CRIZ BON APPETITE

With the multi-ethnic makeup of its population, Malaysia had inherited a melting pot of culture and cuisine that has preserved its own unique flavors until today. To pamper diners with such cuisine, especially the tastes of yesteryears, Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang would be storming up an array of delicious dishes from various states, to impress your taste buds during the current “Flavours of Malaysia” Sunday Buffet Lunch from 12.00 noon until 2.30pm, from now until 24 June 2018. Priced at RM68nett for adults, RM48nett for Senior Citizens and 50% off for children, you are assured of tantalizing dishes to satisfy your appetite. For more information and reservations, contact Eastin Hotel Penang at +604-612 1111 or you can also email at info.pg@eastin.com / log in to the website www.eastin.com. All the prices above are not applicable with any other discounts including credit card discounts.

We could resist traditionally cooked Malaysian cuisine which had been pepped up with loads of fresh herbs and spices, especially on relaxing Sundays? Just go casual and head to Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang, to enjoy your hassle-free buffet lunch with great tasting dishes such as Daging Percik Berempah, Ikan Masak Tempoyak, Sotong Sumbat Ketupat Masak Sambal, Chili Prawns, Otak-Otak, Lontong, Kam Heong Chicken, Terung Masak Sambal Belacan, Lala Masak Padrik and many more. Don’t forget to try out their signature dish of Fish Curry with Ladies Fingers.

You would also get to try out some of the famous Penang street food at their Action Counters such as Mee Goreng Sotong, Curry Mee, Sotong Kangkong, Curry Laksa, Char Hor Fun, Nasi Dagang, Bebola Ikan Goreng, Popiah Basah, Ikan Pari Bakar Sambal Tumis, Fried Seafood Wantan Noodles, Cucur Bawang, Ikan Bilis with Thai Chilli Sauce and more.

Nothing beats the inner satisfaction of finishing off the meal with sweet temptations of Malaysian favorites sweet “bubur”, local delicacies aka kuih-muih, cakes & pastries, fresh fruits and more, over a hot cup of Teh Tarik.

Overall, I quite like the buffet spread as they were simple and yet delicious, with many items brought back the good old flavors of yesteryears. Bon Appetit!

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: 7/10 (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 Eastin Hotel Penang: Eastin Hotel Penang is a contemporary International business class hotel. Strategically located within the integrated waterfront development of Queensbay, Eastin Penang is adjacent to Queensbay Mall. Its superb location is minutes’ drive away from the Penang International Airport and the iconic Penang Bridge as well as in the vicinity of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. It features 328 meticulously decorated guest rooms and suites, facing the shimmering blue sea and the verdant green hills of Pulau Jerejak, home to the tropical rainforest that is over 130 million years old. For more information, please visit www.eastin.com

In conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year 2018, let’s indulge in a variety of promotions offered by Lexis Suites Penang this year. Prices quoted are all in nett and are not applicable with any other discounts or promotions. For details and reservations, call 04-6282888 or email to reservations@lexissuitespenang.com today. To start off, you can try out their Steamboat Set Dinner, starting 5 February 2018 until 23 February 2018.

You have the option to choose either two of the soup options such as creamy fish soup, herbal soup, clear soup or tomyam soup. Some of the ingredients for your steamboat would include as chicken meat slices, fish fillets, flower crabs, prawns, mushrooms, fish balls, vegetables, noodles and more. Why trouble yourself with all the preparations when you could relax and enjoy your meals and be served like royals at Lexis Suites Penang?

Alternatively, you could just join in their Reunion Buffet Dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year on 15 February 2018 from 6.00pm until 10.00pm for a sumptuous selection of delicacies which would include dishes such as Eight Treasure Soup, Salmon Wellington, Braised Dried Oyster & ‘Fatt Choi’ with Green Garden, Mini Lotus Leaf Rice Bag, Steamed Seafood Platter and many more.

For those planning for early festive gatherings, there are a few splendid 8-course set menus available at Roselle Coffee House for dinner, from now until l2 March 2018. The are priced at RM788, RM888 and RM1188 respectively for a table of 10 persons. Depending on which set you would choose, you might get to enjoy signature dishes such as Crispy Golden Roasted Chicken with BBQ Sauce, Steamed Red Snapper with Superior Soya Sauce or Seafood Treasure Fried Rice with Ebiko and every 8-course set menu ordered would also come a complimentary set of Yee Sang with Salmon Trout.

If you are into Japanese style of claypot shabu-shabu, you could always drop by Umi Japanese Restaurant, located at the ground floor, next to the lobby area. The set would include a vast selection of shabu-shabu such as Enoki, Leek, Shitake, Tamanegi, Udon and more.

There are also other promotions available as shown in the posters below:

Overall, I quite love the simple and yet delectable dishes served at Roselle Coffee House, especially on the spreads available at the Japanese, appetizer and carving sections. As for the rest of the sections, there are still some rooms for improvements as the eatery caters mostly for ala carte orders rather than buffets.

Lexis Suites Penang is located right at the end of Teluk Kumbar before the main road into Gertak Sanggul. In fact, it’s located just next to the Hao You Teluk Kumbar Seafood (公巴好友海鲜). The Roselle Coffee House is located at level 1 of Lexis Suites Penang. Just walk into the main lobby of the resort and move towards the right side of the lobby and you will see the elevator there. Take the lift to the first floor and you would see the restaurant there.

Name: ROSELLE COFFEE HOUSE @ LEXIS SUITES PENANG
Address: 28, Jalan Teluk Kumbar, 11920 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-628 2888
Business Hours:
Breakfast: 6.30am-10.30am
All Day Menu: 11.30am-10.30pm
Buffet Menu: 6.30pm-11.00pm
Room Service: 24 hours
GPS: 5.287210, 100.232760

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)

About Lexis Suites Penang: A luxurious resort by the beachfront that stands out as the only hotel on the island which offer guests the luxury of an individual private pool and steam room in every of its 222 suites. Located at the idyllic Teluk Kumbar, Lexis Suites Penang is about ten minutes’ drive from Penang International Airport. The guestrooms feature two king-sized beds and a host of practical amenities in a spacious enclave, with an awesome view of the sea.

About Lexis Hotel Group: Lexis Hotel Group provides discerning leisure and business guests with practical and luxurious accommodations across various properties in Malaysia. It is steadfast in offering professional management services for hotels and resorts, and has successfully built a strong, profitable and visible premier niche brand in the hospitality industry especially in managing award-winning unique water chalets as well as pool villas. The brand currently manages three properties, namely Lexis, Grand Lexis and the iconic Lexis Hibiscus, all located in Port Dickson. Another upscale property, Lexis Suites Penang, opened for business in first quarter of 2016.

Pacific West is no longer a new name in the F&B industry as well as in many households throughout the Asia Pacific Region, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and the Middle East. Since its inception in Australia in 1995, Pacific West has evolved over time to become a caring household seafood brand name which exudes friendliness and warmth. It evokes a vibrant calibration that gels well with the cosmopolitan lifestyle of the people who enjoy good food and good health.

In conjunction with new improved Cheezy Fish Fillets launched, Pacific West is in collaboration with Holiday Tours & Travel Sdn. Bhd. (Penang Office) to bring you the ‘Win Your Dream Holiday’ contest from 15th November 2017 until 15th January 2018. Stand a chance to experience the riverside capital of Western Australia, Perth (4D3N for 2 pax) or the famed island of the gods, Bali (4D3N for 2 pax) by purchasing a minimum of any one (1) Pacific West product in one receipt from any of the participating outlet in Malaysia within the contest period stated above. Joining the contest is easy as you could either fill up a form available at the outlets and send via Pos Malaysia or Whatsapp to +6013-601 9224 with all the necessary details stated in the poster below.

Pacific West Products can be real versatile if you just put on your thinking cap and think out-of-the-box or you could merely just fry them and enjoy with your family members and friends, especially during this coming festive seasons. Let’s me show you some simple preparations which you could use to impress your family members or guests. I’ll be using the newly formulated Cheezy Fish Fillets, natural white flaky fish fillet, topped with a mixture of premium Mozarella and Nacho cheese and coated with a crispy Japanese breadcrumbs, thus giving the product a unique aroma and taste for consumers.

You can check out the recipe below:

Other products usages might be as shown below:

Product: Pacific West Oven Baked Fish Fillets
Item Created: Cheezy Oven Baked Fish Puff

Product: Pacific West Calamari Rings
Item Created: Deep Fried Calamari Ring with Thai Style Mango Pomelo Salad on Cheezy Toast

Product: Pacific West Cheezy Fish Fillets/Pacific West Tempura Fish/etc
Item Created: Deep Fried Cheezy Fish Fillets with Wasabi Mayo on Greens with Sesame Dressing

#PacificWestMy #PWDreamHoliday

This season, do come to celebrate a “Starry Christmas 2017” at Straits Café & Lounge @ Ixora Hotel, Bandar Perai Jaya, Penang, with delectable festive dishes under the culinary skills of Executive Chef, Chef Aikaun Beh and his dedicated team. Be impressed with the divine selection of food choices created by the team to make your Christmas experiences a memorable one with your friends and family members. Do check out the promotion below. Early birds would get a 15% the bill with advance payment before 20 December 2017.

Other than the various spreads of delicious savory and sweet items, you would also get to try out the Cocktail & Mocktail of the month (December 2017) which would consist of “Christmas Rudolph” (Cocktail – RM22nett) and “Santa Punch” (Mocktail – RM18nett).

For the whole month of December 2017, you could also order some of the festive desserts as below. 3 days advanced booking is required with a 50% deposit of the item.

– Christmas Yule Log – RM50 nett/cake (500g)
– Christmas Pudding 0.5kg – RM50nett each
– Christmas Yule Cake 0.5kg – RM50nett each
– Fruit Cake 0.5kg – RM50nett each

As for their “Turkey To Go” with various condiments, you could order the bird from 15th until 25th December 2017 at RM460nett per bird. 3 days advanced booking is required with a RM200 deposit and the item is only available for takeaways.

Do also check out their current European Cuisine Buffet Lunch for December 2017 from Monday until Friday, 12.00pm-2.30pm at Straits Café & Lounge with 4 different menus on rotation weekly.

Some of the highlights would include Cream of Garlic with Oysters, Prawn Gumbo Soup, Slow Braised Chicken Stew with Vegetables, Braised Lamb with Tomatoes and Capsicums, Fillet of Fish and Potato Baked, Braised Vegetables with Tomato Sauce-Ratatouille, Burnt Cream, Chocolate Choux Puff and more.

Overall, the dishes served here in the café can be remarkably interesting, flavorful, colorful and very skillfully presented. Thanks to the chef’s team for providing us with a different experience compared to others. For more information, please check out www.ixorahotel.com

Getting to the Straits Café & Lounge @ Ixora Hotel won’t be hard as it’s just located next to the Megamall Shopping Complex at Bandar Perai Jaya. If you are coming from the island via the 1st Penang Bridge, just look out for the second exit on your left upon reaching the mainland. Drive all the way via Jalan Baru until you reach the 1st traffic lights. Turn left into Jalan Perai Jaya 1 and you can see Ixora Hotel at the junction of Jalan Baru/Jalan Perai Jaya 1. Drive straight for about 10m and you can see the basement car park on your left. Park your car and go up Level 1 and you can see the café & lounge there.

Name: STRAITS CAFÉ & LOUNGE @ IXORA HOTEL
Address: Jalan Baru, Bandar Perai Jaya, 13600 Perai, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-382 8888
Business Hours: 6.00am-10.00am (breakfast), 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.00pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.378357, 100.398322

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: 8.5/10 (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)

As a consumer, we have to be aware on whatever we put onto our plate. However, most people tend to take their food for granted without knowing the source behind each ingredient and how beneficial it is to our health. One such ingredient is the potatoes. Potatoes are the third most important food crop in the world, just after rice and wheat and the leading vegetable crop in the United States. They are also grown in over 125 countries in the world at different sea level, from lowlands to highlands. Many consumers, especially those calorie-sensitive ones had always deemed potatoes as the main culprit behind their failed diet plans. Controversially, potatoes are healthy to consume but it’s the cooking methods and ingredients used that matter most. To clear the myths behind the consumption of potatoes, Potatoes USA (formerly known as US Potato Board) had recently on 26 August 2017, launched an awareness program at The Wembley, Penang, to highlight the nutrients found in potatoes with hands-on live shows on cooking potatoes in healthy ways. Guests speakers included Mr. William Tan, Marcom Manager of Penang Chef Association, Mr. Richard Lieu, Trade Promotions Director of US Potatoes, Ms. Khoo An Jo, practicing dietitian from a leading hospital and none other than our Celebrity Chef of the Day, Chef Audee Cheah, President of Penang Chef Association. It was an enjoyable, fun-filled and knowledgeable program for many bloggers and guests.

There are actually 5 categories of US Potatoes products offered, namely Fresh/Table-stock Potatoes (Russet Potatoes, White Potatoes, Round Red Potatoes, Yellow Flesh Potatoes, Blue Purple Potatoes, Fingerling Potatoes & Petite Potatoes), Frozen Potatoes (Whole Frozen Baked Potatoes, Frozen Half Shells, Frozen Wedges, Frozen Mashed Potatoes, Individually Quick Frozen aka IQF Shreds, IQF Dices, Frozen Straight Cut Fries, Frozen Crinkle Cut Fries, Loop/Curly Fries, Lattice/Basket Weave Cuts, Tater Drums & IQF Hash Brown Patties), Chipping Potatoes (There are 15 US chip-stock varieties available throughout the year for your potato chip products’ needs), Dehydrated Potatoes (Standard Flakes, Low Peel/Low Leech Potato Flakes, Standard Granules, Mashed Potatoes Mixes, Slices/Dices/Shreds, Granular & Fine Flour) and Seed Potatoes (All seed that is exported also meets U.S. seed potato export standards established by the United States Department of Agriculture). You can see some of the samples and brands as displayed on the table here. These ingredients can be easily bought off the shelves of major retail stores throughout Malaysia. To find out more, do check out the Potatoes USA website.

After a short introductory message by Mr. William Tan, a welcoming message by Mr. Richard Lieu, and a short presentation by Ms. Khoo An Jo on the myths and nutritional benefits of potatoes where we finally found out that potatoes contribute key nutrients to our diet, in which included Vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber. In fact, potatoes have a more favorable overall nutrient-to-price ratio than many other vegetables and are an important staple worldwide. We then adjourned to watch the live cooking demonstration by Chef Audee Cheah. Some of the bloggers were chosen to participate in the cooking as well.

Chef Audee Cheah churned out 4 simple and incredible dishes for us to try out, namely U.S. Potatoes and Prawn Kerabu, Curry Chicken Stuff U.S. Potatoes, Kimchi Seaweed U.S. Lattice Cut Fries and Chili Flavoured U.S. Potatoes Wedges in Lettuce Cups. We also had the opportunity to try out some of the potato products pepped up by the hotel, together with some beautifully concocted dipping sauces.

You can click to view or download the recipes below.

On top of that, I also managed to pep up a recipe by using US Russet potatoes. It’s Spicy Tamarind Russet Potatoes with Whitebaits. It can be real addictive. You can also download the recipe below.

It was indeed a great experience for all the attendees. Not only did they gain more knowledge in the awareness program, everyone went home with some Russet potato samples and gift pack. Thank you Potatoes USA for a great evening~ 🙂

About Potatoes USA: Potatoes USA is the marketing organization for the 2,500 commercial potato growers operating in the United States. The organization promotes five main potato products, namely fresh table-stock potatoes, fresh chipping potatoes, seed potatoes, frozen potato products and dehydrated potato products. They do not directly sell potatoes and potato products but offers services that help their customers all around the world to increase demand for potatoes. Potatoes USA has invested heavily in marketing and product management research to bring you information that grows your business.

Olive Tree Hotel Penang has always been serving unique buffet spreads during the of holy month of Ramadan with offering that would linger for a long time not only through your taste bud but also in your memories. This year, it would pay homage to the Minangkabau community from Negeri Sembilan by adopting the Minangkabau cultures & traditions, in which the hotel would feature Minangkabau-themed elements which would be portrayed through its outdoor lights and decorations, buffet stalls, photo corner and of course the month-long Olive Tree Hotel Ramadan Buffet at their Sukkah Coffee House.

The promotion would be available from 27 May 2017 until 2 July 2017 from 6.30pm to 10.00pm with price tags of RM120+ (adult), RM60+ (child: 5-12 years old) and RM80+ (senior citizen: 55 years old & above). Do also check out various discounts available for on selected dates as below. For enquiries and reservations to enjoy the delicious iftar dishes, please contact Sukkah Coffee House at +604-637 7856 to make prior booking to avoid any disappointment.

We were served with some of the highlights for the promotion which consisted of Appetizer, Soup, Main Course and Dessert.

To start off, we had the Kerabu Jantung Pisang, Nasi Ulam and Ulam-Ulaman with Sambal Balacan as condiment. I’m a fan of raw herbs and vegetables and these few salads alone would have made me contended in life.

As for soup, we tried out their Sup Ayam Cendawan. It might sound simple but the overall taste was pepped with flavors, especially from the sweetness of the assorted vegetables. It was quite addictive to my liking.

We also had Sambal Ikan Bilis Petai, Kambing Masak Keruntuk, Ayam Masak Ros, Rendang Daging Minang, Pucuk Paku Masak Lemak Cili Padi, Gulai Ikan, Udang Goreng Kunyit served with Nasi Putih. It was rather hard to rank any of the dishes stated above as every single dish has its unique texture and flavors. However, I would strongly recommend the Sambal Ikan Bilis Petai if you are a fan of stinky beans. The flavors from the pounded fried anchovies combined with the mild spiciness of the added pounded green chilies plus the crunchiness from the added stinky beans was enough for me to finish up my plate of rice. It was a superb dish. Moreover, the Kambing Masak Keruntuk and Rendang Daging Minang were so tender and juicy in their spiced up concoctions that I could not resist replenishing my plate with more rice~ Haha~ 😛

Desserts consisted of Bubur Pulut Hitam and Badak Berendam. It would be a great experience for many to try out their pandan flavored glutinous rice balls (tang yuan) soaked in thick yet creamy coconut milk.

Overall, the spreads at the Sukkah Coffee House @ Olive Tree Hotel’s Ramadan Buffet has always impressed me with their high standard and consistency.

More Olive Tree Hotel Deals 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.

Recently on 20 April 2107, Lexis Suite Penang which is located at the beautiful shoreline of Teluk Kumbar, Penang, hosted the Media & Blogger Appreciation Night 2017 at its beautifully Japanese themed decorated Hibiscus Ballroom with its staff all dressed up in traditional Japanese attires.

It was a fun-filled event with great food, great entertainment with bridal show and martial art session plus lots of lucky draw items to be won by its guests. Guests were even pampered with a brief massage session by Lex Spa.

The interior was with a setup of how Lexis Suite Penang would decorate the ballroom for a customized wedding banquet.

Of course the dishes served on that night would be Japanese cuisine as well with options such as Ninniku Chahan, Fried Lotus Roots with Konnyaku, Tori Katsu, Oden with Condiments, Chilled Seafood Platters, Sushi, Sashimi, Teppanyaki, Roasted Meat, Yakitori and a variety of desserts, not forgetting the cocktail, mocktail and coffee section.

Thank you to Lexis Suites Penang for extending the invitation for a great night out.

Lexis Suites Penang is located right at the end of Teluk Kumbar before the main road into Gertak Sanggul. In fact, it’s located just next to the Hao You Teluk Kumbar Seafood (公巴好友海鲜). The Roselle Coffee House is located at level 1 of Lexis Suites Penang. Just walk into the main lobby of the resort and move towards the right side of the lobby and you will see the elevator there. Take the lift to the first floor and you would see the restaurant there.

Name: LEXIS SUITES PENANG
Address: 28, Jalan Teluk Kumbar, 11920 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-628 2888
Business Hours (Roselle Coffee House):
Breakfast: 6.30am-10.30am
All Day Menu: 11.30am-10.30pm
Buffet Menu: 6.30pm-11.00pm
Room Service: 24 hours
GPS: 5.287210, 100.232760

About Lexis Suites Penang: A luxurious resort by the beachfront that stands out as the only hotel on the island which offer guests the luxury of an individual private pool and steam room in every of its 222 suites. Located at the idyllic Teluk Kumbar, Lexis Suites Penang is about ten minutes’ drive from Penang International Airport. The guestrooms feature two king-sized beds and a host of practical amenities in a spacious enclave, with an awesome view of the sea.

Japanese beverages are not only on green tea or sake but also on coffee as of today Japan is among the world’s largest importers of coffee. With this statistic, coffee lovers from around the globe are eyeing on Japan’s booming specialty coffee scene with vast imports of coffee beans from great coffee-growing countries around the world. There are various preparation methods available such as aeropress, French press, paper drip and more to cater to the needs of its consumers. Penangites would be happy as a famous Japanese coffee has landed on the shore. Doutor Coffee Japan continues to grow in Malaysia with its fourth outlet now in Gurney Plaza Penang, Malaysia. The opening ceremony is officiated by the Executive Chairman of Texchem Resources Bhd, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Fumihiko Konishi and President of Doutor Nichires Holdings Co. Ltd., Mr. Masanori Hoshino.

The very first Doutor outlet in Tokyo’s Harajuku district which was founded in 1980 by Mr. Hiromichi Toriba was a teeny-tiny 30sqm. Despite its humble beginnings, today Doutor Coffee has an international presence throughout outlets in Taiwan, Singapore and now in Malaysia; with three outlets opened late last year – in Aeon Tebrau, Johor Bahru, Sunway Velocity Mall and Aeon Bukit Tinggi. “While the coffee market is growing all over South-East Asia, Doutor decided to open in Malaysia because they found a good partner in the Texchem Group, which owns 106 Sushi King Outlets in Malaysia, so they know what to do, and we can expand easily,” says Mr. Minoru Mori, the Deputy Managing Director of Doutor Malaysia.

Doutor Coffee is renowned for its roasted beans, which are open-flame roasted, a method that takes a lot of time and involves a labyrinthine process that yields complex, richly flavored coffee beans. As open-flame roasting traditionally only allows for 5kg to 20kg of coffee to be roasted at a time, Doutor developed its own industrialized open-flame roasting equipment to achieve the results that it wanted, using larger quantities of coffee. According to Director of Doutor Nichires Holdings Co., Ltd who is also a Master Roaster; Mr. Masahiro Kanno personally goes to select the beans that Doutor uses from over 10,000 plantations from all over the world, including its very own plantation in Kona, Hawaii. As such, Doutor Coffee practices the ‘3 FRESH’ philosophy; freshly roasted, freshly ground and freshly brewed. Doutor ensures that it provides freshly brewed coffee and fresh food inspired by Japan which is prepared upon order.

The Doutor chain in Malaysia is designed to cater to the different Malaysian taste buds with a beverage menu that not only offers Espresso-based coffee, mixed blends, and hand-brewed coffee of single origin, but also whips up non-coffee beverages for non-coffee drinkers. The hot food choices are prepared fresh and are inspired by Japanese elements and ingredients. There are also a range of cakes, desserts and pastries. Serving artisanal coffee with a modern and contemporary ambience which offers comfortable experiences for their patrons, Doutor aims to be a local hangout spot for ‘Penangites’.

Now let’s head onto some of items served in Doutor Coffee Japan in Penang. Firstly, let’s look at their beverages section where they have Hand Brewed Coffee (RM8.90), Honey Latte (RM12.90), Cafe Mocha (RM11.90), Signature Crème Brulee Latte (RM15.90), Signature Military Latte (RM15.90) and a specially concocted beverage for Penang, the Fizzy Berry Soda (RM13.90).

I quite like the Military Latte as it had the prefect ratio of espresso and matcha to my liking. Moreover, their Signature Crème Brulee Latte was superb as the creamy bitterness combined with the burned crisp of the added brown sugar was simply irresistible.

Next, we have the pasta section where you could try out their Signature Spaghetti (RM14.90), Seafood Tomato Sauce Spaghetti (RM16.90), Mentai Shrimp Spaghetti (RM18.90), Carbonara with Yolk & Bacon Spaghetti (RM15.90) and more. Somehow, their Signature Spaghetti caught my attention the most as the overall dish was colorful and had all the ingredients which I like such as chicken ham, sausage, shimeji mushroom, eggplant, tomato, spinach, onsen egg and sesame. Each mouthful was truly well balanced and heavenly.

As for the rice dishes, we also tried out their Fluffy Soufflé Doria (RM19.90) and Fluffy Omu Rice (RM17.90). Both were equivalent tasty but I fancy the Fluffy Soufflé Doria more due to its unique presentation.

There was also the sandwich section where everyone can indulge into their Shrimp Avocado Sandwich (RM14.90), Shrimp & Tuna Sandwich (RM14.90), Sukiyaki Beef Sandwich (RM14.90), Tuna Cheddar Sandwich (RM12.90) and Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich (RM12.90). I quite like the Tuna Cheddar Sandwich with the oozy cheesiness.

As for desserts, they do have many signature items to tempt your sweet tooth. Some of them include Matcha Soufflé Pancake (RM14.90), Vanilla Soufflé Pancake (RM13.90), Matcha Soufflé (RM8.90), Vanilla Soufflé (RM8.90) and Caramel French Toast (RM15.90).

Since the options in different outlets may differ a bit, do click on the Penang outlet menu to enlarge to have a clearer view:

Overall, I’m pleased with the spreads available here as it caters for all ages under one roof. Moreover, each dish is not more than RM20. Some of the dishes such as their Signature Spaghetti, soufflés and coffee are rather interesting with the right taste and texture to my liking. However, services during peak hours of the day could be a bit chaotic. Please bear in mind that they are still new and would need some time to get everything in proper.

Doutor Coffee Japan is located at the al fresco area of Gurney Plaza, opposite G Hotel and next to Dome. If you would like to buy good quality coffee for your home, this cold brew coffee online is a great option to find incredible flavors and good prices.

Name: DOUTOR COFEE JAPAN @ GURNEY PLAZA
Address: 170-G-41 Ground Floor (al fresco area), Gurney Plaza, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: N/A
Business Hours: 10.00am-10.00pm (Sunday-Thursday), 10.00am-11.00pm (Friday & Saturday)
GPS: 5.437830, 100.310012

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

About Doutor Malaysia: D&N Coffee and Restaurant Malaysia Sd.n Bhd. was established as a joint venture company between Texchem Restaurant Systems Sdn. Bhd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Texchem Resources Bhd) and D&N International Co. Ltd. from Japan, making it one of the newest subsidiaries under the Texchem Group of Companies. D&N Coffee and Restaurant Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. aims to continue expanding more outlets in 2017 under its brand.

Malaysia’s all-time favorite Halal certified Japanese restaurant, Sushi King from nationwide, would be promoting its “Japanese Curry with a Kick” from 1 April 2017 until 30 June 2017. Sushi King is introducing an exclusive Japanese curry menu with added punchy ‘kick’ to suit the local taste buds and spicy enough to fire up any Malaysian’s savory palate. The special menu would be available for a limited time in which various authentic Japanese fare would be merged with a spicy twist and mouthwatering flavors for those adventurous foodies who love to have “spicier” moments in their lives. Do click on the poster below to enlarge for a better view.

To start off the new introductions, let’s personalize your order. Diners can choose any of the 3 options available for the curry rice, namely Chicken Katsu (deep fried chicken), Seafood Fry (deep fried prawns & fish) or Yakiniku (pan fried beef slices), followed by your choice of spiciness pairing level such as Curry, Tomato Curry and Spicy Curry. Please be warned that even the toughest and most seasoned ‘fiery-food-lover’ do find the Spicy Curry to be such a challenge without triggering the gustatory hyperhidrosis of profuse sweating~ Haha~ 🙂

Summarized Steps:
Step 1: Choose One (1) Main Curry Rice (Chicken Katsu, Seafood Fry or Yakiniku)
Step 2: Choose One (1) Spiciness Level (Curry, Tomato Curry or Spicy Curry)
Step 3: Wait for your personalized dish to arrive

We were then served with the hot plate style Grilled Cheese Curry (RM13.90++), a heat infused version of the Chicken Katsu Curry Rice as above but with an additional piece of melted cheese. The combination was tasty, giving that extra umami flavor into the dish.

The next dish which was the Curry Kiryu Udon (RM13.90++) was quite an interesting dish as it’s hardly available outside of Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The famous smooth textured flat and wide noodles complemented well with the mildly spiced up curry broth, topped with tempura prawn, kani sticks and a few chopped stalks of spring onions. In fact, I felt in love with the dish at first bite~ 😛

Next on the list was the Agedashi Beef Curry (RM18.90). The dish came with a set of deliciously pepped up fried bean curd, pan fried beef, Shimeji mushrooms and cheese in a nicely spiced up curry base, served with a bowl of steamed Japanese rice, miso soup and chawanmushi. It was indeed a heavenly combination. However, it would be great if the kitchen would have the option for chicken for those non beef consumers.

Sushi King did also introduce 4 other curry based sushi in this promotion, namely Aburi Curry Tamago (flame grilled egg with cheese and curry mayonnaise – RM3.00++), Curry Tori Katsu Gunkan (deep fried chicken with curry mayonnaise – RM4.00++), Curryfornia Roll (crabstick, cucumber, egg and flying fish roe, served with curry piri-piri sauce – RM5.00++) and Curry Ebi Fry Nigiri (deep fried prawn with curry mayonnaise – RM6.00++). I really could not decide which one out of the 4 items served were the best as each item has their unique flavors.

We were also introduced to two new desserts in Sushi King, which were the Matcha Ice Cream Doughnut (RM4.90++) and Vanilla Ice Cream Doughnut (RM4.90++). Both were simply refreshing after a hefty meal of curried meals.

MOTHERS’ DAY GIVEAWAY!

Since Mothers’ Day would be here on 14 May 2017, why not celebrate this eventful day with your loving mother by trying to win yourself some Sushi King cash vouchers? The steps are rather simple as below. Good luck to all~ 🙂

Step 1: LEAVE a short comment in this blog post. (Eg. Nice giveaway, Great place for family gathering, etc.)
Step 2: Go to SUSHI KING FACEBOOK CONTEST, LIKE, SHARE the post and TAG 3 friends. Please end with the hashtag #MySKCurry (Eg. Name 1, Name 2, Name 3 #MySKCurry)
Step 3: COMMENT on my FACEBOOK POST in not more than 20 words after the next sentence, “I want to win some Sushi King cash vouchers to celebrate Mothers’ Day as my Mum …” and end the sentence with the hashtag #MySKCurry (Eg. I want to win some Sushi King cash vouchers to celebrate Mothers’ Day as my Mum is the greatest in this world. #MySKCurry)

Terms & Conditions:
1. This giveaway is only valid for those residing in Malaysia only.
2. Contest period ends at 12.00pm, 22 April 2017
3. The participant will be disqualified if failed to comply to any of the abovementioned step
4. Each participant can only win ONE (1) prize.
5. Winners will be tagged on the Facebook giveaway post by 12.00pm, 23 April 2017. The most creative comments will win prizes as stated below.
6. The organizer’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained

Prizes:
– Grand Prize: RM100 x 1
– 2nd Prize: RM50 x 1
– Consolation Prize: RM30 x 1

Overall, I’m so happy that finally Sushi King has finally introduced spicier dishes into their menu, though it’s just for a short period of time. I’m sure Malaysians, who are used to various spicy dishes in their daily meals would be pleased with the many options available. The Kiryu Udon is not something that is common in this region and Sushi King made it possible for us to try it out. It was indeed a great experience for all of us.

The Sushi King @ Gurney Plaza is located at level 2 of the new wing. Just use the escalator up to level 2 and you can see the outlet on the right.

Name: Sushi King @ Gurney Plaza
Address: Lot No. Lot 170-02-58, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-227 5285
Business Hours: 10.00am-10.00pm
GPS: 5.437096, 100.309867

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

About Sushi King: Sushi Kin Sdn Bhd was established in 1995, introducing sushi on the kaiten (conveyor belt) to Malaysia through its well-known brand, Sushi King. This chain of restaurants serves quality sushi and other Japanese cuisine at affordable prices in a warm and friendly environment. What sets Sushi King apart is the personal touch of serving freshly made sushi on the kaiten for customers to pick up and enjoy. From a single outlet in Kuala Lumpur, Sushi King has expanded to 100 outlets and counting throughout the Klang Valley and even covering nearly every state across the nation, making it the largest Japanese kaiten concept chain of restaurants in Malaysia. Sushi Kin Sdn Bhd is a member of the Texchem Group of Companies, being one of over thirty-five subsidiaries under Texchem Resources Bhd (Texchem), a Malaysia-based multinational, listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia. Texchem has four core business divisions – Restaurant Division, Industrial Division, Food Division and Polymer Engineering Division.

For those who had travelled to Taipei, Taiwan and visited the Danshui Old Street (淡水老街) in search of great food, the aromatic scent of the freshly baked old school style egg sponge cake (Ji Dan Gao/雞蛋糕) from one specific shop might still be in your memory vividly. That would indeed be the reminiscence of our childhood days when we enjoyed the fragrance and flavorful egg cake in its most basic form before the pastry industry had gone through years of creative evolutions. Penangites would be in luck now as one such shop by the name on Tam Sui Old Taste Cake of Taiwan (淡水現烤古早味雞蛋糕) had set its foot on the shore of Penang with its maiden operation today.

Unlike many of the bakeries out there, the shop utilized the basic concept of open kitchen where all the processes of cakes can be seen and each of the freshly baked cake would be immediately cut in a thick slab of 4”x8” pieces and sold right in front of your eyes.

Compared to those sold in Taipei, the bakery here has 3 different flavors available, namely Original (原味古早味雞蛋糕 – RM14nett), Cheese (雙層芝士古早味雞蛋糕 – RM18nett) and Chocolate (暴漿朱古力古早味雞蛋糕 – RM20 – only available effectively 1 April 2017 onwards at 12.00noon and 6.00pm daily except on closed days on Tuesdays).

As this is another new outlet opening in Penang, you would expect to encounter huge crowds forming and queueing within and outside the shop. Since everyone would be anxiously waiting to pick up their fresh bakes during each round of the baking time, do spend some time after paying your bills to indulge in their fresh coffee brews. There will be some tables setup to cater to your needs. I’ve tried their Hot Latte (RM8.90nett) and found it to have the right bitterness and creaminess to my liking.

Overall, the texture of this old school style egg sponge cake was not as cottony as what you would find in the Japanese style cheese sponge cake but it’s firmer, heavier with more bites. Personally, I quite like their signature cheese version with double layers of oozing cheese complemented well with the mild sweetness of the original eggy flavors.

For those who are from outstation, finding the road leading to the shop can be a bit tricky. Though the shop is located just along the service road of Jalan Mesjid Negeri, it would be quite tough especially when you are at the other side of the main road. If you are travelling via Jalan Mesjid Negeri towards Penang Bridge, immediately after you see the Petronas petrol kiosk, turn left into Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang. Drive on and keep to your right until you reach the traffic lights (KFC Batu Lanchang is on your left). Turn right into the road and drive on. Turn right at the second junction before the playground (Batu Green). Drive until the end and you can see the shop at the left corner unit.

Name: TAM SUI OLD TASTE CAKE OF TAIWAN (淡水現烤古早味雞蛋糕)
Address: 539 Jalan Mesjid Negeri, 11600 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-655 2242
Business Hours: 10.00am-8.00pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
GPS: 5.386796, 100.304940

Kulim HQ:
Address: 3287 Lorong Selasih 2a/1, Taman Selasih,09000 Kulim, Kedah.
Contact: +604- 491 3287
Business Hours: 6.00am-8.00pm
GPS: 5.376238, 100.537829

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