BY CK Lam

Eastin Hotel Penang is spicing things up with a spread of kampong style dishes for the coming Ramadhan buffet dinner. They will be showcasing some truly traditional Malaysian food, with creations of salads, soups, spicy curries and desserts by junior sous chef Mohamad Bakri and Mohd Fauzi.

Gearbox soup

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Ayam Masak, Banana Leaf, Belacan, Bone Marrow Soup, Bubur Hijau, Cincaluk, Ck Lam, Coconut Milk, Eastin Hotel, EASTIN HOTEL PENANG, Fragrant Chicken, Gearbox Soup, Herbs And Spices, Hotel Penang, Ikan Keli, Kerabu, Knuckle Joint, Lemang, Lime Juice, Malaysian Food, Marrow Soup, Masak Lemak, Pucuk Paku, Ramadan Buffet Dinner, Ramadhan Buffet, Raw Vegetables, Rice Dishes, Rich Flavour, Serunding Ayam, Soup Bone, Style Dishes, Subtle Flavors, Swez Brasserie, Ulam-ulaman

BY CK Lam

For those with cravings for Texas grill dishes, do drop in to Swez Brasserie, located in Eastin Hotel, Penang. The brasserie is having its Texas Grill Promotion for the whole month of June 2012.

The young newly appointed junior sous chef, Kelvin Cheong whips up a selection of grill dishes cooked with a pleasant flavor of of herbs and spices). I had a preview taste of some of the dishes. The meal begins with the serving of warm Texas wild potato soup made with USA imported potatoes and herbs. The hearty soup with a delectable creaminess was simply satisfying.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: American Cheesecake, Bbq Sauce, Beef with Tortilla, C Hicken, Ck Lam, Coconut Flakes, Flavors, Grilled Beef, Grilled Meat, Grilled Prawns, Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Shrimp and Strawberry Salad, Hearty Soup, Herbs And Spices, Honey Mustard Glaze, Hotel Penang, Mint Sauce, New Straits Times (Life & Times), Potato Soup, Rocket Lettuce, Seedless Grapes, Sous Chef, Strawberry Salad, Texas Bbq, Texas BBQ Grilled Skewer, Texas Brownie, Texas Grill, Texas Grill Promotion at Eastin Hotel, Turkey Bacon, Wild Potato

By CK Lam

Let’s go enjoy Penang and Thai-style tapas, also known as Pinang Thaipas, at the alfresco poolside Pinang Restaurant and Bar in Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa. With a spectacular view of the sea, this place is the perfect spot to indulge in appetisers and finger food coupled with a glass of wine, cold beer or fresh juices.

Executive chef Kam Kok Wai offers customers authentic tapas with wonderful flavours and impressive presentations. The menu boasts a mix of nine local and Thai favourites.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Amp Spa, Appetisers, Authentic Tapas, Cashew Nuts, Chef Kam Kok Wai, Chicken Pie, Chicken Pie Tee, Chili Sauce, Delicious Salad, Fish Broth, Fish Cakes, Fresh Juices, Fried Prawn, Herbs And Spices, Impressive Presentations, Julienned Vegetables, King Prawn, Miang, Miang Kham, Mint Jelly, Mint Leaf, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Northern Streets), Nyonya Cuisine, Penang Laksa, Pinang Restaurant and Bar, Pinang Thaipas, Rasa Sayang Resort, Red Chili, Rice Noodle, Somtam, Sour Fish, Spring Rolls, Tangy Lime, Taste Buds, Thai Fish, Tod Man Pla, Tom Yam Goong

* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Northern Streets) on 19th November 2011

Sukhothai Beef Noodles House is located on the ever bustling Burmah Road, right in the heart of the Pulau Tikus neighborhood. The restaurant is situated along a row of shop houses between the Pulau Tikus police station and the popular Jones Road Loh Mee.

Since its opening last month, Sukhothai Beef Noodles House with a short menu has been attracting customers with its Thai beef noodles. The short menu includes three desserts and five other dishes, namely the Pad Thai, Fish Maw Soup, Thai Fried Rice, Tong Yam Fried Rice and also the Green Curry or Massaman Curry.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Banana Sago, Bean Sprouts, Beef Noodles, Burmah Road, Chili Flakes, Chopped Chives, Chopped Coriander, Creamy Coconut, Curry Paste, Fish Maw Soup, Food Condiments, Fried Bean Curd, Green Curry, Herbs And Spices, Instant Noodles, Mango Sticky Rice, Massaman Curry, New Straits Times (Life & Times), Pad Thai, Phad Thai, Pulau Tikus, Sukhothai Beef Noodles House, Sweet Rich Flavor, Tangy Lime, Thai Chili Sauce, Thai Fried Rice, Tong Yam Fried Rice

 * This article was published in the New Straits Times (Life & Times) on 22nd June 2011.

BY CK Lam

I have been eating my way around several Bangkok’s restaurants and many street food stalls during my recent Bangkok trip. One tantalizing meal was at Patara Fine Thai Cuisine situated in Soi Thonglor 19, away from the bustling Sukhumvit 55.The dinner was a welcoming experience, featuring several well crafted traditional dishes with authentic taste in contemporary new arrangements.

Patara cocktail

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Authentic Taste, Bael tea, Bangkok Trip, Beef Shank, Chilled Braised Beef Shank Roll, Coconut Cream Soup, Coconut Milk, Crabmeat Shrimp, Creamy Texture, Delicious Dish, Ginger Tea, Herbs And Spices, Light Snacks, Lime Dressing, Lime Juice, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, Sautéed New Zealand Lamb Roll, Seafood Coconut Cream Soup, Shrimp Roe, Softshell Crab, Soi Thonglor 19, Staples, Sukhumvit 55, Table Wares, Taro Chips, Thai Cuisine, Thonglor, Tiger Prawn, Traditional Dishes, Turmeric scented Crabmeat Yellow Curry

* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Northern Streets) on 19th May 2011.

The Tropical Spice Garden Cooking School was officially launched in May 2011. The event took place in the pavilion of the beautifully landscaped Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang, Penang. Named after the four and a half acre garden itself, the cooking school began operation in late April.

The official launching of the Tropical Spice Garden Cooking School was graced by the presence of Food Ambassador of Malaysia, Chef Wan and YB Danny Law Heng Kiang, Penang state exco for tourist development and culture.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Acre Garden, Azizah, Azizah Othman, Black Pepper, Chef Wan, Choc Artisan, Cooking Classes, Cooking School, Culture Malaysia, Danny Law, Ecco Cafe, Exco, Food Ambassador, Guest Chefs, Hawker Food, Heng Kiang, Herbs And Spices, Jala, Lighthouse Coffee, Lily Tan, Malay Cuisine, Medicinal Values, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Nyonya Food, Pearly Kee, Penang, Penang State, Permai Village Cafe, Serene Garden, SiTigun, Soul Kitchen, Soul Kitchen Trattoria, Spice Garden, Teluk Bahang, Tiffins, Tree Monkey, Tropical Spice Garden, Tropical Spice Garden Cooking School, YB Danny Law Heng Kiang

BY CK Lam

* This outlet has since closed down and replaced by Five27

The newly opened Agua is another addition to the booming food scene at Straits Quay, Penang. This restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine with flavors from Morocco, Spain, France, Middle East and Italy. I recently visited this outlet as we celebrated the farewell of  beloved friends, Adam & Ryan.

We had our appetite well stimulated with several starters. The Agua Special was a platter of delicious imported sausages and ham packed with herbs and spices. Everyone enjoyed the taste of these finely sliced delicacies which was wonderful with the accompanied olives and cheese. This was indeed a perfect dish to start off with.

Agua Special RM42.90 – combination of meat and cheese

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Agua Mediterranean Cuisine, Anchovies, Anchovy, Baba Ganoush, Beloved Friend, Beloved Friends, Chicken Liver Parfait, Chickpeas, Ck Lam, Colorful Salad, Flavors, Food Scene, Hard Boiled Eggs, Herbs And Spices, Homemade Chicken, Humus, Lemon Flavor, Meat And Cheese, Mediterranean Cuisine, Mediterranean Flavors, New Straits Times (Life & Times), Pan Con Tomate, Pita Bread, Rm6, Salad Nicoise, Sardines, Straits Quay, Tahini, Tastebuds, Tasty Tapas, Toast Bread

* This article was published in the New Straits Times (Life & Times) on 19th November 2010.

Penang is truly blessed with many food street stalls, located on nearly every road and corner of the little island! But there is one place where every Penang-born will know like the back of their hand, and that is Padang Brown Food Court, or affectionately known as Padang. This food court is at the corner of Perak Road and Anson Road, beside a green field and directly behind Datuk Keramat Police Station. Padang has a historical significance to the island. It’s been on the isle since 1966 and it’s one of the first food court built by the Penang Municipal Council. Surprisingly, it’s still as popular with locals and tourists till today. On weekends, the food court is packed with diners.

The food court has an overwhelming choice of hawker fare. Do walk from one end to the other to make sure you do not miss the selection. The place is divided into two wings, with the left-hand side packed with Chinese hawkers in the afternoon. At night, the brightly lit stalls on the right-hand side are predominantly Malay and Indian stalls offering plenty of choices. Throughout the food court, plastic chairs, metal stools and tables are placed in front of the stalls, some under the shade and some without.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Al-Bismi Soup, Anson Road, Bismi, Cheh Hoo, Chinese Pasembur, Datuk Keramat Police Station, Distinctive Flavour, First Food, Food Court, Food Street, Hawker Food, Herbs And Spices, Keramat, Left Hand Side, Lok-Lok Stall, Milk Tea, Mutton Soup, Nasi Goreng, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Nyonya Kuih, Overwhelming Choice, Padang, Padang Brown Food Court, Pasembur, Penang Hawker Food, Plastic Chairs, Popiah, Roti Babi, Roti Bread, Sirap, Soup Kambing, Two Wings

*This article was published in the New Straits Times (Life & Times) on 5th September 2010.

The Tree Monkey Restaurant is perched on the hill of Tropical Spice Garden in Penang’s Teluk Bahang. Surrounded by serene greens overlooking the Andaman Sea, this tranquil and romantic restaurant opened for business in July this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Andaman Sea, Asian Tapas, Concoction, Dining Area, Free Menu, Fruit Mocktail, Herbs And Spices, Khor, Mussels, New Straits Times (Life & Times), New Straits Times (Life & Times), Penang, Penang Restaurant, Pineapple Juice, Platters, Romantic Restaurant, Spice Garden, Spring Roll, Sunset Paradise, Sweet Chili Sauce, Teluk Bahang, Thai Dishes, Thai Tapas, Thai Toast, Thatched Roof, Tree Monkey Restaurant, Tropical Fruit, Tropical Spice, Tropical Spice Garden, Wooden Deck