CRIZ BON APPETITE

Just a few days into Chinese New Year 2016, it’s going to be Valentine’s Day, which also coincides with Renri (7th day of lunar first month – Human Day/Everyone’s Birthday). On this special day, it’s not meant only to celebrate romantic love between couple but also a day to shower your loved ones with lots of love, gifts and blessings. This year, at David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace at Strawberry Hill up Penang Hill, would be offering unique set meals for Valentine’s Day. Priced at RM338++/per couple or RM170++/pax (in the case you would want to bring your parents or siblings along), you would be served with a 5-course dinner (with double main courses) plus coffee/tea. The promotion will be available from 12-14 February 2016.

However, if you make the booking for 14 February 2016 with full payment now, the management would compliment you with a bottle of their in-house red/white wine. Two sessions would be available for the day – Session 1: 6.30pm-8.00pm and Session2: 8.30pm-10.00pm~ 🙂 Please contact +604-828 8337 or +6018-409 6277 for more information or to make your reservation today.

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

For starter, we were served with Rouleau de printemps (spring rolls) which was something different as it came with a piece each of Cod Fish Paper Roll and Mango Spring Roll. Both the rolls had basically the same ingredients except the Mango Spring Roll came with Vietnamese paper roll with shredded raw mango strips added.

We also tried out their Lobster Bisque Soup with added Slipper Lobster Meat. It was a great soup with nice flavors from the roasted shells and those added chunks of slipper lobster meat did give that extra bite. It would be great too if some croutons or even gnocchi be added in for more texture.

As for the First Main Course, it would be Chicken Roulade served with Poivrade Sauce & Potato Confit. The crushed pistachio nuts and herbs stuffed chicken had just the right flavor and texture. Combined with the peppery mirepoix reduction sauce, both complemented each other real well.

The Second Main Course would consist of an option of 3 choices such as Cod, Lamb or Beef.

The first option would be the Steamed Chiteau Cod served with Seafood Veloute and Chives Pomme Puree. The smooth texture of the steamed Pacific Cod combined with the roux formed buttery seafood sauce and accompanied with some chives boosted mashed potatoes (pomme puree) would be perfect for those seafood lovers.

The second option would be the Lamb Stew served with Balsamic Port Wine Sauce and Potato Confit. The slightly fatty, tender yet juicy slab of stewed lamb combined real well with the balsamic vinegar and Port Wine reduction. I wished I could have more of this heavenly dish over some nicely toasted garlic bread (**hinting**) 😛

The third option would be their Pan-Seared Grain Fed Tenderloin served with Australian Potato Crisps and Au Jus. I simply love how the kitchen prepared their beef tenderloin – medium-rare, tender and juicy. Combined with it natural beef juice (Au Jus), it was perfect. I just wished they could have served more of the Australian Potato Crisps rather than providing only one wedge.

I always love the dessert for their set meals and this time we had the opportunity to try out their Chocolate Strawberry Mousse & Sponge served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some berries. Can I have more? Slurp~ 🙂

To end the meal, it’s either Tea or Coffee. As for me, I would always go for their aromatic and full-bodied Italian Caffe Vergnano Espresso Rico ‘700 brew.

Overall, I do find the package a great deal as they sure know how to utilize quality ingredients for their cooking. However, the portion served this time could be more towards fine dining with smaller serving through the courses. Anyhow, it was still a fulfilling meal to buzz up the occasion.

In order to get to the restaurant, you would need to take a train up Penang Hill. For MyKad holders, it’s RM10/pax (adult) or RM4/pax (senior citizen, child & student). As for visiting tourists, it’s RM30/pax (adult & senior citizen) or RM15/pax (child & student). Daily train operation hours will be 6.30am-11.00pm (last train from top station). It’s not hard to find David Brown’s Restaurant and Tea Terraces as it’s located above the small Strawberry Hill next to the train station. Upon disembarking from the train, just walk towards the end and turn right and you can see a stairways leading up to the restaurant.

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

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 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)

During my recent stay at E&O Residences, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I managed to pay a visit to Delicious @ Bangsar Village II to check out their forth coming “Inspired by Tapas” promotion as well as new items in their menu. The “Inspired by Tapas” menu would cover 10 small dishes created by Delicious’ CEO, Steve Allen, and Executive Chef, Sandy Alan Rowe. The menu would run from 4 January 2016 until 31 March 2016. The price quoted within would be in nett price, which is inclusive of 6% GST and service charge free.

Let’s have a peek at what would be in store for you in the “Inspired by Tapas” promotion in January 2016. Firstly, you would get to try out their Baked Pumpkin with Grilled Prawns (RM17.50). I loved this dish a lot as the aromatic and earthy flavors from the baked pumpkin, combined with some arugula salads and flavors from the grilled prawn, was palatable to my liking. At least, it was less sinful to my healthy diet.

Next on the list was the Baked Chicken Thigh with Romesco Sauce and Toasted Almonds (RM15.50). Though the baked chicken thigh was nothing much to shout about, I would personally think that it needed a bit more herbs to pep up the flavors. However, I liked the complement of the romesco sauce as it had that earthly, nutty and yet garlicky tomato sweetness to my liking. It was a bonus to have some additional toasted almond flakes on the dish.

The next dish reminded me of sauteed mushrooms on bruschetta. It was their Creamed Garlic Mushrooms with Croutons and Poached Egg (RM13.00). Immediately, I fell in love with this dish as I loved how the kitchen had presented the dish in a different style. The oozy greatness of the poached egg added some extra creaminess to the dish. However, it would be great if there were some added greens to go with the dish as it could be quite surfeit to drown in all the creaminess.

Malaysians love satays and the next dish was something that caught everyone yearning for more. It was their Grilled Beef Skewers (RM18.00), served with tomatoes, red onions and peppers on a bed of garlic fried potatoes. The nice marinate and the smoky flavors on the tender yet juicy skews of beef chunks were heavenly.

The next dish in the list was their Black Cod with Capsicum Sauce (RM18.00). Somehow, this dish did not impress me as the flesh was not as smooth and fatty as that of a Pacific cod. Anyway, black cod is not a cod fish as named but more towards the texture of halibut which is firmer and flaky. Its actual name is sablefish. Moreover, I personally felt that the taste from sauce overwhelmed the true flavors of the fish.

On top of the tapas inspired dishes, there are some new items added into the menu such as the Crunchy Chicken Wings with Sesame and Seaweed Crust (RM18.00), served with mustard mayonnaise. We all loved the wings as each bite was pepped with flavors. With a little dip into the provided condiment, it was the perfect dish to sink your teeth onto.

Who would have thought that such basic item such as the Pumpkin Risotto Balls (RM13.50) would have created a list of followers? The pumpkin, mushroom and rosemary infused risotto balls, deep fried to perfection and served with some pesto mayonnaise was something out of the world. The dish was quite a nice snack to my liking.

The kitchen had ingeniously created a Malaysian salad with their Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut, Beef Serunding Salad with Papaya (RM26.50) and dressed in spicy lime dressing. It was quite a playful concoction with the usage of the mildly spiced up coconut milk infused beef floss. It would be great too if some cubes of ketupat were to be added in place of the papaya slices as they do go well with any meat serunding (floss).

For pasta lovers, you could try out their Carbonara with Seaweed Egg (RM28.00) in parmesan cream with Mushrooms with the option of either beef bacon or shredded chicken. I had the beef bacon version and it was great as there were also some peels of parmesan cheese being added in as garnish.

For a healthier bite, you might want to try out their Wild Mushroom Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, Cucumber and Pine Nuts (RM26.50). Of course, they would be some French fries to keep you all filled up.

There would be some new and old desserts to end your meal. If you have a big appetite for desserts after your meal, you should try out their Macadamia & Salted Caramel Cheesecake Sundae (RM17.50). The portion was humongous. I would advise you to share out between two persons. They do have Chocolate & Raisons Cheesecake (RM15.00) too. If you feel that you would like to consume your dessert at a slower pace without having the ice cream melting up so fast, just go for their Macadamia & Salted Caramel Cheesecake (RM15.00). It’s basically the same thing minus the added ice cream as per the sundae. As for me, I would always love something sour to wash down all the meaty stuff after a hearty meal. I went for their Lemon Meringue Pie (RM15.00).

As for beverages, they do have some new drinks too such as the Rose Lychee Frostie (RM12.50) and Apple, Mint & Lemon Frostie (RM13.50). Other than iced or chilled beverages, you could always try out their Hot Latte (RM13.00) or their Ronnefeldt Tea Selections (RM9.00 – English Breakfast, Chamomile, Earl Grey, Peppermint or Jasmine).

In addition to all the new menu items, the eatery had started to roll out a Monday & Tuesday Specials night of “BUY 1 FREE 1” dishes. In December, Asian Mains get the spotlight followed in January with Sandwiches, Burgers & Wraps. Available from 3.00pm every Monday and Tuesday, the guests can choose any two of these dishes and they receive the lower priced item absolutely free. Popular amongst students and young professionals, we hope everyone can enjoy these value added specials in difficult times.

Overall, the chefs had done some great jobs in revamping the menu as I do find some of the new dishes to be rather innovative, healthy and flavorful. I do hope to find other new creations in the near future.

Though Delicious @ Bangsar Village II is located within the ground floor of the complex, it’s actually situated at the junction of Jalan Telawi 2 and Jalan Telawi 4, directly opposite the Balai Polis Bangsar or Restoran Devi’s. It’s not hard to reach there even if you are not locals. You can just key in the GPS via WAZE app or just grab a taxi.

Name: DELICIOUS @ BANGSAR VILLAGE II
Address: Lot GF-1, Ground Floor, Bangsar Village II, 2 Jalan Telawi 1, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Contact: +603-2287 1554
Business Hours:
Mon-Wed: 11.00am to 10.30pm (last order 9.45pm)
Thurs-Fri: 11.00am to 11.00pm (last order 10.15pm)
Sat, Sun & PH: 9.00am to 11.00pm (last order 10.30pm)
GPS: 3.131327, 101.671562

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

About The Delicious Group: Named after the signature Delicious Cafe, the Delicious Group now consists of nine F&B outlets operating under three separate F&B entities. The six Delicious Cafes are located in prime spots across the Klang Valley (St Mary Place, 1 Utama, Bangsar Village II, Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid and Setia City Mall), Simplyd (The fast casual café concept has three outlets located in Nu Sentral Mall, The Curve and Avenue K) as well as a strong catering division for all types of events, weddings and parties. The Delicious Group is 100% owned by the Eastern & Oriental Group.

Of all the Delicious Group eateries, only Delicious @ St. Mary Place serves buffet breakfast as early as 7.00am until 10.30am daily. Basically, the breakfast caters to the needs of the occupants at St. Mary Residences and the guests at E&O Residences. It would be at RM37.50/pax for walk-ins as well.

The selections could quite international with spreads ranging from noodles soup, porridge with condiments, egg of your choice, grilled sausages, juices, cereal, waffles with sauce, grilled tomatoes with cheese, hash brown, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, fried noodles, nasi lemak with condiments, various bread with spreads, croissants, Danish pastries, muffins, yoghurt and fresh fruit cuts.

Here are some of items I had tried out during my stay at E&O Residences earlier this month.

Overall, for the price paid, I would consider the spreads to be quite adequate for my breakfast. However, it would be great if the eatery could serve at least one salad dish to cater to those who are healthy conscious.

Delicious @ St. Mary Place is located right outside the St. Mary Residences and E&O Residences along Jalan Tengah (off Jalan Sultan Ismail). If you are driving from Imbi towards KL Ciry Park via Jalan Sultan Ismail, slow down as you reach Wisma Genting. Do watch out for a small hidden lane on your left. Turn left into Jalan Tengah and you would see Delicious @ St. Mary Place on your right just after the entrance to the residences. If you are unsure, just key in the GPS (3.151752, 101.707942) into your WAZE app and you should have no problem at all to find the venue.

Name: DELICIOUS @ ST. MARY PLACE
Address: G-7 & G-8 Tower A, St Mary Place, No. 1, Jalan Tengah, Off Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Contact: +603-2022 1983
Business Hours: 7.00am-9.30pm / 7.00am-10.30am (Breakfast)
GPS: 3.151752, 101.707942

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (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 The Delicious Group: Named after the signature Delicious Cafe, the Delicious Group now consists of nine F&B outlets operating under three separate F&B entities. The six Delicious Cafes are located in prime spots across the Klang Valley (St Mary Place, 1 Utama, Bangsar Village II, Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid and Setia City Mall), Simplyd (The fast casual café concept has three outlets located in Nu Sentral Mall, The Curve and Avenue K) as well as a strong catering division for all types of events, weddings and parties. The Delicious Group is 100% owned by the Eastern & Oriental Group.

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang will be all out to impress you with their buffet spreads this coming Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016.You would get to enjoy these festive seasons with your loved ones over an array of mouth-watering dishes specially pepped up by the skillful chefs of the hotel. Before I cover on some of the dishes served, let’s have a look on the summary of the packages available.

FESTIVE PACKAGES SUMMARY:

Christmas/Countdown Buffet Dinner (6:30pm-10.00pm)
RM168nett (adult), RM80nett (child)

Christmas/New Year Day Hi-Tea (12.00pm-3.00pm)
RM82nett (adult), RM40nett (child)

Christmas/New Year Day Buffet Dinner (6:30pm-10.00pm)
RM118nett (adult), RM55nett (child)

Special Order: One whole bird of Turkey with stuffing at RM338nett (3 days prior booking is required)

Note: For the first 80 pax with full payment before 15 December 2015, you would be entitled to a 25% discount. For Senior Citizens (60 years old and above), you would be entitled to a 25% discount as well.

Special Appearances: On Christmas Eve, starting at 6pm, those in attendance will be able to enjoy live performance by Eastin’s carolling singers, lucky draws, activities. Eastin’s own live band performance, Melody will usher in the New Year 2016 on the eve with fireworks countdown.

Downloads: Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016 Menus

The highlight of the season would definitely be at the Carving Station especially on the Authentic Roasted Turkey with Classic Ingredients and Condiments. Do watch out for the Yorkshire Puddings which would be great with any meat items. One thing great about the turkey was that it was prepared perfectly with the right roasting, tenderness and juiciness.

There would also be some international Cold Delicacies such as Chicago Turkey Mixed Salad, Australia Potato Salad and Walnut Apple Salad to start off your meal. At the same time, do check out their Fresh Mushroom Cream Soup served with Fresh Baked Bread and Rolls.

For Hot Delicacies, you would be treated with Chicken Roulade with Pomegranate Sauce, Spanish Butter Rice with Nut, Poached Seabass with Saffron Sauce and more. Well, I quite like the Chicken Roulade with Pomegranate Sauce as it was one dish that you could hardly get from other eateries. Pomegranates are loaded with important nutrients that may lower the risk of all sorts of diseases.

As for Desserts, they would be many festive bakes and pastries to tempt your sweet tooth such as Ginger Bread House, Christmas Fruits Cake with Icing, House Christmas Mousse, Christmas Log, Ginger Bread Fantasy, Cherry Truffle and more.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

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

December is the month of many celebrations with Christmas just weeks from now and New Year being just around the corner. The newly reopened Café Laurel @ Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang won’t be left out from all the thrills of celebrating the festive occasions with spreads of goodies to pamper its guests and diners. You can call in +604-226 9988 Ext. 2819/2820 to make your reservation today.

Firstly, let’s celebrate with their Reopened Promotions of BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY TWO FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner). The promotions are valid until 31 December 2015, excluding festive days. Do check out the poster below.

On the other hand, festive promotions would be as below. For the eve of Christmas and New Year, you would have the BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY TWO FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner) promotions, whether of the actual day of Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016, you would get to enjoy their BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY THREE FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner). These offers are only applicable for paying adults.

Let’s have a look at their extensive spreads for their International Buffet Dinner on a Sunday night.

At the Salad & Cold Selection Sections, you would expect to savor Thai Chicken Salad, Thai Papaya Salad, Dry Cuttlefish Salad, 8 types of Plain Salad, Assorted Cold Cuts, Seafood on Ice, Smoked Fish, Beef Pastrami and Marinated Baby Octopus.

At the Soup Section, you might get Seafood Tom Yam Soup, Chicken Cream Soup with some Crispy Bread Rolls & Butter.

The eatery has many Action Stalls with delicious dishes such as Sashimi/Sushi with Condiments, Ikan Panggang (Portuguese Style), Char Koay Teow, Roasted Duck, Mix Grill (Jumbo Sausage, Lamb Chop), Pasta Station, Laksa with Condiments and Assorted Dim Sum

Some of the dishes at the Main Dish Section could be real delectable such as Roasted Lamb Leg, Pan Fried Fish in Cream Sauce, Chicken Roll with Thyme Sauce, Stir Fried Prawn, Mix Vegetables, Sambal Ikan Bawal, Gulai Kambing, Mee Goreng Mamak, Rendang Ayam, Paceri Nenas, Nasi Hujan Panas and Steamed White Rice.

For dessert lovers, you could head up to their Dessert Section for some sweet treats such as Assorted Mini French Pastries, Freshly Cut Tropical Fruits, Cream Caramel, Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce, Bread & Butter Pudding, Crème Brulee, Chocolate Mousse, Fruit Cocktail, Ice Cream with Condiments and end your meal with some Coffee & Tea.

Overall, I quite like the spreads especially at the sushi section where all the cuts were extremely fresh and palatable to my liking. However, there are still rooms for improvement especially at some specific action counters where I would at least expect a staff in attendance to cater to the needs of diners.

Café Laurel is located at the right wing of Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang. Upon entering the lobby, just head to the right side and you will see the entrance to the eatery.

Name: CAFÉ LAUREL @ EVERGREEN LAUREL HOTEL PENANG
Address: 53 Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-226 9988 Ext 2819/2820
Business Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12.00noon-2.30pm (Mondays – Fridays)
Hi-Tea: 12.00noon-3.00pm (Saturdays & Sundays)
International Buffet Dinner: 7.00pm-10.00pm (Sundays – Thursdays)
Seafood & Japanese Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm-10.00pm (Fridays & Saturdays)
GPS: 5.4311774, 100.3180416

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

Won’t it be cool if you could celebrate your Christmas with your loved ones and friends up Penang Hill this year? David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace has the perfect solution for you this year with their two promotions. One would be their Christmas Eve Set Dinner at RM188++/pax (24 December 2015 only) and the other would be their December Set Dinner Promotion at RM98++/pax (1-31 December 2015 except Christmas Eve). Dinner time would be from 6.00pm until 10.00pm. In order to get to the restaurant, you would need to take a train up Penang Hill. For MyKad holders, it’s RM10/pax (adult) or RM4/pax (senior citizen, child & student). As for visiting tourists, it’s RM30/pax (adult & senior citizen) or RM15/pax (child & student). Daily train operation hours will be 6.30am-11.00pm (last train from top station).

Let’s have a look at what would be served during the Christmas Eve Set Dinner Promotion 2015 (24 December 2015 only and no ala carte dishes will be served during dinner on this specific day). Please also take note that if you pre-book the set dinner with full payment before 15 December 2015, you would be entitled to a 20% discount.

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

To get your Christmas mood rolling, you would be first served with their complimentary version of Amuse Bouche. It’s a turkey croquette served with some hot pepper and vinegar spiced up sriracha mayonnaise. The item indeed boosted up my appetite for more delicious dishes to follow.

As for appetizer, it had Arugula Salad (commonly known as salad rocket), dressed with balsamic reduction lemon vinaigrette and topped with some slices of smoked beef bacon, tempura oyster mushroom with light sprinkles of crushed hazelnut. It was a simple and yet palatable to start off the meal.

We had Chicken Veloute Soup next. The texture of the soup really reminded me of KFC’s gravy for their mashed potatoes. It came with some slices of poached chicken, grilled eryngii mushrooms and a sprinkle of chopped chives. Maybe I have a strong taste bud as I found the soup to be a bit light to my liking. Somehow, it lacked some “roasted” flavors in it. It would be great if the kitchen have utilized some thick broth from simmering some roasted chicken parts to pep up the flavors more. Adding in some heavy cream would also give the soup more texture.

There are 3 options for the mail meal, namely turkey breast, Norwegian salmon and lamb racks.

The first option was the Traditional Roasted Turkey Breast, served with roasted herb potatoes, broccoli, purified apple chutney and glazed with some turkey juice. I quite like the whole combination especially with a twist with the usage of purified apple chutney and turkey juice though my favorite would still be the traditional cranberry and giblet sauces.

The second option was the Pan Seared Norwegian Salmon & Scallop, served with spear asparagus, tomato tartar, chives potato cream, and lime hollandaise. Every items on the plate complemented the perfectly pan seared salmon real well.

The third option which was the Pan Roasted Rack of Lamb was my favorite amongst the 3 options. The dish was served with glazed onions, confit cherry tomatoes, braised lamb pie with some balsamic lamb juice. It was the heavenly dish that would linger in my mind for quite awhile.

To clear the heaviness of the food you had consumed earlier, they have a pre-dessert of Ginger Lime Granita. It may look like some crushed ice but the flavors were just right with some crunchy texture.

The dessert was rather unique as the Chocolate Mousse Cake was skillfully decorated with some caramelized popcorns, caramelized banana, coconut gelee with an assortment of berries. The whole combination had just the right sweetness to my liking.

Lastly, you have the option to choose between Tea or Coffee with a Christmas Cookie to end your meal. I would recommend you to have their coffee as they are using the Italian brand Caffe Vergnano Espresso Rico ‘700 which has an intense and full-bodied flavor with hints of chocolate finishing. This blend had just the right balance of fragrantly roasted Arabica combined with the rich and full-bodied Robusta. It was the perfect beverage to end the meal.

In case you can’t make it on Christmas Eve, you can also check out their December Set Dinner Promotion at RM98++/pax (1-31 December 2015 except Christmas Eve). Here’s the menu.

While waiting for your meal to be served, you would always get to try out their in-house made bread roll with butter.

To start off, you could savor their Soft Shelled Crab Salad with Sesame Dressing as appetizer. With some crunches of the batter fried soft shelled crab combined with the many greens plus fragrantly pepped up sesame dressing, it was a great start before the main meal.

We were then served with Chicken & Corn Soup. I quite like the texture and flavors of this soup. At least there were some bites in it.

There are 3 options for the main course such as poultry, fish and lamb rack.

The first option was the David Brown’s Poulet, served with roasted herbed potatoes, steamed vegetables and gravy. This was quite a fusion dish with the L-shaped chicken drumsticks being marinated with dozen types of herbs and spices. For those who prefer stronger flavors, this dish would suit you well.

The second option was the Pan Seared Grouper, served with potato croquette, steamed vegetables and wasabi mayonnaise. It was a fuss-free dish for a dinner option.

The last option was the Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, served with potato fondant, steamed vegetables and lamb juice. It was not a bad choice actually, considering that the meat was tender and juicy to my liking.

As for dessert, it was the heavenly Chocolate Brownie with their signature homemade Caffe Vergnano 1882 Espresso Chocolate Ice Cream. The slightly crispy crusted and moist brownie combined with the earthly bitter sweet ice cream was the perfect dessert to end the meal.

If you get enough of the ice cream, you could always order coffee rather than tea to end the meal. They would be serving Coffee or Tea with Christmas Cookie during this season.

Overall, I do find some of the dishes served here to be quite impressive, especially the Christmas Eve Set Dinner. It might be a hefty sum for some to foot but you can be assured of quality ingredients being used in the menu. Just take a short getaway up the hills and be mesmerized with the cool breezy and scenic night view of the island. I’m sure you would not regret making that decision.

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

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

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

With the festive seasons of Christmas and New Year just around the corner, Hard Rock Hotel Penang will be having a few promotions to pamper its guests and diners with an extensive spread of delectable dishes under the expertise of the hotel’s kitchen team [From left to right: Rizal bin Hashim (Sous Chef), Abdul Rahim Bin Mohammad (Sous Chef), Mohd Nazir Bin Aziz (Chef De Cuisine), Zulkanai Bin Md Elias (Kitchen Manager) and Wan Mohd Shahrul Bin Wan Mohd Saad (Sous Chef)]. Do enjoy the delightful holiday treats this Christmas & New Year eves at Starz Diner @ Hard Rock Hotel Penang from 6.30pm until 10.30pm. Please call +604-886 8057 or email fb.penang@hardrockhotels.net to book earlier to avoid disappointment.

For both Christmas and New Eve dinners, you would get to indulge in their maki platters (Abuni Salmon Maki, Cheese Maki, Unagi Maki, Rainbow Maki, etc) plus bread and rolls (Grissini, Olive Bread, Multi Grains, Baguette, etc). Their Grissini (breadsticks) were one of the best I’ve tasted.

On the eve of Christmas, Starz Diner will be offering a Christmas Eve Rock ‘n’ Roll Buffet Dinner at RM186nett/pax, inclusive of a complimentary party pack and lucky draw.

Some of the dishes to look out for would be their Prawn Tikka with Mango Melon Salsa, Asparagus with Crab Meat Salad, Shellfish Bisque, Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy & Cranberries Citrus Sauce, Cajun Spice Red Snapper with Shrimp and Mussel Salsa, Miniature Berry Gingerbread Cakes and Chocolate and Cherry Yule Logs.

The highlight of any Christmas meal would be their Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy & Cranberries Citrus Sauce, Glazed Nuts Stuffing, Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. It was the perfect dish to start off the festive season. Ooo.. I always enjoyed my turkey with their sauces. Those condiments were some of the best ones around.

Their Chocolate & Cherry Yule Logs was one of the good ones around, considering that the cake was moist and fluffy without being too sweet.

Of course, there would be the English Fruit Cake with Glazed Fruits. Sweet as it is, it’s a great dessert to end the dinner over a cup of hot tea.

For those who would fancy a set dinner instead of a buffet dinner may opt for Hard Rock Café Penang’s 4-course Christmas Eve Dinner at RM185nett/pax. The dinner offers a starter – Mini Citrus Salad and a Cream of Lobster and Crab soup. For the choice of mains, the café will be serving a choice of Roasted Five Spiced Lamb Rack, Roasted Turkey Breast and Pan-fried Atlantic Salmon. For dessert, diners will feast on a delicious Strawberry Meringue with Berry Compote and Wild Berry Macadamia Gelato. Dinner would include two selected drinks and a complimentary party pack.

If you are not into set or buffet dinners but wanted something fulfilling to celebrate with a group of family members or friends, you could always try out their December promotion at Pizzeria with Chef Joe’s specially concocted Santarina Turkey Pizza (RM40nett), from 11.30am until 10.30pm daily. This pizza is oven-baked to perfection with grilled turkey breast with mushroom glaze, tomato salsa, spinach and cranberry sauce.

At the Hard Rock Café Penang, satisfy your taste buds with a Holiday Rock Platter, available for 2 persons at RM160nett or 3 persons at RM240nett. Serving until 23 December 2015, this platter is big enough to share and guaranteed to rock your palate. This platter comes with a choice of starter – House Salad or Soup of the Day. For the main course, diners will indulge in a sharing platter consisting of Potato Skins, Onion Rings, BBQ Beef Ribs, Spaghetti with Prawn Paste, Mini Beef Burgers with Satay Sauce, Chicken Wings with Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Ferringhi Ikan Bakar with Portuguese Sauce and Pulled Lamb Sandwich with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce. Homemade Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream would be served for dessert.

On New Year’s Eve, Starz Diner will be serving a New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner at RM199nett/pax inclusive of a complimentary party pack and lucky draw.

Some of the highlights to look out for are the Homemade Salmon Gravlax and Marinated Prawn with Condiments, Chilled Shooters (pumpkin, beetroot, green pea & basil tomato), Roasted Chicken served glazed baby carrot and citrus tapenade, Coffee Crusted Beef Fillet with Pumpkin Puree and Shallots Gravy, Mix Berries Financier with Mascarpone Cream and Mango Crème Brûlée.

On top of that, there’ll be two more promotions for New Year Eve at Pizzeria and Hard Rock Café. Pizzeria’s New Year’s Eve Seafood Buffet Dinner at RM199nett/pax which would include a variety of Cold Platters, Chilled Seafood, Salad, Antipasto, Cheese Platters, Soups, Hot Dishes, BBQ Seafood, Pasta & Carving Station, Pizzas and Desserts. The promotion would also include a complimentary party pack and lucky draw. On the other hand, Hard Rock Café Penang will be offering a 4-course New Year’s Eve Dinner at RM195nett/pax. The Starter would include a Mini Chicken Chop Salad, Creamy Leek and Fennel plus Potato Soup. The options for the Main Courses would be either a choice of Grilled Marinated Angus Strip Loin & Pacific Scallop, Baked Sesame Cod Fish & Grilled Sambal King Prawn or Oven Baked Lamb Rack & Tandoori Salmon. Diners would be served a delightful Tiramisu Mascarpone Mousse with Pistachio Biscotti and Coffee Gelato to end the meal.

Overall, the specially crafted dishes were palatable for all who love to savor some traditional as well as fusion items during these coming festive seasons. Of course, the Roasted Turkey and Stuffing would be the main highlight during this Christmas promotion and that Coffee Crusted Beef Fillet with Pumpkin Puree & Shallot Gravy would be something new to savor during this New Year Eve.

The Starz Diner is located at the left wing of Hard Rock Hotel Penang. Upon entering, just head to the left side and you will see a little glass door leading to the eatery.

Name: STARZ DINER @ HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG
Address: Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-881 1711
Business Hours: 6.30am-11.00am, 5.30pm-11.00pm
GPS: 5.467568, 100.241382

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

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

Hard Rock International:
With a total of 204 venues in 64 countries, including 157 cafes, 22 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, Lagos and Gran Canaria, Spain. New Hard Rock Hotel projects include Daytona Beach, Dubai, Los Cabos, Tenerife, Abu Dhabi, and Shenzhen and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

I’m sure many have heard about Sushi Mentai, especially those from Klang Valley, Johor and Penang. Through collaborative alliances with strategic business partners, Sushi Mentai’s philosophy is straightforward to the point – To bring affordable and quality Japanese food, mostly Japan imports, to enable everyone regardless of status and income, to enjoy the gastronomical fares without worrying much about the high food bills as experienced in many exquisite Japanese restaurants in Malaysia. With the tremendous success of its first branch at Elit Avenue in Bayan Baru, Sushi Mentai has now opened its second Penang branch at All Seasons Place in Air Itam on 16 October 2015 to cater to the needs of the public. For those from mainland Penang, you would be pampered with Sushi Mentai’s wide spread of Japanese cuisine with the opening of its third branch in Bukit Mertajam real soon~ 🙂

Though Sushi Mentai’s may look simple with only 25 sushi options for both yellow plate (RM1.80++/plate) and red plate (RM2.80++/plate) category respectively on the conveyor belt, you would be in for surprises as they do occasionally come out with many other interesting and flavorful creations (not from the menu) to tempt the taste buds of its diners. Let me show you some of the recommended ones as well as new signature creations such as their Tamago Mentai (yellow plate – egg), Chuka Kurage (yellow plate – jellyfish), Salmon Mentai (red plate – fish), Ebi Fried Kani Maki (red plate – prawn) and Ebi Tempura Fountain (red plate – prawn). Wow! No wonder the restaurant went by the name Sushi Mentai as their in-house concocted Mentai sauce (a combination of mentaiko aka cod fish roe with mayonnaise and maybe with a light squeeze of lemon juice) surely did sharpen up the flavors in each of their creation. I quite like the distinctive flavors and textures in their Ebi Fried Kani Maki as the crispiness from the added batter fried prawns wrapped in some lettuce combined with the fluffy yet chewy vinegar added Japanese rice was just perfect. It had mild touch of sesame oil added and it made the whole concoction quite addictive in each bite. Another must note would be their Ebi Tempura Fountain, something so simple and yet brought out the real taste of sushi. It had sushi rice stuffed inari (fried bean curd pocket) topped with a whole tempura prawn and drizzle with a light touch of nikiri (Japanese sweet soy sauce) and mayonnaise, then garnish with some ebiko (shrimp roe) and some chopped greens.

Instead of just sushi, there are many other selections in their menu ranging from Appetizer, Salad, Sashimi, Special Maki (special roll), Temaki (hand roll), Yakimono (grill), Agemono (fried), Menmono (noodles), Donmono (rice), Wanmono (bowl) and Beverages. You can click on the menu link up there for their full range of dishes.

Let me share with you my dining experiences with some of the dishes ordered starting with an appetizer called Chuka Idako (seasoned baby octopus – RM4.80++). You can practically taste all the sweet and sesame oil infused flavors in each of the nicely braised marinated baby octopus. The best part was that the dish was served chilled to my expectation.

As for sashimi, I would always go for fresh salmon cuts and indeed their Salmon Sashimi (RM10.80++/5 pieces) was really value for money. Other than at some buffet spread where I could eat all the salmon sashimi I ever wanted, I’ve yet to find an eatery serving such thick slabs of sashimi at such a low price.

Their signature maki set of Salmon Mentai Dragon Maki (RM12.80++) was a hit on my list as the batter fried prawn rolls with torch burned mentai sauce coated salmon slices were heavenly to my palate of quality Japanese dishes.

For some grilled seafood, I opted for their Salmon Mentaiyaki (RM14.80++) which came with two piece of mentai sauce coated grilled salmon. The taste wasn’t that bad but it could have been better if the fish were to be of a thicker cut. Anyway, I’m not complaining as the price was quite reasonable compared to paying over RM20++ dining elsewhere for such portion served.

I wanted something light yet fulfilling at the agemono section, thus I tried out their Takoyaki (squid tentacle filled wheat flour ball – RM4.50+/5 pieces). I would say these were some of the good ones I had for awhile as each has just the right juicy bite and were dressed with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise plus generously garnished with lots of nori and bonito flakes.

I had their Tempura Udon (RM13.80++) as my next dish. The dish may look rather simple with some udon in clear soup topped with some nori (seaweed) and two pieces of the Japanese fish cakes, on top of the two tempura prawns but the serving of udon was humongous. Instead of the standard serving of 120g for udon, the serving was almost 170g, which meant it was a big too much for small eaters whom would want to savor their other dishes. However, I would want to compliment them for the soup broth. This was the type of rich flavored dashi stock base I would love to consume with my udon especially on a humid day.

Sushi Mentai has the reputation of serving great Japanese curry, thus I also tried out their Tori Katsu Curry Rice (RM13.80++). Gosh! I was dumbfounded with the amount served for this dish. Are they sure that this was the portion for one person? The dish had half a plate filled with compactly cooked Japanese rice and the other half filled with loads of potato and carrot chunks in Japanese curry and topped with a whole deboned breadcrumbs fried drumstick. One glance at the dish and I was already feeling full~ LOL~ 😛 Anyway, for those big eaters, you would be happy to order this dish. Maybe it would be also be a great idea to share this dish with another friend so that you can consume more options. I loved the sweetness of both the potatoes and carrots with a light hint of citrus flavor enhanced non-spicy curry powder broth. On the other hand, the choice of using deboned chicken drumstick was ideal for this dish as the meat was moist and tender as it should be. The rice set came with a complimentary bowl of miso soup.

Instead of ordering the usual Chawan Mushi (RM3.80++) or Miso Soup (RM1.80++) as I normally would do, I saw one dish that was rather unique I have yet to see from other Japanese restaurants. It was their Asari Miso Shiru (RM4.80++). The bowl of soup was basically miso soup with added clams. I had it quite a few times at one Korean restaurant and had fallen in love with the richness and sweetness of the soup and finally I can find it at Sushi Mentai. For the price, it was a hearty bowl of soup filled with lots of juicy clams plus generous amounts of nori and bean curds.

As for beverages, I opted for a set of hot and cold green tea (RM1++ each). It came with a jug of green tea and a bucket of ice cubes – all free-flow. It was a great bargain.

Overall, I’m happy with the taste and quality of the dishes served here at Sushi Mentai. It might not be the best compared to some other upper class Japanese restaurants with proper Japanese chefs but it was good enough to soothe my craving when I needed some Japanese cuisine. The damage for the whole meal was RM109.75 inclusive of the 6% GST and 10% service tax for two pax. However, the amount of dishes we ordered would be adequate for 3-4 persons. With such economical pricing, do expect huge crowds during peak period of the day, especially during weekends. Please also take note that they would not entertain any prior reservations as their system is on a first come first serve basis. No worries as they do also provide sitting area right in front of the eatery while you wait for your turn.

Sushi Mentai @ All Seasons Place is located on the ground floor at the left wing of the building. You won’t miss it as it’s strategically in between Summer Dessert Bakery and Tomyummy Noodle House. You can park your car at the basement car park as you enter the building or right at the front area of the building. If you still do not know how to get there, you can always check out the location maps and use their Waze function.

Name: SUSHI MENTAI @ ALL SEASONS PLACE
Address: 6G-1-13, All Seasons Place, Lebuhraya Thean Teik, 11500 Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: For walk-ins only
Business Hours: 12.00pm-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 11.30pm-9.30pm (Sat, Sun & Public Holidays)
GPS: 5.396963, 100.290707

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

Everyday could be a pizza day if you know where to get the freshest made pizzas in town. There’s one specific brand that caught my attention ever since its first establishment in 1997 and has ever since became one of my preferred choice of pizzerias in Penang – US PIZZA~ 🙂 Their hand tossed pizzas ruled over many of those pizzas in the same industry as they have their unique baking process that produces oil-free pizzas with crispy crusts and softer bites within. You would know how good a pizzeria is by the amount of years it has been in operation and US Pizza has been in the industry for almost 2 decades. Orders from US Pizza is FREE of taxes with any purchase for takeaways or call-in delivery (minimum order of RM25). However, a 10% service fee would be incurred for dine-ins.

Though pizzas are their main expertise, there are also some starters and snacks that would get the appetite of diners rolling. You can always start with their Italian Grilled Chicken Salad (RM12.50) which has a generous amount of fragrantly grilled herbed chicken cubes on a bed of fresh greens with a light drizzle of their homemade dressing. Moreover, their Mushroom Soup (RM5.95) was filled with lots of chopped mushrooms and creamy enough to your satisfaction. The Americans loved chicken wings and so do I, thus we had ordered their New York Wings (RM12.95 – 8pcs) and Florida Honey Wings (RM13.95 -8pcs). I was amazed by the nicely marinated Florida Honey Wings. After over a decade of patronizing US Pizza and the recipe was still as great as ever, giving that flavorful mild honey sweetness on each juicy bite of the chicken wings. For more fun snacks, you could always try out their Crazi Garlic Twist (RM3.95 – 5 sticks) and Cinnamon Twisty Bread (RM3.95 – 5 sticks). Both of the snacks were equally good.

To start off our main course, we had their 9” Original Hand Tossed Pizza (US Classic – RM23.95 / US Special – RM25.95). However, we chose their US Special with the “Half n Half” option (only for 9” pizza) which came with an additional RM2 charges. It was worth it as we could chance upon having 2 flavors on a pizza. Our selection was Jumbo Special (chicken or beef pepperoni, minced chicken or ground beef, green pepper, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms & pineapple) and Ocean Delite (shrimps, crab sticks, green pepper, mayonnaise & fresh herbs). You can also opt for their Italiano Chicken (Italiano herbed chicken chunks, onions, mushrooms, creamy carbonara sauce, mayonnaise & Italian mixed herbs) or Macho Meat Lover (chicken or beef pepperoni, chunky chicken, chicken meat loaf & ground beef) under this category.

Crust selection:
Original Hand Tossed: Regular (9”) – RM23.95/RM25.95, Large (13”) – RM32.95/34.95 – no additional charges
Thin N Crunchy or Garlic Cheese: Add on RM1.50 for Regular (9”) and RM2.50 for Large (13”)

Alternatively, you could try out their All New 6″ Crunchy Pizza (RM12.95 each) or their Fantastic 4 offer (RM32.95 – set of 4 Crunchy Pizza of your choice) on all existing flavors (17 choices). The crust will be crunchier than the existing “thin & crunchy” pizza with a longer baking process. Here are 9 of the recommended flavors such as Tuna Delite (green pepper, onions, tuna, pineapple, double cheese & mayonnaise), Italian Way (chicken or beef pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper, onions, chicken meat loaf & oregano), New Yorker (chicken or beef pepperoni, mushrooms, chicken meat loaf or ground beef), US Favorite (chicken or beef pepperoni & double cheese), Aloha Pizza (chicken meat loaf, pineapple & double cheese), Spicy Chicken Delite (green pepper, onions, mushrooms, chicken, pineapple & cayenne pepper), Penang Special (green pepper, onions, tuna, spicy anchovies & cayenne pepper), Tom Yam Chicken Delite (tom yam chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, pineapple & onions) & Italiano Chicken (Italiano herbed chicken chunks, onions, mushrooms, creamy carbonara sauce, mayonnaise & Italian mixed herbs).

There would also be the soon-to-be-launch San Francisco Fabulous 4 (RM52.95 – DINE-IN ONLY) up for grab soon. The promotional price would be at RM38 only (until further notice). This is truly a great bargain as you could savor 4 different flavors on one rectangular 10” x 14.5” Thin & Crunchy Crust Pizza all day long. The flavors are as stated below.
– US Pizza Made Carbonara Sauce, Tempura Prawn, Chunky Crabmeat stick, Capsicum, Mayonnaise, Mix Herbs, Onion
– US Pizza Made Carbonara Sauce, Spicy Chicken, Capsicum, Onion, Mushroom, Pineapple, Cayenne Pepper
– US PIZZA Made Duncan Sauce, BBQ Smoked Duck, Onion, Pineapple
– US PIZZA Made Duncan Sauce, Chicken and Beef Pepperoni, Pineapple, Onion)

For pasta lovers, you won’t be left out as they do have quite a number of tasty options for you such as their US Pizza Chicken Lagsana (RM19.50), Ocean Carbonara (RM17.50) and Italiano Spaghetti (RM17.00).

Overall, some of the pizza flavors have been in existence since the birth of US Pizza and they still do maintain their quality well ever since. US Pizza is surely one place to be spoiled for choice and I hope they will come out with new creations in the near future.

You can check out their menu and promotion as below by clicking on it for a clearer view.

US Pizza is located at the corner unit of a row of shophouses just next to Gembira Parade at Green Lane, Penang. Since it’s not visible at any main road, there are a few ways to reach the shop. (ROUTE 1): If you are coming from Penang Bridge via Jalan Mesjid Negeri, look out for the first Shell Petrol Kiosk on your left, turn into the service road and use the side lane on the left of the kiosk into Lorong Delima 1. Turn right and you’ll see the shop at the junction of Lorong Delima 5 and Lorong Delima 1. (ROUTE 2): Alternatively, if you are coming from Jalan Delima via Jalan Yeap Chor Ee, drive on until the traffic lights at the second community field. From there onwards, count the 8th road (after 2A Jalan Delima) on your left and turn left into Lorong Delima 1. You won’t miss the turning as there’s a road sign stating Lorong Delima 1 with lots of orange colored PVC divider sticks there. Drive further in and you can see the shop at the junction of Lorong Delima 5 and Lorong Delima 1. (ROUTE 3): The third way of going to the shop can be a bit tricky if you are coming from Jalan Mesjid Negeri into Jalan Delima. As the first right turning into Lorong Delima 1 is blocked by sticks of orange-colored PVC dividers, you have to drive on and turn right into the next road which is Lintang Delima 1. Drive on until you see an open car park on your left in front of Hong Sun Seah Clan Temple. Opposite the temple is Lorong Delima 5. Turn right into Lorong Delima 5 and drive until the end. You’ll see the US Pizza on our left at the junction of Lorong Delima 5 and Lorong Delima 1. Good Luck!

Name: US PIZZA MALAYSIA
Address: 3D Lorong Delima 1, Green Lane, 11700 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-655 2828 / 1300-22-3838
Business Hours: 11.00am-10.00pm
GPS: 5.385733, 100.304276

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

Someone once told me, “It’s never too late to start creating the bodies we want instead of depending on the one we’ve been abusing with the wrong diet.” He was not wrong as I found myself healthier with the right moderation of diets. Life has been so productive ever since I found myself constantly patronizing the many branches of Idealite (品味舒食) – Malaysia’s First Wholesome Dining Place with its meatless, gluten-free, MSG-free, lactose-free diets. This year, for the Nine Emperor Gods’ Festival, all the Idealite participating branches (Gottlieb Road, Gurney Plaza, Queensbay Mall and Egate) would be serving a special menu for its customers in which would not contain any meat, egg, garlic, onion and dairy products from 12 October 2015 until 21 October 2015.

We tried out the dishes at Idealite @ Egate, the latest branch to open at the end of September 2015. The layout for this branch is more sophisticated and warm with the state-of-the-art wall decorations. Any passerby might think that it’s a classy restaurant but they are really into a big surprise as the cuisine within would surely change their perspectives on dining healthily without the usages of any meat, gluten, MSG, peanuts and milk.

The menu for this year is quite extensive with Idealite covering your dining needs from rice, noodles, pizza, snacks to dessert. You can start off with their Mexican Baked Brown Rice Casserole (墨西哥香烤焗饭 – RM 16.70++). The dish basically had some well seasoned brown rice, topped with varieties of mushrooms, glazed with some creamy oat milk based sauce with a sprinkle of fresh greens as garnishing. You won’t expect to find cheese on this dish as vegetarians would not consume dairy products.

Another option for rice would be their Signature Masala Curry Rice (马萨拉风味咖喱拌饭 – RM15.70++). I must say this was one of the flavorful and aromatic vegetarian curry dishes I’ve tasted for awhile. Even without the usages of garlic and onions in the recipe, the kitchen was able to bring out the flavors superbly. It was truly a balanced curry dish with the right combination of herbs and spices. Of course, the sweetness from the added vegetables (especially from the potato chunks) and mushrooms (especially the meaty Hericium erinaceus) gave that required bites in this splendid dish. The Masala Curry was served with a bowl of brown rice with some blanched vegetables and papadam.

You could also try out their Signature Masala Dry Curry Ramen (马萨拉风味干咖喱拉面 – RM16.70++), in which ramen would replace the steamed brown rice. Basically, the curry base would be the same. However, I do prefer this version better as the rich flavors from the curry tasted better with the usage of ramen. Each strand of the ramen coated with the curry had me savoring the whole bowl in no time. It was heavenly to all the taste buds in my mouth.

Their Cantonese Style Emperor Yee Mee (广式帝王炸生面 – RM16.70++) may not look that impressive to the eyes at the first glance. However, as for flavors, it was one of my most loved dishes amongst all. The secret lies in the gravy as it was indeed a rich stock with sweet flavors emitted from the abundance of vegetables used for the broth, more significantly the unique sweetness from the usages of corns. Even the texture and al dente of the noodles complemented real well. Thumbs up chef!

For those who love the sweetness and sourness of tomatoes, you may love their Prosperity Tomato Jumble Pizza (香料番茄批萨 – RM18.70++) well. With the generous serving of fresh tomatoes and mushrooms on top of other chopped vegetables, this crunchy thin base of pizza would surely wow over your appetite.

Alternatively, they have the Italiannies Spinach Pizza (意式青酱批萨 – RM19.70++) as well. Now I know why Popeye loved spinach so much as the overall flavors from this pizza superseded my expectation, especially with the added roasted cashew nuts which boosted up more nutty and earthly flavors for the pizza. This is definitely a must-have dish during your visit to any of the Idealite branches.

To further impress my perspective on healthy diets, their Triple-Decker Pumpkin Taro Cake (金童芋女 – RM6.70++) was another hit on my healthy food chart. The base consisted of nice chunks of powdery taro, topped with pureed pumpkin and mung bean flour (hoon kueh), then garnished with some flavorful yet healthy pumpkin floss. This was for sure another great creation by Idealite and I could get enough of it.

The restaurant also do serve some nice Authentic Golden Five Spice Rolls (黄金五香卷 – RM10.70++/3 pieces). The differences between the ones served here compared to the rest sold on the streets would be the usages of great ingredients. Idealite’s version has a generous amount of mushrooms added in on top of the beautifully spiced up taro.

If you can’t get enough from the promoted dishes mentioned above, you can still choose from their daily available Ala Carte Menu. Some of the recommended ones are stated below.

For something light and yet delicious, you could always try out their hot selling Idealite Satay (舒食沙爹串 – RM11.70++). Of course, Satay would always remain as Malaysians’ as well as tourists’ favorite street food. Instead of being served with peanut sauce, you would be served with cashew nuts sauce which would be creamier and nuttier. The lovely skews of satays would be made from the meaty Hericium erinaceus mushrooms (猴頭菇).

You also be interested to try out their Hokkaido Vege Sushi (北海道蔬菜寿司 – RM9.70++), a rice roll based sushi with a combinations of healthy vegetables and homemade enzyme to strengthen your immune system.

To get the kids to eat healthily, you might want to them their Pumpkin Piglet Buns (猪仔包 – RM6.70++). On top of being steamed with healthy flour, the oozy pumpkin paste within can be real delicious.

To have some local desserts to end your meal, you can always order their Homemade Rojak (自制罗加 – RM10.70++) with a mixture of fruits, vegetables and tofu puff to dip into their special rojak sauce. This item could be real addictive.

Overall, the dishes served this year during the coming Nine Emperor God’s Festival are impressive for the palate of all diners, whether you are a vegetarian, a vegan or a meat eater. Idealite has now become the wholesome dining place loved by many patrons, young and old.

If you are in for an additional dessert, you could always join in their Snap & Post Promotion as shown. Terms & Conditions apply.

It’s not hard to find Idealite @ Egate as it’s located between Subway and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf facing the highway leading to Penang Bridge. Parking is quite abundant outside the building as well as at the basement. If you want to have takeaways, you could always call up the outlet and get them to prepare your orders prior to your collection. Parking is free for the first 7 minutes. Thereafter, the fee will be RM2 for the first hour.

Name: IDEALITE (品味舒食) @ EGATE
Address: 1-01-05, Ground Floor, E-Gate, Lebuh Tunku Kudin 2, Gelugor, 11700 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-668 1243
Business Hours: 11.00am-10.00pm
GPS: 5.375789, 100.315444

Other participating outlets:

Name: IDEALITE (品味舒食) @ Jalan Gottlieb (Beside Waterfall Hotel)
Address: 27C Jalan Gottlieb, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-226 3650

Name: IDEALITE (品味舒食) @ Gurney Plaza
Address: Gurney Plaza (170-3-60), 10250 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-226 7296

Name: IDEALITE (品味舒食) @ Queensbay Mall
Address: Queensbay Mall (3F-10A, South Zone), 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-643 1228

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