* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Life & Times) on 19th July 2011.

BY CK Lam

Feringgi Grill in Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang is a picture of elegance, both in design and culinary servings. With its minimalist earth-toned interiors and Tudor-style ambience, the restaurant exudes an old-school charm. Antiques and old photos adorn the area and serve as conversation pieces, nicely complementing the breathtaking view overlooking the resort gardens, that of rainforest trees, the Andaman Sea and beach.

Having delighted diners for a good part of three decades, Feringgi Grill is fondly recognised as among the best fine dining restaurants in Penang. Located on the mezzanine floor of Rasa Wing, it has a semi-open kitchen and a custom-built round grill.

Heading its award-winning kitchen is chef David Pooley, who has over a decade of culinary experience in modern Australian and French cuisine. His impressive interpretations of fine dining were honed while he was a sous chef at Quay and Claude’s in Sydney. His mentors included Quay’s celebrity chef, Peter Gilmore and Claude’s Malaysian-born chef Chui Lee Luk.

Photo courtesy of Feringgi Grill

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Amp Spa, Andaman Sea, Angus Carpaccio, Celebrity Chef, Chef Chui Lee Luk, Chef David, Chef David Pooley, Chocolate Pannacotta and Rose and Strawberry Granita., Conversation Pieces, David Pooley, Delightful Taste, Distinct Flavour, Feringgi Bar, Feringgi Grill, Fine Dining Restaurants, Five Spice Quail, French Cuisine, Garlic Chives, Ice Popsicles, Local Delicacy, Mezzanine Floor, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Old Photos, Palate Cleanser, Peter Gilmore, Quay and Claude’s, Rainforest Trees, Rasa Sayang Resort, Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang, Restaurants In Penang, Tomato Powder, Tomato Soup

* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Life & Times) on 12th July 2011.

The recently opened Nyonya Breeze Desire restaurant in Straits Quay carries on the tradition of Peranakan cuisine associated with Penang. The food are similar to that at its outlet in Abu Siti Lane.

Cooking Nyonya food has always been a meticulous affair and Nyonya Breeze Desire had the cuisine prepared with great attention to detail, balancing flavours and taste. The impressive range of dishes include nasi ulam, inche kabin, sambal goreng, asam pedas and braised meat.

The dishes came in large and small portions. I chose the latter. The starter was a plateful of jiu hu char or stir-fried sengkuang (RM13.90) served with fresh lettuce and sambal belacan. The gravy had hints of mushroom, carrot and dried squid. All in all, a perfect dish.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 12th July, Aromatic Herbs, Asam Pedas, Betel Leaf, Chicken Curry, Choon Peah, Classic Chicken, Coconut Milk, Daun Kaduk, Ginkgo Nuts, Gravy, Impressive Range, Inche Kabin, Kabin, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Kapitan, Kari Kapitan, Nasi Ulam, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Nyonya Breeze Abu Siti Lane, Nyonya Breeze Desire, Nyonya Breeze Desire Straits Quay, Peah, Penang, Penang Nyonya Food, Peranakan Cuisine, Perut Ikan, Pig Stomach, Sambal Belacan, Sambal Goreng, Spring Rolls, Stomachs, Straits Quay, Tender Pieces, Too Tor T’ng, White Rice, Worcestershire Sauce

 * This outlet has since closed down in 2012.

If you are looking for simple, wholesome meals in Pulau Tikus, a good choice would be The Cape. The restaurant which was once located in Gurney Plaza has since shifted to a two storey shoplot, at the junction of Burma Road and Cantonment Road.

The menu offers healthy dishes cooked with chicken, fish, and pork. For starters, we had the aromatic garlic meat dumpling and the Mansion ham rolls (RM6.90). The pan-fried dumpling was good dipped in the soy sauce vinegar mixture with ginger strips. The Mansion ham rolls had the ham wrapped up in a meat parcel. One serving comes with four large pieces and a dipping sauce.

Mansion ham rolls

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Afternoon Snacks, Barbeque Sauce, Burma Road, Calamari Rings, Cantonment Road, Chinese Cabbage, Chinese Wine, French Beans, Golden Screen Cinema, Gurney Plaza, Gurney Plaza Penang, Healthy Dishes, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Northern Streets), Pork Rib Soup, Pork Ribs, Pulau Tikus, Reddish Tint, Rice Dishes, Spice Mixture, The Cape, Thick Sauce, Tiny Fish, Traffic Light Junction, Vegetable Dishes, Vinegar Mixture, White Bait, Wholesome Meals

* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Northern Streets) on 2nd July 2011.

Simply Nutritious is an excellent place for a simple wholesome spaghetti meal! Since starting this business one half years ago, Chef Foo Jan has been serving unique pasta dishes to Penangites. Initially a stall in Burmah Road/Jones Road junction, Simply Nutritious has since become a café in Lebuh Melaka!

Customers now dine in a more conducive environment with comfortable seats and air-conditioning. This is probably the only place in Penang that concentrates on the pasta and serves the accompanying meat as a complement.

Spaghetti cooked with spinach, mushroom and wolfberries sauce

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Basil, Burmah Road, Capers, Cheese Sauce, Chef Foo Jan, Conducive Environment, Diners, Fish Fillet, Garlic, Garlic Chicken, Half Years, Italian Spaghetti, Lebuh Melaka, Melaka, Mozzarella, Mushroom, Mushroom Cheese, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Olives, Parmesan Cheese Gratinate, Parmigiano Chicken, Pasta, Pasta Dishes, Penang, Pesto, Pine Nuts, Puttanesca Chicken, Simply Nutritious, Spag, Spaghetti Meal, Spinach, Stickler, Tomato Concasse, Wolfberries