BY CK Lam

It was a night with awesome wines and lots of food at the Castello Banfi wine dinner organized by fine wine and spirits distributor Asiaeuro Wines and Spirits at Spasso Milano, Straits Quay. Executive Chef Felice Martinelli presents a five-course meal of game, seafood and vegetables to complement the Italian wine by Italy’s award winning wine family – Castello Banfi Wines.

Banfi’s Regional Manager, Guillaume Blanchard welcomed us and chatted about the different wine pairings. “Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany. With its sister estates in Piedmont, Vigne Regali and Principessa Gavia, it has been recognized all over the world for its dedication to excellence in the art of Italian winemaking,” said Guillaume.

The wines for the evening include Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG 2011, San Angelo Pinot Grigio IGT 2011, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009, Belnero Di Montalcino DOCG 2009, Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG 2007 and Summus IGT 2007.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY CK Lam

SMAAK!ZA – “Taste! South Africa” 2012 was in Penang recently for the “Table” sessions.  Held at Maricosa Pacific Rim & Hawaiian Cuisine in Straits Quay, the event featured an eclectic 4 course dinner menu paired with a mini-vertical tasting of among the top award-winning Pinotage wines.

Thomas Ling, principal partner of Entwine Consultancy hosted the event and introduced the lineup of featured wines while Satoru Nakamatsu shared his passionate views behind the mouth-watering Rainbow Nation’s colourful cuisine.

We started off with the Savana, made from Granny Smith apples grown in the Elgin area in the Western Cape of South Africa. This naturally brewed and matured premium cider went well with the Maricosa bruschetta and the Mediterranean mackerel salad which was brought together with many fresh greens, mackerel and pleasantly sharp cheese.

  Read the rest of this entry »

BY CK Lam – A sweet note to end 2012 and a great way to start 2013!

As we know, Humble Beginnings started out providing online ordering of freshly hand-made and hand-layered mille crepes. It has since spread with the opening of its mille crepe cafes throughout Malaysia.

In Penang, you can enjoy the mille crepes in their outlet located in the charming Straits Quay.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY CK Lam

For this Christmas and New Year Eve, I have compiled a list of tantalizing offering of lunch and dinner menus from the many dining places in Penang. There is something for everyone and I hope it will help you plan for this holiday dining. And don’t forget to have your reservations made well in advance…

I would like to wish you all A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2013!

Read the rest of this entry »

BY CK Lam

Chocolate Passion is one of the newest chocolate cafes in Penang. Established by Callin Tan, the cafe located in the left side of the main entrance of Straits Quay specialises in handmade chocolates. I found this hidden gem with tiny bites of deliciousness during a shopping trip.

Read the rest of this entry »

By CK Lam

Since it opened its doors in September last year, Spasso Milano has been attracting diners with authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant, on the ground floor of Straits Quay, facing the marina, offers indoor and alfresco dining.

The extensive menu is prepared by chef Felice Martinelli, a native of Milan. My friends and I tried several new Italian dishes for lunch. Its simple homemade pizza aromatica (RM12.80) is topped with olive oil, oregano and sea salt. The pizza base is cooked in a custom-made brick, wood-fired oven.

The porcini mushroom soup is served with focaccia topped with butter and garlic. The distinctive aroma of porcini mushrooms and white truffle and the taste of bits of mushroom give the creamy soup a wholesome flavour.

Porcini mushroom soup RM18.80

Read the rest of this entry »

BY CK Lam

Coffee connoisseurs can look forward to a great coffee experience at Full Of Beans in Penang. Occupying the first floor in Straits Quay, this outlet is a great place for coffee enthusiasts, where quality coffee is served in a casual environment.

Read the rest of this entry »

* 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 »

BY CK Lam

Discover and experience Penang with the newly released Time Out Penang magazine!

The team behind Time Out Kuala Lumpur had launched the Time Out Penang 2011/12, a guidebook providing information about everything Penang: the people, lifestyle, fashion, art, culture and of course, the food!

Time Out Penang – The Insiders Guide to Penang 2011/2012

Read the rest of this entry »