CRIZ BON APPETITE

During the holy month of Ramadhan, Spice Brasserie @ The Light Hotel, Seberang Jaya, Penang, would be serving Nostalgia Sajian Desa Ramadhan Buffet Dinner from 8 June 2016 until 3 July 2016 from 7.00pm onwards. The promotion would be priced at RM79+ (adult) and RM48+ (child), while senior citizens would be charged at RM60+/pax. For every 10 full paying adults, one person would get to dine for free. To avoid any disappointment, it’s advised to make your reservations by calling +604-382 1111. You would be entertained by the Rayyan Band with Nasyid, Arab and Malay songs. Muslim guests would also have access to their specially assigned prayer rooms to perform their Maghrib and Ishak prayers as well as tarawi hand. On top of that, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), 1500 tubs of bubur lambuk would be distributed to the public.

During the promotion, Spice Brasserie, a fully Halal restaurant, would be having 7 menus on rotation basis. Each menu would comprise of salads, appetizers, main courses (at least 11 types), 2 types of soup with assorted breads & rolls, traditional bubur lambuk, 6 live stalls. At the Roast & Grill Station, you would get to indulge in the many carvery items, deep-fried items, pastas and noodles. At Chinese and Western Stations, there would be more dishes satisfy your palate.

To start off, you might want to have some kurma (dates) and glasses of air bandung or bandung smoothie, especially during such humid weather. A must have bubur lambuk along side sup ayam berempah mutiara are lined up to tease the taste buds. Then head on to the appetizer section where there’s an array of salads, kerabu, dates, jeruk, ikan masin, pasembur, taukua sumbat with peanut sauce and cold cuts as well as crunchy keropok.

You would expect to savor main courses such as nasi briyani, nasi kerabu, nasi kacang, gulai gading nangka muda, sambal tumis udang petai, rendang daging tok, Indian style fish curry, sotong sumbat pulut, chicken shawarma, kambing vindalo, Nyonya style fried fish, ayam ros, lamb kebab, telur itik masak lemak, butter prawns, roasted lamb leg, beef and more. These are just some of the signature dishes you would get to try out during the promotion.

For dessert lovers, there would be many different types of irresistible Ramadan desserts and fruits known nationwide to pamper you. Do try out the Teh Tarik as it was one of the best I had around.

Overall, I like the Ramadhan Buffet as they have many traditional and new dishes that brought back many fond memories of my childhood days. Some of the items which were packed with flavors to my personal liking were the nasi briyani with grilled lamb rack, rendang daging tok, Sri Lanka spring rolls, sambal tumis petai, labu masak daun manis lemak and more.

You can check out more of their promotions below:

The Light Hotel is located along Lebuh Tenggiri 2 at Seberang Jaya, Penang. Upon entering the main entrance of the hotel, just drive around to find your parking space at the front of the premises. Walk into the lobby of the hotel and you can see Spice Brasserie on your left.

Name: Flavour@3, The Light Hotel
Address: Lebuh Tenggiri 2, Bandar Seberang Jaya, 13700 Seberang Jaya, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-382 1111
Business Hours: 7.30am-11.00am (Breakfast), 12.00pm-2.30pm (Set Lunch), 7.00pm – 10.30pm (Set Dinner)
Ramadhan Buffet: 7.00pm-10.00pm (8 June – 3 July 2016)
GPS: 5.394646, 100.397951

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)

About The Light Hotel: The Light Hotel is wholly owned and managed by The Light Hotel (M) Sdn Bhd. It is located in a fast developing industrial area of Seberang Jaya, Penang. The 5 star Hotel offers a luxury resort-style experience with a total of 303 rooms of 6 different categories. The Light Grand Ballroom, 9 meeting rooms, Spice Brassiere, Flavour@3 and Lumino Lounge are refined food and beverage outlets that cater for in-door and Al fresco style dining. The beautiful outdoor landscaped swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna room, spa are namely some of the facilities on the 3 floors, whereas kiddies club and wedding show room are located on the Mezzanine floor. The Light Hotel represents the perfect combination of luxurious destination of Delightful Mix of Business and Comfort for a truly unique experience. Visit www.thelighthotelpg.com

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang, would be having its Ramadhan Peninsula’s Delectable Buffet Dinner 2016 from 7 June until 5 July 2015 (7.00pm-10.00pm). Diners would get to experience various dishes from the different states of the peninsula. The price would be at RM110nett/pax (Adult/Senior Citizens 60 years old and above will get 50% off). Selected cardholders would be charged RM90nett/pax while early birds (pre-booking by 31 May 2016) would be charged RM85nett/pax. Moreover, a convenient surau would also be set up to ease guests to break fast. There would also be a special room package during the holy month for guests to unwind at RM480/night, inclusive of buffet dinner and breakfast for two pax. For restaurant booking, please contact +604-612 1128 or for room booking, please contact +604-612 1111 for more information.

Some of the attractive dishes would include the Kambing Golek Beratur Panjang (Roasted Lamb) served with Nasi Briyani Pak Raj, Kampung Melayu Lambuk (spiced up porridge), Sup “Gearbox”, Lemang (bamboo grilled glutinous rice) & Serunding (meat floss), Rendang Daging Tok, various Kerabu & Salad and more delicacies from the buffet spread and action stall. Check out the slide show below for more photos.

The dessert section this year was quite abundant with many options for local kuih-muih, Raya cookies and Western cakes. Check out the slide show below for more photos.

Overall, the Ramadan Buffet Dinner spreads at Swez Brasserie have always been my favorites as I like the kampong-style and family-oriented dishes options.

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: 7.00pm-10.00pm (Ramadan Buffet Dinner only)
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)

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)

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 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)

For the holy month of Ramadan this year, Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang, would be having its Ramadan Buffet Dinner from 29 June until 27 July 2014 (6.30pm – 10.00pm). Price per head for adults would be at RM88++/pax while a child would be at RM44++/pax. The Ramadan Buffet Dinner would consist of delicious authentic Malay cuisine the traditional kampong style under the experienced hands of the Jr. Sous Chefs, Chef Mohamad Bakri and Chef Mohd Fauzi.

One of the more notable dishes for more energy and stamina would be their signature Sup Gearbox (牛骨煲汤), one great dish that I would always look forward to every year during their promotion. The spices and herbs used in slowly simmering the bull’s thigh bones combined with some potatoes and carrots were indeed “powerful”. A bowl of this heavenly dish would surely keep the body energetic and rejuvenated for any activities during the fasting month.

Another of the appetizers would be the Kerabu Nangka (Young Jackfruit Salad/凉拌菠萝蜜). The young jackfruits were specially cooked in such a way that the flesh remained tender such, almost similar to the texture of young coconut flesh. These would be then tossed with some ginger flowers, kerisik (toasted desiccated coconut), toasted belacan (shrimp paste), boiled chicken breast meat, etc, with a light squeeze of lime juice. I love the unique flavors a lot.

The next dish which was the Kerabu Udang with So Hoon (马来式凉拌虾和冬粉) was something very appetizing. It had the similar spiciness and sourness as the former dish but with the tossing in of some glass noodles. It was super delicious with the usage of juicy prawns in abundance.

Next in the list was the Gado Gado (马来式冷盘), an Indonesia originated salad dish with thick and mildly spicy peanut base dressing. Instead of the usage of crackers, it had deep fried tempeh added as one of the choices. The crispy tempeh blended in real well with the rest of the ingredients.

A “buka puasa” meal would not be complete without the Ulam-ulaman (assorted fresh greens/凉拌各式马来风味小菜). This combination of raw vegetables and herbs went well with the provided sambal belacan condiment. Occasionally, you might get other condiments such as the Sambal Cincaluk (Salted Baby Shrimps Sambal) and Sambal Mempelam (Mango Sambal).

They do also serve Acar Buah (马来式甜酸水果腌渍), a Malay style of spicy sweet assorted fruit pickles. This pickle would go well with fried items especially fish.

As for main course, you would get to try out their Seafood Bubur Lambuk (香浓海鲜椰浆粥), a porridge of various combinations, which contained coconut milk that would normally be distributed to the public for free by those surrounding mosques. This version came with rich flavors from sliced prawns, squids, mussels and vegetables.

For sure, you won’t want to miss out their Nasi Tomato with Raisins (Tomato Rice with raisins/葡萄干番茄饭). You can taste out the rich flavors from each rice grain with has fresh tomatoes, cloves, star anise, cardamom, curry leaves with chopped almonds, green peas and raisins as garnishing. The tomato rice texture was fluffy with added fragrant from the toasted almonds and sweetness from the added raisins. Thumbs up!

To go with the rice, there would always be some nicely pepped up meat dishes such as the Ayam Masak Merah (传统马来咖喱鸡), a traditional Malay red curry with tomato puree plus a combination of herbs and spices. It had thick gravy which I love a lot from the usage of lots of blended onions. This dish is not spicy at all and would suit all ages.

For seafood, we had the Udang Masala (马萨拉虾), basically prawns stir fried with chilies and spices with a light tad of sourness. The dish was quite similar to those you see at the Nasi Kandar shops. Taste wise, I prefer another species of prawns rather than the hard-shelled prawns they were using.

Sometimes, simplicity would surely rule. I immediately felt in love with their Vegetables Dalca (咖喱扁豆蔬菜). This popular Hyderabadi dish, in which contained lots of dal, spices and vegetables, slowly simmered to get the full richness of the pulses, complimented truly well with just any type of spiced up rice such as the tomato rice, nasi briyani or plain steamed rice.

For lamb and mutton lovers, do watch out for their Gulai Kambing Kerutuk Pantai Timur (马来式东海岸闷羊咖哩). Not many people outside Kelantan had tasted this delicious lamb dish which is a big sweeter than the sister-like rendang as it uses gula Melaka or brown sugar in the recipe.

As for dessert, we had an assortment of Malay Kuih (各式马来糕点) which would be served based on availability.

You can also try out their Bubur Kacang Hijau (绿豆椰奶), a sweet mung beans porridge with coconut milk. Who knows since it’s durian season and they might add in a light touch of fresh durian flesh? 😛

They would also be some Western cakes added into the menu such as the Red Velvet Cake (红丝绒蛋糕). I’m sure you would like to try it out as it would be made by their in-house experienced pastry chefs.

Overall, the Ramadan Buffet Dinner spreads have always been one of my favorites, considering that the dishes were flavorfully prepared by the two experienced Malay chefs. Their dishes are always very family-oriented with a nice touch of kampong style cooking. Well done~ 🙂

Bank Islam credit and debit card members are entitled to a 15% discount of total bill during Ramadan Buffet Dinner (Monday – Sunday, 6.30 pm – 10.00pm) while Citibank and Maybank credit and debit card members can enjoy a Pay for 5 persons and the 6th person dines for FREE during Ramadan Buffet Dinner (Monday – Sunday, 6.30 pm – 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, 604-612 1138
Business Hours: 6.30pm-10.00pm (Ramadan Buffet Dinner only)
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: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

HIGHLIGHTS:
Jamuan Buka Puasa: 28 June 2014 to 27 July 2014 (7.00pm – 10.30pm)
Sundays – Tuesdays: RM96++ (adult)/RM48++ (child)
Wednesdays – Saturdays: RM110++ (adult)/RM65++ (child)

‘Salam Aidilfitri’ Hi-Tea: 28 & 29 July 2014 (Monday & Tuesday: 12.00 noon-2.30pm)
Price: RM78++ (adult)/RM39++ (child)

‘Salam Aidilfitri’ Buffet Dinner: 28 & 29 July 2014 (Monday & Tuesday: 7.00pm-10.30pm)
Price: RM110++ (adult)/RM65++ (child)

Sarkies @ E&O Hotel (Eastern & Oriental Hotel) will kick off their “Jamuan Buka Puasa” effective 28 June 2014 until 27 July 2014 from 7.00pm until 10.30pm daily. Please take note that the pricing for each day might be different as shown above as there would be a whole roasted lamb on certain days.

Unlike other hotels or restaurants which would serve an almost 100% Ramadan month dishes, E&O Hotel would still maintain their signature dishes on each night. Some of those dishes would include their famous Char Koay Teow, Roasted Duck, Sushi & Sashimi, Grilled Beef, Grilled Lamb, Grilled Seafood, Cold Seafood corner and of course their wide selection of pastries and cakes.

Other than the standard dishes as stated above, you would get some spread of delectable Malay cuisine during the holy month of Ramadan, starting with Appetizer such as Ulam Ulaman, Pelbagai Kerabu, Cucur Udang, Pasembur, Bergedil, Acar Rampai and more with Dressings and Condiments such as Sambal Belacan, Budu, Tempoyak, Cincalok, Nam Pra, Pickled Fruits, Salted Egg, Salted Fish and Assorted Crackers.

Of course there will be the Sup Ekor, a spicy version of oxtail soup and Main Dishes such as Nasi Putih, Nasi Tomato, Daging Masak Kicap, Kari Kambing dengan Ubi Kentang, Ayam Goreng Berempah, Telur Dadar, Sayur Campur Goreng Kunyit, Ikan Panggang, Udang Rempah Kering, Bubur Lambuk. Ayam Percik Padang, Daging Rendang Tok, Kambing Masak Hitam Belanda, Sambal Tumis Sotong Petai, Udang Lemak Nenas, Gulai Puyuh Daun Selasih, Lemang dan Serunding and more.

On top of the usual spread of Western Desserts, you would also expect to see some Assorted Malay Kuih, Bubur Kacang, Buah Kurma, Goreng Pisang, Rojak Padang Kota, Buah-Buahan Tempatan (Local Fruit Cuts) and more.

Overall, Sarkies @ E&O Hotel has a more international spread of dishes compared to the many hotels I have been to, thus catering more to those international house guests and visitors whom might not be too use to cuisine which are too spicy and pungent such as the Malay cuisine to their taste buds.

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

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

RATING:
Ambience: 8.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

During the month of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims to break their fast or buka puasa, diners can enjoy scrumptious traditional Malay buffet spreads at all the Vistana brand name hotels nationwide. Under the theme “Tok Wan 101 Recipes”, the promotion which would start from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014, would be priced at RM48++ per adult and RM30++ per child (aged 4-12 years old). If you have a great appetite for great authentic Malay cuisine, this is one place you should not miss out for varieties and taste.

Let’s have a look at all the sections catered just for this occasion. Please take note that some of the dishes might be replaced with another dish based on the local availability of raw ingredients or products. Firstly, you would have the outdoor area for grills. There would be Chicken Satay, Beef Satay, accompanied by condiments such as the fragrant satay peanut sauce, cucumber, onions, nasi impit (lontong/Malay rice cake) and Muar-style Otak Otak. Moreover, there would also be a Whole Roasted Lamb, served with black pepper sauce and mint yoghurt sauce. For Char Koay Teow lovers, you sure won’t want to miss out a try on Penang’s famous delicacy.

As for the indoor area, let’s start with the basics. On the starter’s spread would be the Ulam-ulaman Tempatan (local raw salad herbs and vegetables) such as Ulam Raja (cosmos caudatus), Ulam Pegaga (asiatic pennywort), Daun Selom (water dropwort leaves), Cucumber, Yardlong beans, Kacang Botol (four-angled beans), Tomato, Cabbages and Daun Kaduk (wild betel leaves), together with condiments such as Sambal Belacan Asli, Sambal Belacan Mangga Kampung, Sambal Belacan Nenas Madu, Budu and Cincalok. There would also be a Western salad section with capsicum, onions, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, purple cabbage and carrots, accompanied by dressings such as thousand island, Italian, French and balsamic vinaigrette.

You should also check out the appetizer’s section for dishes such as Kerabu Ulam (spicy mixed salad herbs), Kerabu Mangga (spicy mango salad), Acar Jelatah (cucumber, pineapple and carrot pickles), Tempe Ikan Bilis (anchovies tempe salad), Kerabu Sotong (spicy squid salad), Kerabu Ikan Tuna (spicy tuna salad), Kerabu Taugeh (spicy bean sprouts salad), Kerabu Ubut-ubur (spicy jelly fish salad), Kerabu Kaki Ayam (spicy chicken feet salad), Cucumber & Mint Raita and Cucumber Salad.

On top of that, there would also be the Pasembur, Taukua Sumbat (stuffed bean curd), a variety of deep fried salted seawater and fresh water fish (Ikan Masin Goreng) such as Ikan Gelama (common jewfish), Ikan Sepat (gourami/trichopodus trichopterus) and Ikan Bulu Ayam (anchovy family/thryssa mystax/moustached thryssa).

You can also check out the assortment of fruit pickles (pelbagai jeruk) and crackers (Keropok Ikan, Keropok Udang & Papadum) too.

Before starting off with the main dishes, let’s have a look at the action counters for lighter palate of local fares. You would have the Murtabak Ayam, served with Chicken Curry and Dhaal Curry; the Bread & Rolls section with assorted soups such as Soto Ayam (Indonesian chicken soup), Sup Kambing Berempah (spiced mutton soup) & Sup Daging Utara (beef soup); and the Noodles section where you would have soup based such as prawn, chicken and curry.

The Main Dishes section would be a spoil for options as you would have dishes ranging from Malay cuisine with a light mix of Chinese cuisine. Dishes to watch out would include Nasi Putih, Nasi Beriyani, Nasi Tomato Ayam Goreng Madu Berbijan, Daging Rendang Tok, Masak Lemak Ketam Bunga, Ikan Goreng Berempah & Daun Kari, Ayam Percik, Sotong Goreng Kunyit Berkuah, Gulai Itik Serati Kelantan, Kambing Kurma Ala India, Pajeri Terung, Sayur Kobis Goreng Kunyit, Kailan Masak Ikan Masin, Sambal Kangkung, Ayam Masak Rempah Hijau, Daging Masak Lada Hitam, Kepah Masak Cili Kering, Ikan Tilapia Masak Manis Masam, Kacang Panjang Goreng Sambal Udang Kering and Sayur Campur Ala Cina. There would also be an action counter serving your fresh fish in their signature Kari Ikan Dengan Bendi Ala Mamak.

To end your meal, you can always start with the fruit sections. You would have the Rojak Buah (fruit rojak) with local tropical fruits options, served with thick and delicious rajak sauce, crushed peanuts and toasted sesame seeds. There would also be a fresh fruit cuts section where you could also savor some seasonal fruits such as the mangosteens. Coffee and Tea would also be available here with options such as Teh Tarik and Nescafe Tarik on top of the availability of Air Sirap Ros on each table.

As for those with sweeter tooth, there would be 2 sections of Desserts areas serving you a mixture of Western and local delicacies. The varieties would include Bubur Kacang, Bubur Gandum, Bubur Pulut Hitam, Bubur Jagung, Chinese Pancake, Sesame Balls, Assortments of Puddings and Jellies, Tartlets, Pandan Layer Cake, Cheese Cake, Bread Pudding, Sago Gula Melaka, Floating Island, English Trifle, Crème Brulee and Herbal Jelly.

Local delicacies would include the Malaysian Kuih-Muih such as Karipap, Popiah Goreng, Donut, Kuih Ketayap, Kuih Cara Manis, Kuih Keria, Kuih Puteri Ayu, Kuih Bingka Jagung, Kuih Lapis and more.

There would also be a counter for your favorite Penang Ais Kacang, Cendul and a selection of Ice Cream flavors.

Overall, the spread of dishes for the Ramadan promotion was indeed overwhelming, considering that its offered price is also very attractive. Moreover, there would also be prayer rooms to further cater to its Muslim guests celebrating this blessed month. The “Tok Wan 101 Recipes” Ramadan Buffet is priced at RM48++ per adult and RM30++ per child (aged 4-12 years old) from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014. The ballroom can only cater up to 500 pax at one time, so do call in +604-646 8000 to make your advance reservations to avoid any disappointment.

The ballroom is located at the left side as you enter the hotel lobby of Vistana Hotel Penang along Jalan Bukit Gambir. Just follow your nose and it would surely lead you to the aromatic section of the hotel. You can park your car in the basement which would require you to get a token from the receptionist to scan your way out.

Name: GROUND FLOOR BALLROOM @ VISTANA HOTEL PENANG
Address: 213 Jalan Bukit Gambir, 11950 Bukit Jambul, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604- 646 8000
Business Hours: 6.30pm-9.30pm (Ramadan Buffet from 29 June 2014 until 27 July 2014)
GPS: 5.336334, 100.291527

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)