiled hard-boiled egg with distinctive duck flavors, though some parts could have a bit of oozy raw aftertaste. Basically, it’s more like chewing the cartilage of a stingray, which was not too bad. The duck egg came with a condiment of pounded chilies, some spiced salt and lime. My advice would be to consume the Balut while it’s warm plus the provided condiments to prevent the strong flavors of rawness from emitting further. For those courageous newbies, quickly pop it into your mouth with as much sauce as you could, give it a few fast chews before swallowing the mass and do ignore the sneaking suspicion that your tongue might detect faintly the fibrous tickle of feathers. Try not adding in the basil leaves as it would require more chews. To the natives of those countries, Balut can be considered a natural source of Viagra to prove your manliness. Is it? LOL~

Huong Que Vietnamese Food | Address: 37 Lebuh Melaka, 10400 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. | Tel: 604-228 8727 | Opening hours: 12.00pm-11.00pm (Closed on Tuesdays) | GPS Coordinates: 5.413001, 100.323058 | Non-Halal

During the month of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims to break their fast or buka puasa, diners can enjoy scrumptious traditional Malay buffet spreads at all the Vistana brand name hotels nationwide. Under the theme “Tok Wan 101 Recipes”, the promotion which would start from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014, would be priced at RM48++ per adult and RM30++ per child (aged 4-12 years old). If you have a great appetite for great authentic Malay cuisine, this is one place you should not miss out for varieties and taste.

Let’s have a look at all the sections catered just for this occasion. Please take note that some of the dishes might be replaced with another dish based on the local availability of raw ingredients or products. Firstly, you would have the outdoor area for grills. There would be Chicken Satay, Beef Satay, accompanied by condiments such as the fragrant satay peanut sauce, cucumber, onions, nasi impit (lontong/Malay rice cake) and Muar-style Otak Otak. Moreover, there would also be a Whole Roasted Lamb, served with black pepper sauce and mint yoghurt sauce. For Char Koay Teow lovers, you sure won’t want to miss out a try on Penang’s famous delicacy.

As for the indoor area, let’s start with the basics. On the starter’s spread would be the Ulam-ulaman Tempatan (local raw salad herbs and vegetables) such as Ulam Raja (cosmos caudatus), Ulam Pegaga (asiatic pennywort), Daun Selom (water dropwort leaves), Cucumber, Yardlong beans, Kacang Botol (four-angled beans), Tomato, Cabbages and Daun Kaduk (wild betel leaves), together with condiments such as Sambal Belacan Asli, Sambal Belacan Mangga Kampung, Sambal Belacan Nenas Madu, Budu and Cincalok. There would also be a Western salad section with capsicum, onions, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, purple cabbage and carrots, accompanied by dressings such as thousand island, Italian, French and balsamic vinaigrette.

You should also check out the appetizer’s section for dishes such as Kerabu Ulam (spicy mixed salad herbs), Kerabu Mangga (spicy mango salad), Acar Jelatah (cucumber, pineapple and carrot pickles), Tempe Ikan Bilis (anchovies tempe salad), Kerabu Sotong (spicy squid salad), Kerabu Ikan Tuna (spicy tuna salad), Kerabu Taugeh (spicy bean sprouts salad), Kerabu Ubut-ubur (spicy jelly fish salad), Kerabu Kaki Ayam (spicy chicken feet salad), Cucumber & Mint Raita and Cucumber Salad.

On top of that, there would also be the Pasembur, Taukua Sumbat (stuffed bean curd), a variety of deep fried salted seawater and fresh water fish (Ikan Masin Goreng) such as Ikan Gelama (common jewfish), Ikan Sepat (gourami/trichopodus trichopterus) and Ikan Bulu Ayam (anchovy family/thryssa mystax/moustached thryssa).

You can also check out the assortment of fruit pickles (pelbagai jeruk) and crackers (Keropok Ikan, Keropok Udang & Papadum) too.

Before starting off with the main dishes, let’s have a look at the action counters for lighter palate of local fares. You would have the Murtabak Ayam, served with Chicken Curry and Dhaal Curry; the Bread & Rolls section with assorted soups such as Soto Ayam (Indonesian chicken soup), Sup Kambing Berempah (spiced mutton soup) & Sup Daging Utara (beef soup); and the Noodles section where you would have soup based such as prawn, chicken and curry.

The Main Dishes section would be a spoil for options as you would have dishes ranging from Malay cuisine with a light mix of Chinese cuisine. Dishes to watch out would include Nasi Putih, Nasi Beriyani, Nasi Tomato Ayam Goreng Madu Berbijan, Daging Rendang Tok, Masak Lemak Ketam Bunga, Ikan Goreng Berempah & Daun Kari, Ayam Percik, Sotong Goreng Kunyit Berkuah, Gulai Itik Serati Kelantan, Kambing Kurma Ala India, Pajeri Terung, Sayur Kobis Goreng Kunyit, Kailan Masak Ikan Masin, Sambal Kangkung, Ayam Masak Rempah Hijau, Daging Masak Lada Hitam, Kepah Masak Cili Kering, Ikan Tilapia Masak Manis Masam, Kacang Panjang Goreng Sambal Udang Kering and Sayur Campur Ala Cina. There would also be an action counter serving your fresh fish in their signature Kari Ikan Dengan Bendi Ala Mamak.

To end your meal, you can always start with the fruit sections. You would have the Rojak Buah (fruit rojak) with local tropical fruits options, served with thick and delicious rajak sauce, crushed peanuts and toasted sesame seeds. There would also be a fresh fruit cuts section where you could also savor some seasonal fruits such as the mangosteens. Coffee and Tea would also be available here with options such as Teh Tarik and Nescafe Tarik on top of the availability of Air Sirap Ros on each table.

As for those with sweeter tooth, there would be 2 sections of Desserts areas serving you a mixture of Western and local delicacies. The varieties would include Bubur Kacang, Bubur Gandum, Bubur Pulut Hitam, Bubur Jagung, Chinese Pancake, Sesame Balls, Assortments of Puddings and Jellies, Tartlets, Pandan Layer Cake, Cheese Cake, Bread Pudding, Sago Gula Melaka, Floating Island, English Trifle, Crème Brulee and Herbal Jelly.

Local delicacies would include the Malaysian Kuih-Muih such as Karipap, Popiah Goreng, Donut, Kuih Ketayap, Kuih Cara Manis, Kuih Keria, Kuih Puteri Ayu, Kuih Bingka Jagung, Kuih Lapis and more.

There would also be a counter for your favorite Penang Ais Kacang, Cendul and a selection of Ice Cream flavors.

Overall, the spread of dishes for the Ramadan promotion was indeed overwhelming, considering that its offered price is also very attractive. Moreover, there would also be prayer rooms to further cater to its Muslim guests celebrating this blessed month. The “Tok Wan 101 Recipes” Ramadan Buffet is priced at RM48++ per adult and RM30++ per child (aged 4-12 years old) from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014. The ballroom can only cater up to 500 pax at one time, so do call in +604-646 8000 to make your advance reservations to avoid any disappointment.

The ballroom is located at the left side as you enter the hotel lobby of Vistana Hotel Penang along Jalan Bukit Gambir. Just follow your nose and it would surely lead you to the aromatic section of the hotel. You can park your car in the basement which would require you to get a token from the receptionist to scan your way out.

Name: GROUND FLOOR BALLROOM @ VISTANA HOTEL PENANG
Address: 213 Jalan Bukit Gambir, 11950 Bukit Jambul, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604- 646 8000
Business Hours: 6.30pm-9.30pm (Ramadan Buffet from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014)
GPS: 5.336334, 100.291527

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Kali Orexi! Bon Appétit! Welcome to the Greek Grandeur Promotion for May 2014 (1-31 May 2014) at Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang. Jr. Sous Chef, Chef Mohamad Bakri with the help of his team members. The Greek cuisine has a history of thousands of years with the usage of fresh ingredients from the land and sea from the Mediterraneans.

We started with some appetizers namely the Greek Mezze Platter (希腊小吃拼盘) which consists of assorted vegetables, risotto and minced lamb wraps, crispy tortilla and three type of dipping sauces, namely tuna yoghurt, cheesy dressing and Madras curry mayo. It was a total experience for many as we hardly had this type of almost similar middle-east appetizer.

We also had the Classic Greek Salad (传统希腊沙拉), a basic salad with olives, capsicum, tomatoes zucchini and feta cheese dressed in olive oil, herbs and a light sprinkles of salt. It was simple but yet refreshing. Sometimes, this dish is also known as Horiatiki Salata.

We were also served with the Garides Saganaki (虾仁与番茄羊乳酪), another variant of Greek salad with added shrimps and a heavier usage of tomatoes. However, it was a bit different compared to the ones I had taken as ripened tomatoes were used instead to give the dish a more puree tomato like sweetness.

Next on the list was the Avgolemono (希腊鸡汤与蛋), a Greek Chicken Soup with Egg Lemon Sauce. As for taste, it really has the flavors those Campbell’s canned chicken mushroom soup. The soup somehow lacked the sweetness from the added vegetables and some fragrant from the usage of more bay leaves. By right there should be some risotto like rice texture in the soup but they could have been blended and mixed into the soup. Though it’s just a simple soup to cook, some adjustments are needed to perfect this soup.

Basically, the Greek Beef Bifteki (希腊铁板牛肉) tasted like the beef burger but a roll-up version. It had more herbs infused in it with a mild cheesy flavor from the added feta cheese. This dish was served together with the Spanakorizo. The Spanakorizo (Traditional Spinach and Rice/传统菠菜与米) on the other hand is a Greek vegetarian dish which has a Risotto creamy and al dente type of texture. As for an Asian who’s so used to consume a softer texture of steamed rice, you may need some time to get use to this dish.

The main dish of Classic Greek Moussaka with Eggplant (希腊慕沙卡茄) is the Greek version of Lasagna-like dish with added eggplant. If you are a fan of lamb, you would surely like the strong flavors in the dish.

For pie lovers, you would surely like the Spanakopita (Spinach Pie/菠菜馅饼). It was filled with spinach and flavored with some eggs and feta cheese. Combined with the buttery crust, it was one dish I would love to have while watching movies. Haha~ 😛

Who said the Greeks never skew grill their dishes? One lovely dish would be their Greek Chicken Souvlaki (希腊鸡肉蔬菜串). The skews had small chunks of well marinated chicken pieces and vegetables and grilled to perfection. These were served with a condiment of sour mint sauce.

As for dessert, we were served with Baklava (果仁蜜饼), a nice flaky textured dessert made from layers of phyllo sheets and chopped nuts plus some honey.

There was also the Amygdalota (Almond Cookies/杏仁曲奇). However, all of us found them to be of a harder texture which made biting a bit tough without dipping in a cup of hot beverage.

The Galaktoboureko (Greek Custard Pie/希腊蛋奶饼) on the other hand tasted like a grainy and soaked up butter cake without the presence of added phyllo sheets for that crispiness. Though it was not the perfect dessert to my liking, it had a zesty flavor with a very light touch of added spices.

Overall, the dishes served in the Greek Grandeur Promotion 2014 would suit those cheese lovers more as Greek cuisine utilized quite a lot of cheeses, olives, olive oil, eggplant, zucchini, yoghurt, mixed herbs, etc.

Here’s the summary of the promotion.

GREEK GRANDEUR PROMOTION 2014 (1-31 MAY 2014)
Lunch (12.00 noon – 2.30pm): Monday – Friday
RM50++ (adult), RM25++ (child)
Hi-Tea (12.00 noon – 4.00pm): Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
Normal weekend: RM68++ (adult), RM34++ (child)
Festive Occasion: RM78++ (adult), RM39++ (child)
Weekend Buffet Dinner (6.30pm – 10.00pm): Friday & Saturday
Friday (Free Flow Friday with Wine): RM128++ (adult), RM48++ (child)
Saturday (Pirate Seafood Night): RM80++ (adult), RM48++ (child)
Semi Buffet Dinner (6.30pm – 10.00pm):
Sunday – Tuesday & ThursdayRM50++ per pax
Wednesday (Wine & Dine)RM95++ per pax

For American Express, CIMB Bank, OCBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, MasterCard Worldwide, Maybank and UOB Bank card members, you can enjoy 15% discount for the Semi Buffet Dinner (Sunday to Tuesday & Thursday) and Weekend Buffet Dinner (Saturday) from 6.30pm-10.00pm.

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.

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: 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: 7/10 (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)