CRIZ BON APPETITE

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

The Lemongrass Restaurant @ Hotel Neo+ Penang by Aston is currently having its Sajian Selera Nusantara Ramadan Buffet Dinner from 9 June 2016 until 3 July 2016 during the holy month. The promotion would be priced at RM55nett (adult) and RM32nett (child) from 7.00pm until 10.00pm. Diners would get to savor the many types of kampung-style cuisine with a twist of Indonesian cuisine. The highlight of the buffet dinner would be Chef Faizal’s well marinated roasted whole lamb.

The menus would be on daily rotation basis starting from the Salads and Appetizers Section with items such as Ulam-Ulam Melayu (Tomato,Timun, Petai, Ulam Raja, Daun Selom, Pucuk Paku, Kacang Botol, Terung, Bendi), Kerabu Pucuk Paku, Kerabu Manga Ala Thai, Acar Rampai, Telur Masin, Ikan Masin, Bergedil Ubi, Potato Salad, Sambal Belacan, Sambal Tempoyak, Sambal Budu, Cincaluk,Sambal Mangga, Sambal Kicap, Air Asam, Sambal Bawang. Chips, Pickles and Nuts were also available such as Keropok Ikan, Keropok Udang, Papadam, Keropok Sayur, Jeruk Mangga, Jeruk Papaya, Jeruk Kelubi, Asam Boi, Kerepek Ubi,Kerepek Pisang,Tempeyek Kacang,Kuih Siput,Maruku,Kacang Hijau Bersalut Tepung, Acar Limau and Jelatah.

As for Soup, they served Indonesia Soto Ayam with Condiments which was a unique combination with a tad of spiciness compared to the ones I’ve tried or even cooked before. The soup had some lemongrass and chili peppers added in which was notably quite Indonesian style.

As for the Main Dishes, we tried out their Nasi Putih, Nasi Goreng Thai, Mee Mamak, Nasi Arab, Gulai Ayam Ubi Kentang, Sotong Masak Kicap, Mutton Varuval, Udang Masak Lemak, Tofu In Egg Sauce, Sayur Goreng Istimewa, Opor Ayam and Sambal Goreng Kentang. Bubur Lambuk with Condiments was also served daily.

At the Action Counter, we had many kinds of grilled items such as Ikan Bakar (Pari, Kembung, Talapia, & Sardine Cicah Bersama Air Asam), Chicken and Beef Satay with Condiments, Otak-Otak Ala Johor plus Penang Laksa with Condiments.

On the other hand, the Carvery Station had Roasted Whole Lamb, served with black pepper and mint sauce.

For Desserts & Fruits, you could always try out their ABC (Ais Batu Campur) and Cendol with shaved ice and assorted syrup plus condiments, Bubur Kacang Hijau, Bubur Cha Cha, Kuih Keria, Lepat Ubi, Kuih Seri Muka, Kuih Ketayap, Kuih Lapis, Crème Brulee, Black Forest Cake, White Lady Cake, Dates, Jelly & Puddings (Honeydew, Mango & Coconut), Pisang Goreng, Keledek Goreng, Ice Cream (at least 3 types) and Assorted Sliced Fruits.

As for Beverages, they have Teh Tarik, Laici Asam Boi, Air Soya, Air Cincau, Air Chrysanthemum Tea and Coffee.

Here’s the menu of what was served on that day.

Overall, the dishes served here had a rather home cooked style with lovely traditional grills and condiments. Some of the dishes indeed had some different Indonesian flavors in them.

The Lemongrass Restaurant is located at Level 2 of the hotel. As you enter the hotel, walk towards the left side of the building and go a floor above and you can see the entrance to the restaurant.

Name: LEMONGRASS RESTAURANT @ HOTEL NEO+ PENANG BY ASTON
Address: 68 Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-255 1000 (Ext. 1103)
Business Hours: 7.00pm-10.00pm
GPS: 5.479097, 100.254663

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: 7/10 (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

Sawadee krap~ Gin khao ru yang krap? Hello~ Have you eaten yet? If not, let’s plan a trip to Spice Market Café @ Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang, to savor their latest Northern Thai Cuisine Promotion from now until 30 June 2016. The promotion would be priced at RM173nett (adult) and RM87nett (child above 6 years old) with free-flowing spiced beverage and available from 6.30pm until 10.30pm on every Sunday to Thursday. Do also check out their P60 promotion (Every Monday & Tuesday from 1 January 2016 until 22 December 2016) where diners would only pay 60% of the actual published rate (not available on the eve of the public holidays and public holidays). Who could resist the 6-in-1 International Buffet with so many choices at Spice Market Café?

With 2 specially invited guest chefs from Shangri-La Hotel (Chiang Mai), the spreads would be even more interesting at Spice Market Café as Chef Damrongsak Khammonghon (Sous Chef) and Chef Pratthung Taka (Chef de Partie), would feature some of the famous Northern Thai dishes such as the Chiang Mai Curry Noodles with Braised Chicken Drumstick, Chiang Mai Deep-Fried Chicken with Herbs, Thai Spicy Prawn with Lemongrass and Prawn Salad with Shallot and more.

Before I go into the dishes being promoted, let me explain a bit here on Thai cuisine. Many people have the wrong perception that all Thai dishes taste more or less the same. They are not. In general, there are actually 4 different regions (Northern, Northern Isan, Central and Southern) in Thailand, each pepping up their version of flavorful dishes based on the availability of ingredients found in the region. Northern Thai cuisine tends to be less spicy and less sweet with more usages of herbs and spices. Northern Isan dishes on the other hand tend to be simple and yet spicy. Both Northern regions use lots of glutinous rice as their staple food. The Central Region is where most of the Thais are located and is rich in aquaculture plus agriculture harvests, thus the dishes found here are more refined with some Chinese cuisine influences. The Southern Region is more Malay influenced with the dishes having a higher level of spiciness, sweetness and sourness. Moreover, they tend to use more coconut milk in their dishes due to the easy availability of fresh coconuts. Both Central and Southern regions would consume more fragrant rice as their staple food.

Let have a look at the dishes for their Northern Thai Cuisine from one of their 3 menus in rotation for the day. As appetizer and salad, we had Yum Hed Khem Thong Goong Sod (Spicy Enoki Mushroom Salad with Prawns), Lab Gai (Minced Chicken Salad with Ground Rice and Mint Leaf), Yum Nua Yang (Grilled Marinated Beef Salad with Celery & Cucumber), Yum Mamuang (Green Mango Salad with Shallot and Dried Shrimps), Thod Man Pla (Deep Fried Fish Cake), Pla Goong (Shrimp Salad with Lemongrass and Mint)

For soup and main dishes, you would get to try out their Tom Yam Goong (Thai Spicy Prawn Soup with Lemongrass and Coriander), Kaeng Khiew Warn Gai (Simmered Thai Green Curry with Chicken and Eggplant), Gai Nam Mun Hoi (Stir Fried Chicken with Oyster Sauce), Kaeng Massaman Nue (Braised Beef with Massaman Curry and Peanuts), Choo Chee Goong (Deep Fried Prawns with Red Curry Sauce & Kaffir Lime Leaves), Talay Phad Cha (Stir Fried Spic Seafood), Thao Hoo Phad Med (Stir Fried Tofu with Cashew Nuts), Phad Thai Goong (Thai Style Stir Fried Noodle with Tamarind Sauce) and Khao Suay (Steamed Rice).

The desserts consisted of Khao Niew Mamuang (Mango with Sticky Rice), Gluay Bhuat Chee (Warm Banana in Coconut Syrup), Saku Pueak Maprao Awn (Tapioca Pearls in Syrup & Fresh Coconut), Bua Loy (Rice Flour Dumplings in Coconut Milk) and Phollamai Ruam (Seasonal Fruit Platters).

As for the beverage, you can try out their Nam Ma Nau Cha Krai (Lemongrass Lemonade). Two other beverages would be served on different days, namely Nam Manglak (Thai Basil Seeds Drink) or Nam Mamuang (Thai Mango Juice).

The rest of the dishes were of international standards with a mix and match of local, Asian and Western dishes. There is also a special corner filled with goodies just for the kids.

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Overall, the dishes served here were of the highest quality, especially in freshness. Even the ingredients used were sourced from their own highland and prepared just the way they served back in Chiang Mai, Thailand. You would definitely be spoiled for choices here at Spice Market Café… even the kids~ 🙂

More promotions: Every Friday and Saturday, Spice Market Café features the Seafood Buffet Dinner at RM185nett per adult and RM93nett per child, inclusive free-flowing cordial. Sunday Brunch is from 12.00noon to 3.00pm and priced at RM138nett per adult and RM69nett per child.

The Spice Market is located at the ring wing (Garden Wing) of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang. If you are coming from Georgetown towards Batu Ferringhi/Teluk Bahang, drive all the way up through the winding roads until you see a building with attap house roof design on your right. That’s Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa. As you enter the hotel, drive toward the right side of the building and park your car there. Walk towards the right wing which is the Garden Wing. Upon entering, walk straight towards the glass door and keep a watchful eye for the restaurant which is to your right side.

Name: SPICE MARKET @ RASA SAYANG RESORT & SPA
Address: Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-888 8888
Business Hours: 6.30pm-10.30pm
GPS: 5.479097, 100.254663

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

About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts: Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 98 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 40,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

Sarkies @ E&O Hotel (Eastern & Oriental Hotel) would be having its “Selera Kampung” Buffet Dinner in conjunction to the holy month of Ramadhan this year from 6 June 2016 until 5 July 2016 from 7.00pm until 10.30pm daily. It would be priced at RM133.30nett (adult) and RM60.95nett (child from 6-12 years old & those below 6 years old get to eat free). You would get to savor not only kampung style Malay cuisine but also get to experience some international and local fares as well, both indoor and outdoor.

Before even checking on the outdoor dishes, the dishes within the restaurant itself would already be enough to amaze anyone. From the salads and appetizer sections, Japanese dishes section, cold buffet section, hot kitchen section, action stalls until the main dishes section, there would always be something for everyone. Of course, you should not miss out some of their signature dishes such as the herbal soups, roasted duck, grilled meat, sushi, sashimi and more. There would be too many dishes to write in detail here as Sarkies had always been known as the grandest of all buffets. Let the photos speak for themselves below.

There were abundance of Western and local fruits and desserts available for everyone, ranging from an assortment of fruit cuts, Malay kuih, sweet soup to cakes and finger pastries.

Let’s start exploring the al fresco area now where a lots of mouth watering dishes await your arrival. You would find food counters for your quenching local beverages such as air bandung, teh tarik, dishes such as som tam, gulai kawah (bubur lambuk & flower crab curry), roti canai & murtabak with curries, grilled whole lamb with condiments and satay with ketupat served with spicy peanut sauce.

Overall, Sarkies @ E&O Hotel has always impressed me with their international spread of dishes. It’s great to see that they have improved a lot over the past year with more innovative dishes. Even their appetizer section had some different flavors with some Japanese touches compared to the last time I was there.

You can click to enlarge and check out the menu on a rotation basis as below:

Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang (next to Penang Bowl) is located along Lebuh Farquhar. If you are coming from Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah towards Weld Quay, keep to your left immediately after passing by CitiBank. When you see the Penang Bowl building on your left (UMW Toyota opposite), please slow down. Turn left immediately after the Penang Bowl entrance. The E&O Hotel car park is situated just inside the Victory Annexe building. Parking charges would be a maximum of RM6 (weekdays: Monday-Thursday) and RM12 (weekends: Friday- Sunday)

Name: SARKIES @ EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL
Address: 10 Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-222 2000
GPS: 5.423624, 100.334988

RATING:
Ambience: 8.5/10 (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: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)