Famous Ban Cheng Kueh @ Kimberley Street

Ban Cheng Kueh; or a form of Chinese pancake is a favorite snack for breakfast or even in-between meals throughout the day.
One of the best stalls in Penang (or so as reputed) is located along Kimberley Street; one of the busy streets in the jostling town area.

This stall has brought back some old memories as I remembered how my daddy told me about this stall and bought a piece of Ban Cheng Kueh back then.


They are reputed to be famous for their brown sugar version of the pancake


However, be ready though, as I find the owner of the stall i.e. the maker of the Ban Cheng Kueh (the man) is not friendly.
In fact, one word to describe him? Rude

He was not really friendly to his customers and was questioning/answering his aloof customers in such an arrogant manner.
I almost walked away from the stall when I heard him snapping at my friend!

The wife, on the other hand, was much nicer and she was polite and courteous to the customers, as she slowly reaffirmed your order prior to wrapping them with banana leaves


There are two versions of the pancake; the thicker flour version or the crispy one.
Of course, in Penang, the most preferred and more famous one is definitely the crispy version


Brown sugar as the contents


Make sure that you do not request for them to put into the plastic bag while it's hot if you don't intend to eat it immediately.
The crispy pancake should be left on the rack to cool for a while before being wrapped to avoid it becoming soggy later on.
The soft and soggy version is definitely not a delight!

I do hope the man will change his attitude, otherwise, no matter famous or not, he will just turn away tourists (local and foreign alike).
I know I am not one for the fame alone; the attitude counts.

Looks like it's time these famous hawkers take up a lesson or two in manners and courtesy!

Buffet Lunch @ The Place 007

The Place 007 is a bistro-restaurant located along the Pulau Tikus road heading towards the police station.
I have always seen it as a bistro until I saw their banner on their buffet lunch at dinner along the road.

There are two shoplots; the left is the bistro whereas the shop on the right is the restaurant.
For the buffet, make sure you head towards the right shop lot.

Expect to see a dark-lit restaurant (and I really meant dark, not just dimly lit)





The buffet runs from noon to 2.30pm; with the last order being placed at 2pm.
This is the type of buffet where you order as much as you want from the menu and then gorge on it.
It's pretty sickening for people who can't eat much...I think I prefer the normal line buffets =)


Lunch is priced at RM35 per pax and you can order from the wide selection of appetizers, salads, finger bites, pasta, pizza, main course of fish/steak/chicken/pork, and there's also soups and desserts.
The Place serves more of an Italian fusion type of cuisine.




I was kinda worried as I am not one who can take much of food and it's always a waste to bring me to buffets, as they all always say.
Buffets are always a great option to varieties and not having to choose what to eat. However, make sure you can stomach them all, as in having a capacity of an unlimited reservoir to make it all worth it (as in Malaysian's mind)

To me, I just like a small bite of each and not stuff myself silly. I don't continue once I am full...otherwise, the end results could be hazardous to my own health.


Creamy cheese mussels

The first served was not too bad; and I think they are quite reasonable and wise with the portion.
Well, sometimes it's not the quantity that matters, but the quality right?


Scallops with cheese (I call it scallop thermidor..LOL!)


The scallops used were of the lower grade and price; and therefore, there's not much to expect from this.

Fried Calamari


Lamb


Salmon steak in apple teriyaki sauce



Mixed Salad

Dressing for salad


Spaghetti with lobster


Abalone


Mini tuna tarts



BBQ Fish


Tonno pizza


Grape juice and ice lemon tea

All the juices were too sweet..diabetic!

Mixed fruits platter


Santan pudding


Mango pudding


Overall, I find the food on the average quality and I got slightly sick after the buffet...think I just can't take too much food....

Worth it or not?
You can judge from the portion, taste wise, just average...as I say

(안녕하세요 Ahn Nyeong Hah Se Yo) DaoRae BBQ!~

Hail the Land of Kimchi which has long ago docked by our coast and built homes and restaurants here in our very own paradise land.

We have seen no end of Korean restaurants promoting Korean BBQ sets and their authentic Korean food; and we even have Korean villages in Ampang.
Apart from that, I am definitely confident to say that Malaysians are no strangers to the Korean culture after all those hours of soaking in the language and love hugs in front of their TV following the korean drama craze after the soaring popularity of Winter Sonata.

So, what is another new restaurant going to do to the already Korean-obsessed/worshipping community here?

DaoRae is the latest addition to the line of Korean BBQ restaurants in Penang, and they are located in Bayan Point; next to a bank and facing the high flyover to Sg Dua/Sg Ara and facing Krystal Point.

The warmth of the friendly greeting was immediately felt when I walked into the restaurant where all the staff (including the BIG Boss, who is a Korean himself) stood at the door, greeting us.
(Ah, the special attention you get when you're there early)

The interior, was designed to cater for BBQ environment and since it was new, there is this whiff of fresh paint in the air.
Overall, it was really neat and the dining area is really comfortable; and each customer is ensured their own privacy at their table.



Long story short, main point is the food.
One point is, I am sure everyone knows, Korean food are not exactly cheap and this is even more so since they offer exquisite fine and authentic Korean cuisine (even the Chef is flown in from Korea!)
Their name has been established in Malaysia sometime ago, following the success of their outlets in USJ Taipan.

Minimum spending here is from RM17 onwards for a bowl of noodles/rice and for the BBQ set, be prepared to spend RM70 and above.

For starters, do not be suprised by the 'more-than-10' appetizers they serve immediately after the waiter has taken your order











I almost felt stuffed after I've sampled the appetizers and regretted that I've ordered a main.
Anyway, we didn't go for the BBQ because I am not really much for meat and the scent of burnt pork/beef in my hair and clothes.
Don't be disappointed just yet; for I had the chance to introduce other side dishes which you can try when you are out of the mood for BBQ and just want a bite of Korean.

Bi Bim Bap (RM19)

Basically this is literally translated as Stone Bowl Rice.
The bowl reminds me of mortar; which we used to grind our chili to make paste/sambal.
This is one of the homey meal Koreans take pride in; where they serve rice topped with a few types of vegetables; which usually included sliced carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts,crab sticks, seaweed and minced meat and a touch of a sunny side up right smack in the middle of the bowl.
The bowl keeps the rice at the bottom warm.

You need to stir everything up and mix them with the rice to get that Bibimbap taste!
The waiter was kind to explain the process when he served us this; not in Korean, but in his own native language. Anyhow, he was really courteous and attentive to our needs during our entire dining experience there.

We were also served soups when our mains were served


A hot bowl of noodles with seafood in soup (RM17)

The bowls used to serve are huge; I gulped when I saw the bowl placed in front of me.
I am sure some must be wondering, how good can a bowl of noodles in soup which is basically sick food taste?
Actually, they used a superior stock and the soup had a rather tasty (though tad bit salty) flavor with the clams and prawns used in the soup.
To be frank, the clams exuded such an overwhelming 'fishy-seafood' smell to the soup that it definitely attested to this being seafood-based.
The noodles used were mee-suah-like and were however, tad more soaked which ended up soggy. Not that it's bad, it depends on your preference.

I silently curse my friend who ordered an extra side dish to stuff ourselves silly but praised him after taking a bite of this; as he had been kind enough to recommend a good dish.

Korean Rice Cakes (RM30)

Although we were joking about how much we are paying for basic chee-cheong-fun dish, it was nevertheless flavorful with the spicy-sweet and sourish texture lent by the kimchi in the cooking process

Look at all the food on our table!


We tried, we did, and we couldn't finish ALL of it


The total price was RM78++ but the dining experience and the food was of authentic Korean style and taste that I must say it's worth your time/money spent.

Fiery Peranakan @ Nyonya Cafe

The merry atmosphere of the famous food court New World Park is now enhanced with its latest addition of a cafe/restaurant which promises local Peranakan or Nyonya food.

I was informed of this opening and over the long weekend (I really enjoyed that break) of Labor Day, I walked into the unusually quiet Nyonya Cafe which was still pretty new; from the deco and the flowers outside the cafe

Inside, the cafe was tastefully decorated to revive that Peranakan style in their interior



This is clearly seen by their antique looking and exquisite taste in the Cina-Peranakan style of marble tables




I find the prices on the menu slightly higher than that of the other Nyonya restaurants I have visited in Penang; and with this status of a cafe, it seemed odd that they should outbid the 'restaurants' out there.
Oh well, logically, it's probably due to some high rates they are paying for the place every month?

An elderly lady came over to attend to us and she recommended her famous dishes which are pretty much the same as any other Nyonya/Peranakan restaurant in Penang.

I made a mistake of ordering this plate of Four Heavenly Kings; as I heard her mention four beans in Hokkien and I thought it was four-angler beans(Kacang botol) cooked with sambal


It came as Four different vegetables cooked with sambal!!
Not that I have anything against any combination of four vegetables cooked together in a wok; but the thing is, I detest PETAI!
YES, sorry for those who adore or think the world of this stinky beans but I just can't stand the sight or the smell of it...oh boy!


I think my face dramatically changed and my lips were screwed or pursed up in disappointment...my mistake!
I had to carefully avoid touching any vegetable that is in close contact to a single pod of Petai on that plate...
Yeah, I am the drama queen here!

Oh, I forgot to mention the price; I think it was about RM7-8 for this plate...which did I mention I truly regret ordering it due to the existence/inclusion of petai here?

The fish fillets cooked in Gulai Tumis (RM18)

The gulai is strangely sweeter than sour as it is supposed to be but nevertheless, it was not too bad.
I was quite surprised to find that they used dory fish fillets for this; that was the weird part of it all!

Just, I've always thought that gulai goes well with fish that are tough...like black pomfret, seabass, etc, something which are lightly fried then immersed into the thick mixture of the sourish paste scented with coriander leaves and basil..YUMS!

Another thing to order at a Nyonya place; something which is my favorite is the Assam Prawns (Assam Heh in Hokkien)

If you were connecting the Assam word to the soupy dish, then boy are you wrong.
Assam prawns are dry; and they were marinated with that sourish taste from the tamarind.The tamarind pulp (aka Asam Jawa) lends its taste to the enhanced taste from the sweet prawns already; blending them to produce such an exquisite and unforgettable savory taste!

I think it was about RM12-14 for this.

One of us decided to try out the desserts after the meal; and that one of us ain't me.

The Peranakan are famous for their sweet tooth (or teeth) as they have lots of desserts created in their name.

Nyonya cafe offers a limited choice of the sweet soups; and this is the Pengat (RM4)


Frankly, if you ask for my opinion, I think it just looks like Bubur Cha Cha.
It has the same ingredients; perhaps swapped one or two out and lo behold, you have a different dessert called Pengat?

I am not sure whether this is the right version of Pengat because as far as my memory serves me, pengat is of a very thick and dense texture and this certainly is not it.

Well, overall, the food served here was not too bad; but I still prefer the other Nyonya haunts I go to in Penang and recommend to my friends and family.
But I think it was fun trying out on that extra day off; did I mention it was during a long weekend? *winks*

Homey meal @ Jasmine

Jasmine restaurant/cafe is not noticeable from the main road, nor is it huge in popularity compared to other restaurants.

All I can say is, it is located next to Island hospital; actually before you reach Island hospital (before the bend before you turn into Peel Road).
It is run by a couple of ladies; and they serve pretty decent home cooked dishes here.
You can't expect really luxurious or first-class dining environment or even finger-licking dishes, but just enough to treat that hunger for home-cooked meals when you've lived out there long enough.


I used to think that this place has such an aura of gloom; as it is usually not very crowded and the place is just quiet.
Anyway, for the reasons above, I still come once in a while, when I think of it.


I like the fish here; and it's not overly priced (RM18-22)

Cooked with fermented bean curd sauce/Tau Chu, black pomfret is just the right choice to satisfy my appetite for that dinner.
They were kind enough to cut the fish into bite-sized chunks which made it even more convenient to devour the tasty fish meat.


Broccoli, my favorite green, and it's stir-fried (RM8)

Oh my, crunchy and scrumptious....I love broccoli!

Braised bean curd with mixed vegetables in a claypot


Simmering hot and just reminds me of that home-cooked taste of a piece of beancurd as I pop one bite into my mouth; careful of the heat which may scald my tongue, LOL!

On normal occasions, RM30+ will be good enough for a selection of 3 dishes which can probably feed 2-3 people?
However, on other occasions such as Chinese New Year, I learnt that they are very popular with the returning relatives and children where Chinese families tend to choose this place for reunion dinners and gathering.

My personal experience happened during CNY this year (the Ox Year) when I came with my family
We were recommended their annual special "CNY-only" dishes

Special Prosperity Bean Curd

Everyone kept telling me, "It's like that during Chinese New Year"
The bean curd was home-made and it had a silky smooth egg-battered with soy bean taste which just melts in your mouth.
I find it pretty good! I love the cube-sized vegetables and the sea cucumber which led to the reason why it was such a festive treasure.
However, the price was not agreeable; I think this dish costs about RM18-20 as well.


Stir-fried asparagus with sambal paste (RM10)

Asparagus is also one of my favorite green veggies; and it's lovely to hear that they have it during the busy festive season.
It seems like ages since I've had asparagus!

Another recommended dish was this pork ribs wrapped in lotus leaf.

I think this was about RM20 too; a little festive-overpriced!
I don't know, I just cannot accept this as an excuse that they can charge so much more extra during the festive season.
People justifying that "It's like that during CNY" does not make it legal or right to overcharge people.

Their most recommended, all-time famous Assam Fish Curry (RM30)

It comes in the claypot and it was again simmering hot; which makes it a good treat during rainy season.
The fish curry is available in this assam version or the other lemak curry/gulai version and the latter is actually the famous one.
It was not too bad; and it was just piping hot :-)

Besides that one overpriced meal during CNY here, I still find this restaurant on the whole serves pretty decent-priced homey dishes.

Swine Bread @ Old Folks' Association

Nestled inside a big and spacious land; somewhere along those huge bungalows and mansions in Pulau Tikus after you have turned into the Brown Road and a few junctions (I can't remember the name of the road), is the home of the Old Folks' Association.

Despite the rather hidden location and the old wrought iron gate which swung open limply on the side, this place was featured as one of the Penang makan places and in one of the recommended eats in the Travel magazine.

Everything here is so old-school, and upon parking the car in the open space, we headed to the back of the building where a one-storey building stood; revealing an old school canteen.


The staffs here are mostly senior women; but very friendly!
They make you feel right at home.

They used to serve light dishes or "Chu Char" but due to the lack of kitchen help, they have summarized their menu to noodles and light beverages.

Barley and you have it at RM1


Light choices for dinner

Glass noodles/Tang Hoon in soup (RM4)

Light and freshly cooked from the kitchen by the experienced women chefs, it tasted nice when it was served hot.
Not too much of those unappetizing tang hoon soup we always relate to the food we take or are forced to take when we are sick, this is underrated.
I always like soupy stuffs; and tang hoon just compliments the light soup and the condiments.

Singapore Fried Bee Hoon (RM4)

This is also one of the tasty versions of the bee hoon I have tried.
It was tossed lightly with the tomato ketchup which added to the sweet and sour taste of the gravy which endowed the bee hoon.

And finally, the Roti Babi aka the Swine Bread which apparently was the highlight here.
Actually, they are more famous for their Chick Bread aka Roti Ayam



Unfortunately, I find it on the average and the oily image really turns me out...
Furthermore, who ever said I like swine and bread?

Delightful homecooked dishes in a teahouse

Enjoying your tea in a serene and conducive environment is a great idea of relaxing and usually this comes with light snacks to tempt your appetite, but instead of snacks, how about some homey meals served hot in the same environment with the company of light music?


Chayu Kafei is one tea house which broke away from the tea-only and occasional snacks trend in the tradition of tea houses and they actually offer you home-cooked meals at very reasonable prices.
To top it all off, they have the atmosphere which steals the limelight from the other competitors.

The wooden and antique-looking furnitures provided a very warm feeling and makes you feel right at home upon entering the place





Tranquil and a sense of calmness swept over me as I took my seat and tilting my head once in a while to check out the effort invested by the owners in decorating this lovely place.
Porcelain china dolls grace the shelves; portraying the different postures of the gentle women in China as they hum their soft fingers against the light strings of ancient pipa or any musical instruments



The soy sauce are also contained in a porcelain bottle; which is just in harmony with the environment.


Of course, praises sung for the environment and the tranquility or peace that overwhelm is not testimonial enough to the charm of this cafe.
The offering of the warm meals is the main course which is bound to attract people to step into the cafe in the first place.

Spinach @ Bayam served with superior soup (RM10.90)

Light in taste and yet not too overwhelming in the stock, this is comfortable for the palates.
The stock was not too diluted either; or watery but just right to appeal to all ages.


Drunken Prawns in Claypot (RM16)

The prawns used are huge and they were carefully soaked in herbs and white wine for a time long enough to exude that strong scent and taste when it touches the tip of your tongue and travels down your throat.
The accompaniment of thinly sliced ginger and wood fungus added to the tasty soup in the pot.
I must say this is one of the most tantalizing 'alcoholic-based' food I have tasted *grins*

Braised Beancurd with abalone mushrooms (RM12.90)

Lightly battered and steamed before frying it, this homemade bean curd is a delight to land on your taste buds!
The abalone mushrooms somehow, was the factor that the price of the dish is higher than any bean curd dishes we have tried elsewhere.

Although I found it slightly overpriced, nevertheless, I still this dish enjoyable and tempting =)

On my second visit (oh yes, I did go back for another visit), I had the chance to try the steamed garoupa fish fillet (RM16)

Much as I love fish, I can't sing praise for this because honestly, it was disappointing.
The fish fillet was a little overcooked to a point that it was slightly coarse.
It was not HARD, but just a tiny bit of coarse on the fillet.

Stir-fried Kale (RM10.90) tends to be a little bit oily, but the kales were fresh and crunchy nevertheless.


Finally, a winner, the home made bean curd served with crabmeat (RM12.90)

Oh, this was really delicious, and the shredded crab meat which topped the silky and smooth bean curd along with the finely chopped carrots, mushrooms, etc, was just an excellent condiment for this dish.


I don't know about you, but out of 6 dishes, only two were disappointing and I think 4 out of 6 says a lot, don't you?
After all, if all fails, order their homemade bean curd and you can't go wrong...

I am seeing myself on more future visits to this place....

Thai Food @ Bravo Cafe

Along Service Road, Irrawaddy Road and Chow Thye Road, these are the intersections of the roads which are home to several cafes and restaurants that are in the low lights of the Penang culinary map.

After a previous post on the Harvest In Cafe along this road, this round, I found another cafe hidden among the shop houses here; Bravo Cafe.


I was greeted by an air-conditioned and neatly arranged dining tables and chairs in the place when I pushed the door.




Only thing is, I don't think my presence garnered much attention from the owners or the staff as nobody attended to us for more than 10 minutes.
If you're thinking that I'm being oversensitive, or that they are busy attending to other people, well, there is only one table of 3 people in the corner in the whole entire shop.

I went upstairs to their washroom and came down and still, no one even brought us the menu yet!
Finally, a lady came, dropped 2 menus on our tables and said she'd be back to get our orders and she disappeared behind the swinging doors which read "No entry for unauthorized personnel" or something along that line.


We managed to get our order through, finally (thank God) and we waited for our drinks


The Lemon Kiwi Juice (RM4 I think)

Word of warning, do not order this!
This was overwhelmingly SWEET!!!!
Unless you are really low on blood sugar and seriously need something to boost that glucose level of yours, well, this is the drink for you. But if you're normal and want to maintain that healthy way, then by all means, please stay away from this drink.

Wheatgrass juice (RM3.90)

It's wheatgrass with chlorophyll or something like that; maybe pandan...it has a pleasant scent and taste too!
However, I think it's a little overpriced as we can get it at about RM1 outside or in a bottle, LOL!

Sweet sour Beancurd; a recommended dish by the owner (RM8-10)

The beancurd were homemade; and it was lightly fried before serving with this Thai-like sweet and sourish sauce which had a light spiciness in it.

It was not too bad; and I must say it is the only better dish compared to the others we ordered; and you shall see why in a jiff

The fish fillets with ginger and spring onions (RM14)

Oh my, this must be the worst fish fillet I have ever had!
It was practically floating in oil! I mean, the look of it has already disgusted me and I was skeptical to try the fish fillets.
However, to be fair, the fish fillets were cut up into minute chunks and it was well-marinated with a coat of corn starch (i think) before frying it.

I don't know about you, but I still find it rather unappetizing to see that much of oil around my fish fillets!

Four Angler beans @ Kacang botol with sambal (RM7)

Again, another oily more than tasty dish.

It was rather disappointing really, and I don't think I'd try again.
I can't relive that idea of oil in my food...

Local and International Fare at the Northam Beach Cafe

Dining by the beach; but with local hawker food fare and at hawker price is presented by Northam Beach Cafe.
Of course, the prices here will be slightly higher than most of the other hawker stalls in Penang; but the environment is the distinction compared to the roadside dining and to burn off another of your worry, there is ample parking space within the compound as well.

There is a wide variety of food presented by the neatly lined stalls in the food court; ranging from local hawker food such as Wantan Mee, Hokkien Mee, Teluk Kumbar Mee Udang, Popiah, Pasembur, Dim Sum, Fried Oyster, Grilled fish, Yong Tau Foo, to international delights such as Japanese Teppanyaki, Mexican quesidillas, French gourmet, Western sets, wood fire pizza even, and lots more.

Try a set of BBQ milkfish courtesy of the Filipino's local cuisine from iHaw-iHaw (RM11.90)


This fish, apparently is one of the most common fish found along the Philippine's waters and is constantly served.
However, one point to note though, the fish is definitely bony!
You will get tired crunching and removing the frail bones from the flesh.


The light roasted taste goes well with the sour tomato/chili sauce atop the fish and the fresh lemon scent and the fresh crunchy salad is the best condiments to go by this dish


The milkfish is so famous in the coastal waters of the country that it is in fact, the national symbol of the Philippines where it is known as Bangus.
This fish is definitely bonier than most of the other fish found around.



This Filipino stall offers much more variety of their local recipes including pork and chicken (BBQ, etc) and is worth exploring into if the local fare is not your cup of tea on that day.

For a hot sizzling meal, there is a stall selling noodles served in a sizzling pan.

At RM4++, I find it on the average and nothing to shout about as I have tasted much better versions of this elsewhere.

Pasembur, an Indian version of Rojak is found in 2 stalls around here.

This is from the Chinese stall; selling Jawa Mee too.
The pasembur is spicy but mediocre compared to the others in Penang.


French Gourmet is one of the limelight stealing stall around here as the chef is also an Ang-Moh (not sure whether he is really French or not).
There is a local running the stall with him and she is the one taking the orders, etc.
Chicken Crepe (RM12-13.90)

What was thought of as a starter dish became a main course meal.
The crepes were egg battered and wrapped the minced chicken meat, with a topping of tomato sauce


A very filling dish; with the vegetables as well.

Danish pies and pastries; the stall which is located just next to the French stall
Chicken Pie (RM9.50), an interesting way of serving in a mug

The filling was in the form of creamy sauce with the floating marinated chicken chunks in the sauce served in the mug.

The crust of the pastry was made to cover the top of the mug


The gravy with the chicken chunks; tastes better if you were to scoop it and accompany it with a bite of the pastry



They serve a variety of fruit juices and herbal tea here as well, take your pick
They even have ice kacang

Priced at RM3.60, they just dump everything in and with shaved ice, it's just lovely

And I don't even need to decide which flavor of drink, now that's lovely! =)

(I shall post more on Northam Beach cafe in the future, stay tune)