CRIZ BON APPETITE

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang will be revamping its theme for the “Chef’s Specialties Around The World” promotion for November 2014 until January 2015 (1 November 2014 – 31 January 2015). Diners will be treated with flavorful international cuisine during these 3 months, which will include Japanese Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, Peranakan Cuisine, European Cuisine and Thai Cuisine by the skillful chefs.

Here’s the summary of the highlight for the promotion:

Lunch: Monday – Friday (12.00pm – 2.30pm)
Themes:
Monday: Japanese Cuisine
Tuesday: Chinese Cuisine
Wednesday: Peranakan Cuisine
Thursday: European Cuisine
Friday: Thai Cuisine
Price: RM50++ (adult), RM25++ (child)

Hi-Tea: Saturday & Sunday (12.00pm – 4.00pm)
Price: RM58++ (adult), RM29++ (Child)

Dinner: Friday & Saturday (6.30pm – 10.00pm)
Theme: Pirates Seafood Night
Price: RM80++ (adult), RM40++ (child)

Check out the privileges for certain bank’s credit cards at their promotion website.

Now let’s have a look at some of the dishes they will be offering on the different days for lunch.

Mondays: Chef Nuhaini Abu Bakar with various Japanese Cuisine such as Sushi and Tempura.

Tuesdays: Chef Cheah Teik Huat with various Chinese Cuisine such as Crispy Century Egg Roll and Roasted Duck.

Wednesdays: Chef Chan Teik Onn will spice up various taste of the Peranakan Cuinese, a unique blend of Chinese, Malay and other influences, with dishes such as the Kapitan Chicken, Kerabu Rice and Assam Prawn.

Thursdays: Chef Kevin Christie Menon will bring you the taste of European Cuisine with dishes such as Slow Braised Barbecue Beef Ribs.

Fridays: Chef Khalil b Khazali will pep up various Thai Cuisine such as the popular Thai Green Curry Chicken.

Overall, you will get to savor the dishes by 5 talented chefs weekly instead of monthly now. Each of them will pamper you with their specialties weekly until the promotion ends on January 2015.

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)

The Mid Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunisolar month and this year it would fall on 8 September 2014. It’s the 2nd most important festival after the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) to the Chinese as family members and friends from all over the world would gather once again to celebrate this auspicious day over some goodies, while admiring the brightest and fullest moon of the month. It’s also a day associated with reunions, mooncakes, fruits, children, lanterns, Chinese opera, fire dragon dance and more. This year, Gurney Paragon Mall made the tradition even more livelier by not only showcasing exquisite selections of mooncakes in baked skin and snow skin from their in-house restaurants and shops but also from many other external brands, located at St. Jo (Level 1) and “Penang On 6” (Level 6). The promotion will be ongoing from 16 August 2014 until 8 September 2014. Shoppers with a minimum spending of RM 200 and above, in a single receipt, at any of their shopping outlets, can redeem a complimentary Leong Yin pastry’s mooncake (only valid from 5-7 September 2014).

At the same time, do check out their Mid Autumn Festival Celebration to be held on Saturday, 6 September 2014 at “Penang On 6” from 2.00pm until 9.30pm. Bask in the glow of Mid Autumn atmosphere when “Penang On 6” would be transformed into a realm of celebration with heartwarming lightings and colorful lanterns. Family and friends are invited to enjoy a fun-filled day at Gurney Paragon Mall. Highlights would include Lantern DIY workshop, guessing Chinese riddles session, Photo session with Chinese Opera characters, interactive story-telling session, Chinese diablo, Chinese orchestra, wushu & acrobatic, traditional drum performance, singing performance, cultural dance and many more. The night would end with a Mid Autumn Lantern Walk. So, bring along your own lanterns and enjoy a walk under the moonlight with your family members and friends. In case, you do not have a lantern for your child, you can always purchase one at St. Jo at Level 1. You can also redeem a complimentary pot of tea from Jing-Si Books and Café (Level 6) when you spend RM50 and above in a single receipt at “Penang on 6” or Wei Shiang (Level 6) on 6 September 2014.

Here are some of the brands of mooncakes available in starting with some from their in-house restaurants and shops.

Dragon-I: http://www.dragon-i.com.my/promotion.asp
Recommended: Frosty Durian Musang King (RM28 for 2 pcs) & Organic Charcoal Skin with Coffee Paste (RM20/pc)
Note: If you are a durian lover, the Frosty Durian Musang King is a MUST HAVE mooncake. You can also dine in the group of restaurants serving wondrous Chinese cuisine – Dragon-I and Canton-I.

Purple Cane: http://www.purplecane.my/en/31-tea-mooncake
Recommended: Puer, Dang Gui, Chinese Wolfberry & Assorted Nuts Paste (RM11.30/pc), White Tea Purple Potato Lotus Paste (RM9.80/pc) & “No added Sugar” Date Paste (RM8.90/pc)
Note: HALAL & VEGETARIAN. If you are into a healthier diet with the taste for herbal fused flavors, the Puer, Dang Gui, Chinese Wolfberry & Assorted Nuts Paste is a MUST TRY mooncake. Other than that, you can purchase many varieties of tea leaves, flower tea or even green tea powder from all their outlets throughout Malaysia. Packaging can come in a box for one piece, 4 pieces and 6 pieces.

Some of the external brands of mooncakes available would include:

Casahana: http://www.hytfood.com/casahana/about.php
Recommended: Crimson Opera (RM18.90/pc)
Note: Beetroot juice infused baked crust with cheese and creamy white chocolate lotuis paste filling.

Fai Fong: http://www.faifong.com.my/
Recommended: Bamboo Charcoal Lotus Paste (RM14.50/pc) and Assorted Fruits, Nuts & Ham (RM16/pc)
Note: Simple as it may be but the Bamboo Charcoal Lotus Paste is filled with flavors.

Foh San: http://fohsan.com.my/
Recommended: Cappuccino Mooncake (RM14.60/pc) & Purple Rain Mooncake (RM14.60/pc)
Note: Foh San is no longer a new kid on the block as they have been in the food industry for decades, especially with the new premises in Ipoh, Perak, serving various types of delectable dim sum.

Kam Lun Tai: http://www.klt.com.my/welcome/
Recommended: Shanghai 1 Yolk (RM17.20/pc)
Note: HALAL. The flakiness of the pastry, combined with the smoothness of the lotus paste and saltiness of the duck egg yolk, made this mooncake perfect in every bite.

Leong Yin: http://www.leongyinpastry.com/
Recommended: Lunar Delight (RM17.50/pc), Intense Wheatgrass Jujubes Splendor (RM17.20/pc) & Ballad of the Moon (RM17.20/pc)
Note: HALAL & VEGETARIAN. All the 3 mooncakes mentioned above have its own unique flavors, especially the Lunar Delight which has a combination of aromatic white coffee and softness of durian cake.

Mei Xin: http://www.facebook.com/meixinmooncake
Recommended: Egg Custard Mooncake (RM50 for 4 pcs or RM98 for 8 pcs)
Note: From inside to outside, it’s savory and creamy with a delicate mind precious moments to remember. It tasted almost like the custardy steamed buns version but a bit more sandy in texture.

The Baker’s Cottage: http://www.thebakerscottage.com.my/mooncake.asp
Recommended: Avocado Mango Tango (RM16.80/pc)
Note: The Baker’s Cottage has been one of the main influencers in the food industry for being creative and innovative. You can check out more of their products at their website. As for the Avocado Mango Tango, you can taste the coconut buttery pastry skin with milky avocado lotus paste, mung beans and dried mango bits.

For more information, please visit Gurney Paragon Mall’s FaceBook Page.

* Published in HungryGoWhere Malaysia Food Guide: THE EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL @ Penang

To celebrate Merdeka month, let’s look at 1885 @ Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O Hotel) that had existed since pre-independence and is still thrilling diners even until today. The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O Hotel) started in the late 1800s when the renowned Armenian Sarkies brothers, Martin and Tigran, settled down in Penang and established the Eastern Hotel in 1884. With its success, they opened another hotel in 1885, the Oriental, on an adjacent piece of land facing the sea. Both combined, these two hotels became the largest hotel in Penang. In 1891, another Sarkies brother, Arshak, joined the business and a large ballroom in 1903. Thus, the E&O became the centre of the social life and gaiety of Penang and its surroundings. In 1922, Arshak secured a large plot of land for the hotel which extended its already impressive sea frontage. The land now housed the magnificent Victory Annexe with more rooms, making the property larger with 842-foot seafront, the longest of any hotel in the world.

Today, E&O Hotel still treasures its heritage by retaining its charm and weathered the passage of time with character and grace. Hence, they do have a posh yet affordable eatery named 1885, serving Traditional Afternoon Tea daily at RM56++ per pax. You will get the experience of having tea time snacks with nice crockery tea set and silverware just like how it was during the colonial days. The custom of having afternoon tea was the creation of Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, one of HM Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, in the late 1700s. The experience was so delightful that it became the tradition of every English household, especially the upper echelon of the English Society.

For each 1885 Traditional Afternoon Tea set, you would have the option to choose the tea of your choice from 16 types of tea, namely Assam Mokalbarie, Morgentau, Vanilla Roibosh, Raspberry Royal and more. There will be sugar cubes and fresh milk to tweak to your liking.

Each set will also come with a selection of Finger Sandwiches, Cakes & Tea Pastries and Scones. As for Finger Sandwiches, you would get Smoked Beef Brisket on Village Bread, Cucumber with Sour Cream on Marble Toast, Cheesy Sausage Roll, Smoked Salmon on Poppy Seed Roll, Egg Mayonnaise on Mini Croissant, Marinated Chicken with Horseradish Cream in Mini Vol Au Vent and Marinated Tuna Flakes on Whole Meal Loaf. As for Cakes and Tea Pastries, you would expect to see at least 5 types of dessert of the day. For Scones, you would get one each of Plain and Raisins, served with their homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Here’s a glimpse of what you would expect for two persons. The shot for the two sets of the tea of your choice is not shown here.

Overall, their Finger Sandwiches were great as all the bread and rolls were made fresh from their own in-house bakery daily. Three of my favourites were the Cucumber with Sour Cream on Marble Toast (a must have item for English Tea Time), Smoked Salmon on Poppy Seed Roll and Egg Mayonnaise on Mini Croissant. As for Cakes and Tea Pastries, their Cheese Cake is a die for – soft, creamy and cheesy with a light hint of citrus lemon zest. As for Scones, whether it’s a plain one or with raisins, they were heavenly the best ones in town, reputable for that too. With a fragrant outer crust and a warm plus fluffy inner, each mouthful with a light spread of their homemade strawberry jam or clotted cream, will leave you yearning for more. These scones are superbly the best.

You can also check out their National Day Hi-Tea at Sarkies @ E&O Hotel on 31 August 2014 from 12.00noon until 2.30pm, priced at RM78++ (adult) and RM39++ (child). The Hi-Tea will also cover most of their signature dishes such as Roasted Duck, Sushi & Sashimi, Char Koay Teow and more.

1885 @ E&O Hotel, Penang | Address: 10 Lebuh Farquhar, 10200, Malaysia. | Tel: 604-222 2000 | Opening hours: 2.00pm-5.00pm (Daily) | GPS Coordinates: 5.423311, 100.335874 | Halal

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s the summary of the promotion.

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

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

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

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

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

Who would say that no one could ever prosper in local product businesses in Penang? One great example would be Gartien(小田佳園), a local manufacturer of pineapple cakes, which obtained their raw pineapples from nearby plantations throughout the southern part of mainland Penang. The Penang Hokkiens would depict pineapples as “Ong Lai! Ong Lai!”, which would translate as “Endless Flow of Prosperity!” in simple English – a great omen to start any business, especially with pineapple products. Within a short two years, Gartien had expanded from a humble heritage unit to double multi-storey units, with more state-of-the-art equipments to cater to the ever increasing demands of its customer. It was indeed an honor for me to be invited to be present at the grand opening of the new Gartien on 20 July 2014. Gartien – a confectionery company set up by a Penang boy, using Penang’s own natural resources to make Penang’s own pride product to promote to the rest of the world – Gartien Pineapple Cakes. Thumbs up!

The grand opening of Gartien was officiated by YB Dr. Afif bin Bahardin, Pengerusi Pertanian & Industri Asas Tani, Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Kesihatan, witnessed by Joseph Tan, Gartien’s Pastry Chef, YB Teh Lai Heng, State Assemblyman of KOMTAR, Tuan Haji Ahmad, Pengarah Pertanian Pulau Pinang, Dato Dr. Kenny Ong, Group Executive Chairman of MTT Group of Companies and Mr. Lee See Hai, main supplier/partner.

(Left to Right) Tuan Haji Ahmad, YB Teh Lai Heng, YB Dr. Afif bin Bahardin, Joseph Tan, Mr. Lee See Hai & Dato Dr. Kenny Ong

The guests-of-honors also unveiled the new Gartien Mid Autumn edition of the pineapple cakes with vibrant and attractive packaging.

GARfield, the long distance relative of GARtien, also came all the way to witness the grand occasion~ LOL~ 😛

The grand opening was witnessed by dignitaries, media, bloggers and invited guests. Finger food items catered by Bamboo Catering were also provided during the occasion.

What makes Gartien Pineapple Cakes so in demand by its loyal fans? Firstly, each delectable piece of the pineapple cakes is filled with strict quality controlled fresh homegrown pineapples cubes minus the preservative and artificial colorings. Thus, you would have pure bites instead of puree. Secondly, it took the pastry chef months of painstaking research and development (R&D) to come out with the perfect ratio for the perfect bite. Each piece of the pineapple cakes is affectionately handcrafted to ensure the right combination of shortbread pastry and filling based on its strict standard operation procedures (SOP). The end product would be an aromatic, crumbly, buttery shortbread pastry with a healthy level of sweetness from the freshly simmered brunoised pineapples. Each guilt-free piece of the pineapple treats would best to go with a cup of hot and unsweetened tea such as Oolong (烏龍茶), Jasmine (茉莉花茶), Ginseng Tie Guan Yin (人參鐵觀音), Earl Grey with a slice of lemon and more.

Alternatively, these yummy snacks would also go well with unsweetened flower teas such as Rose, Lavender, Butterfly Pea, Chrysanthemum and more.

PROMOTION FOR MID AUTUMN 2014:

BY 4 AUGUST 2014:
In order to get your FREE BOX of Gartien 小田佳园 Pineapple Cakes with EVERY 5 BOXES purchased, please submit your pre-order form by 4 August 2014 at http://gartien.com/shop/

5 AUGUST 2014 onwards:
In order to get your FREE BOX of Gartien 小田佳园 Pineapple Cakes with EVERY 10 BOXES purchased, please submit your pre-order form at http://gartien.com/shop/

Note: Each box is fixed price throughout the year. The selling price per box with 10 pieces of pineapple cakes is RM45 (self collect only). A fix courier charge of RM10 & RM40 will be applicable to all deliveries within Peninsular Malaysia & East Malaysia respectively.

So, what did Garfield think about Gartien’s pineapple cakes? Well… He would forgo his favorite lasagna for awhile~ LOL~ 😛

Overall, I find the pineapple cake to be awesome, not only through its freshness and real pineapple texture but also due to its versatility to be served during any occasion. After all, pineapples are low in fat and cholesterol and contain calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, Vitamin B1, B6 & C and dietary fiber, which are rich in nutrients for the body.

Finding the bakery won’t be hard as it is situated right in the heart of George Town, Penang. If you are coming from KOMTAR along Jalan Penang via Jalan Magazine, you would see the outlet just next to the famous Kek Seng Coffee Shop (格成茶室). Parking can be quite limited since it’s a main road. However, the good news is that Gartien had recently worked out a deal with the management of Hotel Central. You can now park your car at their car park via Lorong Bertam and Gartien can stamp your parking ticket for free parking. How convenient it is now, right? 🙂

Name: GARTIEN @ 小田佳園
Address: 380, Jalan Penang, 10000 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-229 0068
Website: www.gartien.com
Email: info@gartien.com
FaceBook: www.fb.gartien.com/
Business Hours: 9.00am-6.00pm
GPS: 5.416298, 100.329380

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 4/10 (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: 9/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Eatery @ Four Points By Sheraton is located along the main road of Jalan Tanjung Bunga. To get there, just use the road going towards the beaches of Batu Ferringhi. As you reach a curving part of the road, keep to your right after the first traffic lights (Chinese Swimming Club on your right). At the second traffic lights, turn right into the hotel’s premises to find a car park. Walk straight into the lobby and you can find The Eatery located at the ring wing of the hotel.

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

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

Name: THE EATERY @ FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PENANG
Address: 505 Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-371 8888 (General), 604-371 8707 (The Eatery)
Business Hours: 6.30am-11.00pm (Daily), Sunday Brunch: 12.00pm-3.00pm
GPS: 5.463681, 100.301836
Please refer to: The Eatery Menu

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

G Hotel Penang had officially launched its latest hip hangout spot, the Tree Bar, located at the al fresco area of the hotel today. Since its soft opening on 19 June 2014, this bar had been known to be the latest and the coolest hangout spot in Penang, serving the best beers and bites in town. Based on the bar’s slogan “Tree Bar – Not just a tree, it’s a bar”, this wonderful addition of both unpretentious and stress releasing place indeed did prove that they do serve the best beer and bites in town. After all, everyone would need a place to chill out after a hectic day without hurting the wallet too much. The Tree Bar was officially launched by Mr. Michael Hanratty, General Manager of G Hotel, witnessed by Mr. Phuah Choon Meng, Director of G Hotel.

G Hotel did a great deed to Mother Nature by preserving the 80 over years old rain tree of Albizia Saman species and made great use of the surrounding space to build the Tree Bar. The leaves of the tree would fold during rainy weather and in the evening, hence locally known as “Pukul Lima” aka 5 o’clock tree.

Do check out their daily Happy Hours promotion below for their selected draught beers such as Carlsberg, Asahi, Connor’s, Stella Artois, Lowenbrau and Hoegaarden. They also do have other bottled beers as Tsing Tao, Guiness, Little Creatures Bright Ale and Pale Ale, Warsteiner, Somersby Cider and more for your drinking needs.

Other than those alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, customers can enjoy some hot munchies to accompany their sips. There would be bite options such as the nicely marinated with lemon, salt and black pepper, Moroccan Spiced Lamb Skewers. These skewers of goodies were grilled to just the right juicy perfection. Other options may include Garlic Bread, Deep Fried Calamari, Golden Chicken Wings and Smoked Salmon Rolls. For a healthier palate, you can try out their Caesar Salad, Nicoise Salad and Thai Beef Salad. Add-ons such as grilled chicken, seared tuna, smoked salmon or grilled shrimp are also available for a twist in your salad. For a heavier meal, there are six choices from the section of ‘Big Buns’ with the option to select from beef or chicken sausage or burger patty. Each style comes with different kind of condiments and a choice of breads. To add to it, pick from a choice of French fries, spicy wedges or truffle fries. A highlight in the menu also is the bucket of chilled shrimp that will definitely be a delight to seafood lovers of which comes with the homemade cocktail sauce. For those sweet tooth diners, you would have a selection of desserts ranging from Macadamia Brownies with Hazelnut Mousse, Coconut Panna Cotta, Apricot Cream Cheese Mousse, Banana Chocolate Tart, Gula Melaka Crème Brulee and Malaysian born Italian ice cream, Gelatomio. We were pampered with a few of their dishes such as the Quesadilla, Nachos, Chicken Satay, Deep Fried Calamari, Smoked Salmon Rolls and Moroccan Spiced Lamb Skewers, served with condiments. They were all so good, especially the Moroccan Spiced Lamb Skewers with mint sauce as condiment.

Overall, the Tree Bar do provide a comprehensive arrays of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages plus nice food ranging from finger food to hearty bites of the succulent burgers. I do find the pricing quite reasonable too. For more information on the spread, do click and enlarge the menus below.

The Tree Bar is located at the al fresco area of G Hotel. If you walk in through the front entrance along Persiaran Gurney, just head towards the end of the building and you will see the little bar area right under the tree, next to the al fresco area of G Café.

Name: G CAFE @ G HOTEL
Address: 168-A Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-238 0000
Business Hours: 11.00am-1.00am daily
GPS: 5.437455, 100.309934

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

NOTE: The July Buffet Promotion has been cancelled until further notice. The management is sorry for any inconveniences.

For the month of July 2014, ZEST Bar Café @ GLOW by Zinc, would be having its July Weekend Buffet Dinner (4-27 July 2014), within its modern and chic hotel, located right in the heart of George Town. The timely arranged buffet dinner would also be in line with the holy month of Ramadhan where diners would get to savor their specially handcrafted Malay cuisine in the confort of the café. The promotion would be priced at RM45+ (adults)/RM25.50+ (children) from 7.00pm until 10.00pm, only of Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Special arrangements can be made for groups of 30 pax and above. Do call +604-226 0084 now to make your reservation.

Basically, the spread would include starters and appetizers such as dates, assorted pickles, assorted crackers, assorted fresh greens with dressings, assorted local (herbs & vegetables) ulam-ulaman with dressings such as sambal belacan, budu and cincalok, Gado Gado with Peanut Sauce, Kerabu Ayam, Kerabu Manga Muda, Acar Jelatah Acar Awak, assorted salted fish and salted duck eggs.

As for main dishes, you could expect to have Chicken Tomyam Soup, Vegetables Dalcha, Grilled Lamb with Rosemary Sauce, Udang Masak Lemak Cili Padi, Grilled Dory with Cheese Sauce, Rendang Daging, Sotong Goreng Kunyit, Ayam Masak Merah, to be served wiyh Nasi Briyani with Raisins or plain white rice. I rather like the Rendang (Beef Rendang) as the beef slices were tender and juicy to my liking. Flavor wise, it was like a crossed between Rendang Tok Perak and Opor Daging Pahang. Another dish which was packed with flavors would be the Ayam Masak Merah.

For desserts and drink, you could savor some assorted fresh tropical fruit cuts, cakes, jellies, puddings, bubur kacang, local Malay kuih and free flow of jus kurma and sirap bandung.

Overall, I find the dishes served here lacked of options and to my preferred quality compared to the price charged. Some of the dishes such as the Gado Gado, Vegetables Dalcha and Chicken Tomyan Soup had gone over the border of fusion or lacking of some major ingredients, thus losing their authentic flavors. For example, though the peanut sauce was great, the Gado Gado lacked of potatoes and “melinjo nuts” emping crackers. The Vegetables Dalcha on the other hand had too many unnecessary vegetables such as celery, tomatoes, yardlong beans when simple usages of just lentils, carrots, potatoes and eggplants would just be sufficient to go with the spiced rice. The Chicken Tomyam Soup was also a disappointment as it tasted like a sweetened chicken soup with vegetables with some added chili oil. I also wondered what had happened to the basic five flavors (sweetness, saltiness, sourness, spiciness and herb aroma) for the famous dish. One top of the lacking in saltiness to balance up the sweetness in any dish, the soup tend to lack the sourness from some lime juice, the spiciness from some added cili padi and the fragrance from the usages of abundant lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. Moreover, the desserts were too normal and lacked of choices. In fact, all of them were towards sweetness. Malay kuih would also consist of savory items such as popiah goreng with chili sauce, cucur badak, karipap, cucur udang and more. With the Pasar Ramadhan available throughout the month, I can’t see why they couldn’t get in more options. Frankly speaking, I would rather have those set dinner meal for the weekend buffet as what they did for Fathers’ Day at a lesser price rather than seeing them serving these common spread of dishes at such pricing. At least the kitchen would be more manageable and thus would also be able to cut down on food wastages.

ZEST Bar Cafe @ GLOW by Zinc is located at the 1st floor of the hotel along Jalan Macalister just opposite Red Rock Hotel. There are about 20 car park spaces in this hotel with 10 spaces available right in front of the hotel and another 10 spaces behind the hotel via Jalan Naning (opposite Sum Sum Motors). There are also many coupon based parking spaces available surrounding the hotel. Please make sure you have your parking coupons ready as you would need to pay between 9.00am and 5.00pm. However, effective 1 July 2014, valet services would be available for your convenience.

Name: ZEST BAR CAFÉ @ GLOW BY ZINC
Address: 101 Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-226 0084
Business Hours: 7.00pm-10.00pm (July Weekend Buffet: Friday-Sunday only)
GPS: 5.416638, 100.322952

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

For the whole month of July 2014, Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang, would be having its Peranakan Cuisine Promotion (1-31 July 2014). The Peranakan cuisine or more commonly known as the Nyonya cuisine, is a cuisine combination of Chinese (different origins), Malay and other influences such as Thai and Indian into a unique blend of its own. This promotion would be under the skillful hands of the Asian Kitchen Chef, Chef Chan Teik Onn.

Firstly, you would get to savor the Deep Fried Chicken Lobak (炸鸡肉卷), a Nyonya favorite meat roll which consisted of marinated chicken slices in 5-spice powder and some added jicama rolled in dry bean curd sheet. This is one common dish you would find at most economy rice stalls.

You would also get to savor the super time consuming dish known as the Nasi Ulam (野菜饭食). Sometimes also known as the Jungle Herbs Rice, this dish is definitely a very healthy diet as most of the ingredients are taken raw. This is one of my favorite dishes with the fragrance coming from some added deep fried salted fish and dry shrimps. Though it’s one of the hardest dishes to make, you might want to check out the ingredients in my recipe.

The next dish which was the Assam Prawns (亚参虾) had nicely marinated prawns with tamarind, a light touch of sugar and soy sauce. However, I still don’t like the idea of using tiger prawns instead of the ideal white/green shelled prawns as it won’t bring out the true flavors of this dish.

To all the kids, the next dish is everyone’s favorite – the Inchi Kabin (娘惹式炸鸡). In a Nyonya family, everyone has their own secret recipe for this wonderful deep fried chicken. Some would add curry powder with some dashes of coconut milk. Some would just have them with turmeric powder with some added coriander powder. Some would have a bit of each spice which would include cinnamon, fennel, cloves, etc. Overall, no matter how the chicken pieces (mostly chicken wings) were marinated, any piece of freshly fried chicken would surely boost up anyone’s appetite for more.

You would also have the Jiu Hoo Char (Stir Fried Shredded Dry Cuttlefish with Vegetables/鱿鱼炒蔬菜), a dish consisted of julienned jicama, carrots, Chinese mushroom and French beans stir fried with some dried cuttlefish. This is one of the signature dishes in Peranakan cuisine and best taken with some Chinese lettuce and sambal belacan.

As for desserts, you would get to savor the Assorted Nyonya Kuih (各式娘惹糕点), which had some resemblances to the Malay kuih.

Overall, the cuisine served would be quite standard as you would get from the eateries out there. However, Peranakan/Nyonya cuisine can be rather time consuming in terms of preparation, so I guessed we might as well enjoy the chefs’ hard work in storming up those herbs and spiced infused dishes.

Here’s the summary of the promotion.

PERANAKAN CUISINE PROMOTION (1-31 JULY 2014)
Lunch (12.00 noon – 2.30pm): Monday – Friday
RM50++ (adult), RM25++ (child)
Hi-Tea (12.00 noon – 4.00pm): Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
Normal weekend: RM68++ (adult), RM34++ (child)
Semi Buffet Dinner (6.30pm – 10.00pm): Monday – Thursday (28-31 July 2014)
RM50++ per pax

American Express, CIMB Bank, Citibank, OCBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, MasterCard Worldwide, Maybank and UOB Bank card members, guests can enjoy 15% discount for Semi Buffet Dinner (Monday – Thursday from 28-31 July 2014).

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

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128, 604-612 1138
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTHER OFFERS: Please refer to their online brochure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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