CRIZ BON APPETITE

For the holy month of Ramadan this year, Breeze Café at Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort would be holding its Pelangi Ramadan Buffet, from 13 May 2019 until 2 June 2019, from 7.00pm until 10.00pm, at a reasonable price of RM65nett per adult and RM40nett per child (5-11 years old). For inquiries and reservations, kindly contact 04-899 9999 ext. 8205 or email to foodnbeverage@paradisehotel.com today.

Items available would include APPETIZERS such as ulam-ulam, acar buah, rojak buah, jeruk buah, garden salad, kerabu tauge, acar timun nenas, sotong kang kung, ketupat palas & lemang, CONDIMENTS such as sambal belacan, sambal kicap, sambal mangga, thousand island, budu, serunding ayam & serunding daging, SOUPS such as soto ayam & condiments, roti bengali & soft roll & bubur lambok ayam, MAIN ENTRÉES such as ayam masak rose, rendang daging “tok”, goreng ikan keli berlada, udang masak masam manis, masak lemak lala dengan belimbing buluh, goreng kacang buncis dengan telur & hati ayam, telur ikan goreng berempah, nasi minyak & nasi putih.

As for the ACTION STALLS, you would get to try out mee goreng mamak, roti jala dengan kari ayam, ayam percik “idaman kalbu” & kambing golek “mawar berduri” and more.

There are lots of DESSERTS available to round up your meal such as seasonal fruits platter 3 jenis, assorted cakes, bubur gandum, pudding & jelly, kuih-kuih melayu buah tamar, ice cream & condiments & children tidbits, plus BEVERAGES such as air sirap bandung, air jagung, cincau, air limau Kasturi, coffee & teh tarik.

The hotel also treated 40 children from Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan nearby as part of their CSR programs on 23 March 2019.

It’s not hard to locate the restaurant as it’s within the premises of Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort Penang. Drive all the way up towards Tanjung Bungah. Upon seeing Mutiara Food Court on your left, keep to your right and make a U-turn at a junction further up before the traffic lights, and you would see the hotel on your left next to Flamingo Hotel. The restaurant is just right inside the shop lots area next to the resort’s car park. There will be a security guard house there. Don’t hesitate to ask for direction from the guard if you are not sure of the location.

Name: BREEZE CAFE @ RAINBOW PARADISE BEACH RESORT PENANG
Address: 527, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-899 9999
GPS: 5.467412, 100.289317

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

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.

Terrace Bay Restaurant @ Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang, is currently promoting their Western Galore Buffet Dinner on every Fridays of the month from 7.00pm until 10.00pm. Priced at RM49nett per pax (Adult) and RM30nett (Child), this promotion would feature an array of Western dishes ranging from appetizers, soup, main and desserts.

For Starters & Soup, you would be expecting to get dishes such as Garden Green Salad, Nicoise Salad, Greek Salad with Cheese and Potato Salad with dressings such as Thousand Island, French and more. As for the soup, there was the Green Pea Soup served with Garlic Bread and Dinner Rolls.

As for Main Course, the spread could be quite simple but palatable to one’s needs. Items served could include Pilaf Rice, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Seabass Fillet with Herbs Butter, Lamb Moussaka Tomato Sauce, Braised Beef Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes, Pasta with Crabmeat & Roasted Broccoli and Buttered Mixed Vegetables.

Desserts might include Mini Fruit Tartlets, Fruit Puddings, Jellies in Glass, Crème Caramel, Chocolate Cake, Bread Butter Pudding and Fresh Fruit Platter. Coffee and Tea were on a free flow basis.

Do also check out their other promotions as shown in the posters below:

It’s not hard to locate the restaurant as it’s within the premises of Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang. Drive all the way up towards Batu Ferringhi. After the traffic lights at the Kompleks Makanan Selera Mutiara (Hillside), you can see the hotel on your right. You’ve to keep right and make a U-turn at a junction further up. There would be ample car parks outside as well as the basement. Walk straight until the end of the lobby until you see the stairways towards the swimming pool. Walk downstairs and you can see Terrace Bay Restaurant there.

Name: TERRACE BAY RESTAURANT @ COPTHORNE ORCHID HOTEL PENANG.
Address: Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-892 3333
Opening Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12.00 noon – 2.30pm
Buffet Dinner: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
GPS: 5.463599, 100.229199

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: 9/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Sunday might not be the same again if you were to visit Four Points by Sheraton Penang to savor their Sunday Buffet in style. Under the leadership of the newly appointed Executive Chef, Israel Lazaroo, this Sunday Brunch would surely be a carefree family gathering for all to enjoy good times, great food and casual fun, whether within the indoor dining area or at the scenic alfresco outdoor areas. Furthermore, kids as well as young-at-heart adults would get to be in a carnival-filled ambience with ongoing activities with the presence of clowns and magicians. Priced at RM60+ (per adult) or RM30+ (per child 12 years old & above/per senior citizen 55 years old & above) per pax, there are many more discounts in store such as 20% off for Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) members and discounts for selected credit card holders as high as 45% 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.

The layout for the buffet spread for the Sunday Brunch differs compared to many hotels I have been to. Dishes would differ from week to week on a rotation basis. At the Appetizer Section where you would have dishes such as the International Salad Bar with selected greens and choices of dressings such as Thousand Island, Mayonnaise, Italian, Herb Basil. On top of that, there would also be some pre-prepared salads such as Seaweed in Sesame Oil, Thai Chicken Salad, Beef Salad, Crab Stick Salad and so on.

For a lighter eater, you would be impressed with their Live Sandwich Bar where you could create your own sandwiches. There would be a selection of breads such as Plain White, French Baguette, Whole meal and Croissant with selections of fillings and toppings such as Tuna, Eggs Mayo, Beef Bacon, Chicken Toast, Sardine, Smoked Salmon, Cheese, Tomato, Lettuce, Cucumber and more.

Noodles lover would surely like their Noodles Station where selected hawker fare spreads would be available. The highlight for the day was Prawn Noodles, an impactful Penang favorite hawker dish filled with rich aroma and flavors.

There would also be the “Under the Sham” station where you could get a quick bite of Mini Chicken Burgers, Mini Seafood Pizza and more.

As for starter, you would have the Soup Station with Soups of the Day such as Herbal Soup and Tomato Basil Soup, accompanied by fresh breads and butter. On top of that, you would also have the Steamed Basket with a selection of Dim Sums.

Now let’s dig into the wide selections of hot dishes. Firstly, there’s the Chicken Rice Station where you would have some Steamed or Roasted Chicken Rice with Condiments served with tactfully prepared aromatic steamed rice. This buffet line would continue with more plain steamed rice and other hot dishes such as Chicken Piccata, Beef Stew, Sheppard’s Pie, Baked Pasta, Braised Lo Han Chai Vegetables, Chicken Curry with Roti Jala, Sweet & Sour Fish Fillets and Vegetarian Chicken Masala with Coriander. I would say all the dishes served here had the impactful flavors from the usages of different types of herbs and spices.

Last but not least, dessert lovers would love their Chef Eddie’s Dessert Collections where you would find items such as Tropical Fresh Fruit Platter, French & Danish Pastries, Assorted Malay Kuih, Bread & Butter Pudding, Green Beans Sweet Porridge, Chilled Iced Longan, Ice Cream & Ice Kacang with Condiments, and so on.

Overall, the dishes served had improved tremendously ever since Chef Israel Lazaroo, a Malaysian and maestro in Italian, French & Fusion cuisine, took over as the Executive Chef of Four Points by Sheraton Penang. With his two decades plus culinary experiences serving various hotels throughout Asia, he’s set to bring more surprises to the F&B sectors of the hotel.

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: 7.5/10 (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)

It has been quite awhile since I last visited Claypot Restaurant for some warm home cooked dishes. Even though the restaurant has switched to a different ownership for almost two years plus now, the food still managed to maintain its quality and taste. There are barely many changes in the ambience with cozy indoor dining areas and cooling al fresco areas for diners.

As the name has suggested, most of the dishes would be presented in claypots from dishes such as poultry, seafood, meat, vegetables, soups, eggs, tofu, rice sets, porridge to desserts. Some of the recommended meat dishes would include Claypot Salted Fish Chicken, Claypot Herbal Chicken, Claypot Ginger Chicken, Claypot Vinegar Pork and Claypot Ginger Beef.

The Claypot Salted Fish Chicken (RM8) was quite nice but could be a bit spicy with the usage of lots of dried chilies for those non-spicy food takers. At least the salted fish bits they used were of a better quality which did not give that overpowering fishy taste and the gravy went well with rice. The only think I detested was the seeds from the dried chilies. They should have removed them before cooking as it would lead to appendicitis in the case of unlucky diners.

The Claypot Herbal Chicken (RM10) has a strong dong quai (當歸/Angelica sinensis/female ginseng/Chinese ginseng) flavor, with the sweetness coming from some red dates and Chinese wolfberries (枸杞/Goji berries/kay chee). Dong Quai is traditionally used to fight against tiredness, anemia and high blood pressure whereas Chinese wolfberries have high nutrient value and antioxidant contents. Together cooked with chicken, this dish would be highly recommended for those with a busy lifestyle.

The Claypot Ginger Chicken (RM8) has that nice ginger flavor with a hint of some sesame oil. Nicely braised together with some slices of Chinese mushrooms, this dish would be ideal for all ages. The gravy itself was very appetizing and would go very well with hot steaming rice.

The Claypot Vinegar Pork (RM8) has that slightly sweet taste from the black vinegar used with mild taste from some ginger slices. The pork trotter cuts used were tender enough but contained a lot of fat and bones, which might not be suitable for those health conscious diners although there were still a substantial amount of meaty parts given. Though flavorful, it lacked the strong taste from old ginger, especially those grown within the Air Itam region.

The Claypot Ginger Beef (RM9) was a lovely dish with tender beef slices slowly braised with ginger and garnished with spring onion stalks. The beef slices have obviously been marinated with ginger juice as tenderizer to get that tenderness. This would be a nice dish to go with rice.

On the other hand, some of the recommended vegetable/soup dishes would include Claypot Brinjal with Minced Pork, Claypot Spinach Soup with Century Eggs, Stir Fried Chinese Chives Flowers with Shredded Meat, Stir Fried Long Beans with Prawns and Sambal and Stir Fried Dou Miao.

The Claypot Brinjal with Minced Pork (RM8) has just the right flavors from the sautéed minced meat. The brinjal (eggplant) cuts maintained its juiciness and were not overcooked.

The Claypot Spinach Soup with Century Eggs (RM8) has that nice flavor from the baby anchovies stock but somehow I could not find any traces of century eggs being used here. Either they have been eaten up before the dishes came to me or the kitchen has forgotten to add them in before presenting to us.

The Stir Fried Chinese Chives Flowers with Shredded Meat (RM11) was another confusing dish for me as there were prawns everywhere minus the traces of shredded meat. The taste was right with the fragrance coming from the sautéed chopped garlic but the vegetables were a bit too fibrous for my consumption. They should have chosen less mature ones with more flowers for this dish.

The Stir Fried Long Beans with Prawns and Sambal (RM10) was the group’s favorite as the long beans had the right bites with the flavorful sambal and fresh prawns. Ideally, there’s another dish with the same value and taste that got me yearning for more. If you are a lover for buah petai (stink beans), kacang botol (goa beans) and lady’s finger, you should also try out their Three Beautiful Ladies (三大美人).

The Stir Fried Dou Miao (RM8) or also known as pea sprouts was a normal dish stir fried with chopped garlic. It can be rather fibrous for many if consumed jut by itself. Normally, I would combine them 50:50 with bean sprouts to make the dish more palatable for all. It did not strike my mind to ask the chef if they would allow such a combination. They would be no harm asking too since both dishes are priced the same.

There are a few herbal drinks that you can order here such as the Luo Han Guo with Chrysanthemum (RM2.50), San Cha with Apple (RM2.50) and White Nutmeg Juice (RM2.50) from their beverages menu. Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenorii/Buddha fruit/longevity fruit) acts as a natural sweetener and together with Chrysanthemum, are traditionally used to treat sore throat, chronic cough, heat stroke and to enhance immunity. San Cha (Crataegus pinnatifida/Hawthorn Berries) together with green apples is primarily used as a digestive aid in flushing out unnecessary fat after a hearty meal, relieve constipation, lowering blood pressure and more. It’s a great drink but DO NOT OVER CONSUME the beverage, constantly or with an empty stomach as it also acts as a sleep sedative when overused. PREGNANT LADIES are discouraged from drinking this drink. I have my recipe here if you would like to brew your own. White Nutmeg Juice is actually blended fresh nutmegs with sugar added compared to those reddish ones which has been brewed for hours with sugar. Nutmeg has strong antibacterial properties which would effectively kill a number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth as well as to treat excessive stomach or intestinal gas, aid digestion and improve appetite. It’s also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat impotence and liver disease.

It’s quite easy to locate the restaurant as it’s situated nearby the Mutiara Selera Food Court at the base of Pearl Hill, Tanjung Bungah, Penang. To go to this restaurant, just drive towards Batu Ferringhi. When you reach the Penang Swimming Club on your right, drive ahead until you see Caltex petrol kiosk on your left. Just a few meters away, you would reach a traffic light (Mutiara Selera Food Court just in front). Turn left into the road and at the first Y junction, turn right. At the second Y junction, turn left. That’s Jalan Sungai Kelian. Drive ahead and you will see the restaurant on your right opposite Jalan Loh Poh Heng.

Name: CLAYPOT RESTAURANT
Address: 48 Jalan Sungai Kelian, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-899 7987
Business Hours: 12.00noon-3.00pm, 6.00pm-10.30pm (Closed Monday)
GPS: 5.464046, 100.289667

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