BY CK Lam

Operating since 1974 and managed now by the third generation, the fruit stall sited under a big tree in front of Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Seberang Perai Utara offers fresh cut fruits and vegetables on sticks. These refreshing fruit sticks are more commonly known as ‘batang rojak’ or ‘chiam-chiam’.

Just pick and choose from the 15 to 16 varieties of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The selection includes young mangoes, jambu air,  pineapples, guavas, star fruits, umbras, cuttle fish, hard boiled quail eggs and deep-fried fish balls. Vegetable lovers will appreciate the fresh choices of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots and turnips. Pineapple and guava are the crowd pleasers and one particular favorite bite is the cuttle fish.

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By CK Lam

Spending your weekend in Penang? Do check out this 24-hour guide to eating on the island non-stop, written by me for TimeOut Penang 2012. Hope everyone have a great time indulging  in all the flavourful food, rich in spices and herbs from the many restaurants and hawker stalls in Penang.

6am – 7am: Special Famous Roti Canai
56 Jalan Transfer
Open daily, 6.30am-1pm, 3.30pm-7pm
Soak in the slow pace of life in Penang with breakfast at this road side stall, which is famous for its crispy roti canai. There are several varieties of curries to complement the roti canai – mutton, beef, chicken, fish and dhall. The place is usually packed with customers waiting for a table.

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* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Northern Streets) on 1st February 2011.

Bukit Mertajam houses plenty of eateries, and Ah Meng Coffee Shop is one ideal eatery where one can find cheap and good teatime snacks. Located along Jalan Pasar, this coffee shop is famous for its Rojak Orang Hitam Putih and the Li Guang Popiah.

The ingredients of the popiah include fried bean curd, fried egg, prawn, bean sprout, crunchy lettuce and turnip. The popiah is dressed with chili and hoisin sweet sauce and topped with fried garlic oil, chili sauce and turnip-based gravy.

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Celebrity chef, restaurateur, author, entrepreneur, and television personality, Todd English was in Penang recently for the filming of his TV show. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Todd English is best known for his restaurant, Olives, located in both Boston, Massachusetts, and Las Vegas, Nevada and his TV cooking show, Food Trip with Todd English, on PBS.

When Nadge contacted me about meeting up with Chef Todd, I quickly took up the invitation and tagged alongside the acclaimed chef and the crew during the recording of the show. The outing was truly inspiring, and has opened up a world of ideas for me, seeing the chef ‘in action’.

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Updated on October 2010 : The restaurant has stopped operation.

We recently went to a newly opened food court in Burma Road. The 127 Food Court which offers many different kind of Penang hawker food is conveniently located with its front facing Burma Road and its side behind Jemput Tree and Isaribi Japanese Restaurant. It has a relaxing, airy and clean outdoor environment.

With so many stalls around, we had some time choosing the food. A small talk with the coffee seller got me into ordering a few items including this Arab Fried Rice. Indeed a good recommendation of this flavorful and spicy rice fried with chili padi and curry leaves.

Arab Fried Rice – RM3.50

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