The Search for Steamed Fish

I don't know why, but it is becoming increasingly challenging to find a place that serves good steamed fish on the island.
Perhaps it was my own picky taste buds creating the barriers, but at the same time, most of the restaurants do not seem to have the exact fish that I want, to begin with.

I don't ask for much, just for a simple dish of steamed fish served in that appetizing sauce (yes, I am not referring to plain Chinese steamed style with soy sauce).
The fish that I am craving for, which would fit the bill to be served in such a manner, is none other than the snapper species.

Red snapper, to be precise.
Don't ask me why, I just have specific cravings during those specific periods, enough said.

At this point of time, I just crave for red snapper to be steamed the Teochew style (think a combination of salty and sourish plum sauce loaded with pickled vegetables, tomatoes, thin slices of mushrooms and white beancurd, garnished with coriander leaves).
For somewhat reason, I just know that's the one plaguing my mind and the taste just rolls on the edge of the taste buds, and no, I am not pregnant, despite all these cravings.
They are just my usual seasonal cravings that just come and haunt me once in a while.

The search took months, seriously, and I think I may be the one running out of places on my mind for good seafood restaurants.
Then I decided to revisit this seafood restaurant in Teluk Kumbar; Hai Boey Seafood Restaurant, which I have previously blogged here.

Well, it was a good thing I thought of Hai Boey, because they met my requirements and I almost squealed for joy when they told me that they have the red snapper fish.
On top of that, they can even customize to a smaller-sized fillet portion to accommodate the two of us.

I would have suggested the Teochew style that I craved for, but then I was enticed by one of their styles which brought back memories and ignited another craving, so this was what I settled on;
Steamed Red Snapper fillet with sour lime juice and garlic



The fish fillet is weighed by the size and weight, but approximated to a range of MYR35-40 for a serving like this.
I had this twice, and both times the price fell in the range mentioned.

It was the right choice definitely, and I never looked back since; after all, how else could one explain the repeated visit to enjoy this, like two times in a row.
I was hooked on the flavorous tastes of the exotic yet appetizing sauce; which is sweet, sour and exciting all at the same time.
It is teasing to the taste buds, and is simply irresistible to keep away from.
The flesh of the fish was smooth and succulent, and I am pleased that it was fresh, which is just the primary requirement (or the basic) for a fish to be steamed to enjoy the real tastes of the juicy fish fillet.




The bird's eye chili seeds and the red chilies added just contributed that hint of spicy taste; just a tiny weeny bit but also sufficient to fuel that excitement in the flavorful sauce to complement the tender fiesh.




I would be happy with the fish alone, but then again, a trip to a seafood restaurant located at the far end of the island thronged by crowds of seafood enthusiasts comprising of local and tourists from other states/countries would not be justified without having a real meal accompanied by other seafood served in the restaurant.

It will be terribly unjust to the restaurant which had all the large aquariums filled with swimming fishes and live seafood greeting their patrons at the entrance of the restaurant, promising that fresh variety and that one will not leave dissatisfied with their fill of fresh local seafood.

Deep fried Mantis prawns with dried chilies/Kung Pow style (MYR12) - one of my usual favorites.
(I have tried their other style; which was quite unique too in my previous visit here, equally relish as well)



They have done this dish quite well, I must say, as I am also, again, particular with the way the mantis prawns are fried that they do not end up too deep fried to the extent of dried hollow.
The juicy flesh is to be maintained at a medium done level; maintaining that balance between the crispy outer part and the moist trapped for a tender bite into the flesh of the prawns.




Another side order of Spicy Stir Fried Clams/Lala (MYR12) also promises more appetite stimulating experience to the meal.



I am not big on shell stuffs or clams, but I have to say this is one fiery way of serving the clams which were again, amazingly fresh and made its worth to be added to our list of orders.

I guess I could say that the search is over for my favorite steamed fish, until, they tell me that they run out of my favorite fish, but I can see that is highly unlikely.

So here I have come, and here I will stay (at least when I crave for that zesty lime sauce drizzling my juicy snapper flesh) ~






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Let's Get Crabbin' with the Australian Spanner

The sight of this bright siren red, not to mention the gigantic size of this crustacean species is enough to make anyone go weak in the knees.
This unique species known as the Australian Spanner Crab is definitely not meant for the weak-hearted and can be quite a catch to be found here, but it is definitely close to most of the local Australians' hearts.

This resident crab hails from the Land Down Under; with obvious signs indicated in the name itself and is commonly found along the eastern to the southern part of the coastal waters in the region.
From Queensland to Nowra in New South Wales, it is a familiar species and even a popular favorite among the Australian folks.

While commonly found in Australia, its presence here definitely deserves the spotlight and that was exactly the star role it landed on the menu of Manhattan Fish Market recently as one of the highlighted dish.

At a whopping price of only MYR39.90, it sounded reasonable and just too good for the crab lovers out there; especially for the adventurous ones (after all, the sight of the crab is there to tell you what you're expecting).
The photo of the crab on the promotional poster poised against the easel at the entrance of the shop was a visual concept to prepare the diners of this crab, but still, it did nothing to halt that big 'O' opening of our mouths when the dish finally arrived.



The crab did not come alone and along its arrival are its companions in the form of the accompanying sauce.
A choice of a light buttery sauce or the fiery spicy sambal gravy, the dressing sauces are there to enhance the dining experience and the taste of the crabby flesh.

The tools to get the crab cracked open are definitely not forgotten; along with a bowl of water with a slice of lemon for one to rinse their hands with after all the hard work.
That is indeed thoughtful, and that lemon gives the hands a citrusy scent to dispel the strong and distinctive smell from the crabs itself.
(You'd know what I mean :-)

A glimpse of the flesh



The accompanying spicy sauce did a better job in masking the slightly frozen taste of the flesh; temporarily blinding the thought that this was indeed air flown into our country from another country.
However, the sambal sauce was definitely a strong reminder of our local tastes and I really mean that it was spicy!

Crabs tend to take a longer time to consume, or enjoy and therefore, when dining with the crabs, it takes a lot more patience and of course, when you are just in the mood backed with the leisure/luxury of time on hand.

I don't mind crabs, well, at least when they are peeled, to be honest *grins* and I need my crabs to be really, really fresh.

The Australian Spanner Crab may be the star of the meal, but the Grilled Salmon with Black Pepper Sauce (MYR24.90) made its way to our table too, courtesy of yours truly who just needed a fix of salmon that day.



Served with fresh and boiled vegetables alongside mashed potatoes drenched with the black pepper sauce where the salmon fillet is plopped on top, complete with a tiny flag of Manhattan Fish Market, this looked pretty appetizing for a start.






However, I was a little disappointed that the salmon fillet, while stunningly succulent in appearance turned out to be too overly well done to my liking.
Perhaps I was just too particular with the way my salmon is to taste like, but I am not a fan of dry and harsh textures of the flesh when it comes to a rich fish like salmon.

The starter we ordered; the Ocean's Gem (MYR10.90) which was a combination of an assortment of seafood drizzled with a tantalizing sourish dressing on a bed of fresh greens was definitely the winner of the day.



Juicy fresh prawns and scallops, mixed with the crunchy variety of sliced carrots, capsicums, cucumbers, lettuces and cabbages, raisins and marinated onion slices make up the triumphant dish and one just can't get enough of the portion.

It may look small in its size, but I would say it is just nice for a serving of 1-2 pax and is a sure appetite stimulant with its vibrant colors and the flavorful tastes which one simply cannot resist.




To quench that thirst and soothe the senses, the Sunset by The Bay (MYR9.90) is one good choice.
A bold mix of Early Grey Tea with tiny bits of peaches, graced by that slice of lemon by the side to give it that extra zesty kick is truly irresistible.

It has been a while I have been to this restaurant and I have almost forgotten the wonderful varieties of seafood; especially fish that they have here.




I am reminded of them now, and I crab you not, that I am thinking of my order on my next visit :-)

Making them Fishy at Blue Reef Fish and Chips

Blue Reef Fish and Chips, located in the trendy seafront retail marina of Penang; Straits Quay, is a much-talked about eatery around here. Known for its delicious and affordable servings of the good old traditional fish and chips, Blue Reef had the crowd well under its wing with their great reputation.

Initially situated in the tranquil neighborhood of Lembah Permai, the fish and chips outlet rose to fame almost instantly in its early days of operations; attracting the local islanders to their humble outlet especially on weekends. Their move to Straits Quay was by far another a wise choice; with the chic environment also the great ambiance with their location facing the tranquil seafront to give their patrons that dining-by-the-sea feeling in this bold and captivating concept of the seafront retail marina, which also happened to be the first of its kind in Penang.



Choose from their two signature styles of preparing the fish and chips; the traditional beer batter or the bread crumb to coat the fish of your choice (select from a variety of fish available on their menu).

The portions here may seem large for one with a petite appetite, and one could often opt for sharing from their list of Platters for Two.

Seafood Galore (Threadfin) for MYR41.00
Traditional Beer Batter coated thread fin fillet served with a tempting combination of scallops, prawns, calamari rings, salad and chips.

Truly, it was a galore of fresh, juicy and succulent prawns, scallops and gigantic calamari rings which did well to excite one's senses and set the mood for an enjoyable meal. The thread fin fillet was tender and tastes well with the light coat of beer batter wrapping the moist and luscious flesh of the fish.





Besides the traditional fish and chips, if you are into the fish or seafood but not in the mood for deep frying, go for their other styles of preparation such as grilled, poached, or even steamed; the Asian style. Yes, Blue Reef offers all the varieties of preparing their seafood that one can think of and even to the extent of localizing the tastes for their local patrons.

Poached Platter (Barramundi) for MYR46.00
This will be a much lighter option for those into a fuss free and simple tastes of fresh seafood with a zest of lemon juice for an extra refreshing taste.






Besides the traditional fish and chips and seafood platter, or their list of main courses, there are also varieties of salad greens, soups and also mouth-watering appetizers/starters for one to enjoy along with their meal.

Breaded Calamari (MYR12.00)

Enjoy chewing on these larger-than-usual calamari rings which are bouncy in texture that makes one indulge in more than intended. We enjoyed the tasty batter and the appetizing platter while taking note to save space for the mains before they arrive; or just simply, request for them to be served at the same time if you want, to be adventurous once in a while!



I would recommend this Seafood Chowder (MYR13.00), which is just soaking with goodness and generously hiding the large chunky sizes of seafood in the bowl.



This is surprisingly a pleasant and light tasting soup; which was not too creamy nor overly rich that could cloy one's simple taste buds. I am not really a fan of thick and creamy soups and this one is just the right potion to capture my tastes.



For a refreshing companion, we enjoyed the lovely and fruity scent of the Iced Peach Tea (MYR5.00)



One can choose to dine in their air-conditioned space of the outlet or go al-fresco style facing the seafront with the gorgeous view of the beautiful yachts parked by the quay, as though one is in the Fish Market in Australia (Fremantle Fish Market, one of my favorite places for Fish and Chips).







One can also enjoy a romantic stroll to enjoy the atmospheric seafront environment with the sea breeze.



Fish and chips may be well-known in our Australian and English counterparts; with their traditional recipes courting food lovers all over the world and also the fish markets are by far, attractive points.

Now, one does not need to go far or even board the plane to enjoy such an environment or even the fish and chips as we already have them here, right in our own backyard.

Blue Reef Fish and Chips has definitely lived up to that expectation with their fish and chips and topped it perfectly with the idyllic setting and picturesque seafront.
English and Australians may be proud of their fish and chips; touted as the best in the world, but Blue Reef is definitely not far behind in making that mark either and the best is, it is right here, making it possible for us to be able to enjoy good ol' fish and chips in the comforts of our own home environment~

An Evening with Seafood at Hai Boey

Literally translated to the "End of the Sea" in the local dialect of Hokkien (common language spoken on the island of Penang), Hai Boey Seafood Restaurant is a resident seafood eatery located at the far end of the coast of Teluk Kumbar; a district located between Bayan Lepas and Balik Pulau in Penang.



It has been a few years since I was first here, and my recent visit to this restaurant was indeed a far cry from its heydays during my first visit. The restaurant has fully developed into a systematic and organized outlet, with well-planned facilities for the convenience of the customers and also the efficient system in which the dining orders were taken. I have to commend their ordering system which was well-thought of; with the waiters/waitresses attending to each customer with a PDA in hand and keying in the orders to be sent directly to the kitchen. Of course, this has been practiced in many restaurants for some time now, but I really mean it when I say that their system works quite the way it was intended to, or at least when I was there.
It is also worth mentioning that the restaurant's kitchen was lined with a team of chefs; in a count exceeding five, all busily tossing and frying at their woks and pans to cook for their customers.
Then there is the serving team, who pushes metal carts around (like in a dim sum restaurant) with all the ready-to-serve dishes to multiple tables at the same time. This whole scenario really sped up the entire process from the ordering to the serving, and keeps their customers happy, which is key to their success.

One of the house specialty as recommended by the waitress is this Braised Prawns with Hor Fun (Thin and Flat broad  rice noodles) (明虾河粉)(MYR26.00)



The thick sweet and sourish flavored gravy enriched with the addition of generous amounts of stalks of spring onions and slices of ginger added to the relishing factor of the dish. Of course, the star of this is definitely the fresh and succulent prawns, which were well-sliced to permeate its natural sweetness and juicy taste, and along with hor fun, it is an appetizing combination which makes this an indefinite memorable dish. Truly, this is a specialty here worth the recommendation.

Having used to the usual style of Kung pow mantis prawns, I was enticed by the mention of their other styles to prepare the mantis prawns which was quite distinct from the regular cooking methods in most restaurants.
Kerabu Mantis Prawns (MYR12.00) is an interesting palate teaser with a burst of sourish spicy mix  to complement the dry crisp taste of the deep fried mantis prawns, which, was tender and squeaks with a juicy flavor inside.



This has totally recreated and rebuffed the regular styles of serving mantis prawns, as it introduces a more refreshing and exciting sensation to the tender tastes of mantis prawns. I might try another style on my next visit, as I hear they have other creative cooking styles for this tantalizing sea creature.




If you are bored of the usual stir fried lala (clams) or the steamed style in superior stock, look forward to the way they spice up the dish with this slightly spicy yet flavorful
Steamed Lala with Sour Plum and Chilies (MYR12.00)



The flavorful yet light broth is really enticing to the taste buds, and the addition of garlic and coriander leaves just elevates to the appeal of the dish, and the clams were really fresh and juicy to begin with that it was just the perfect marriage for the fresh sea ingredients and the accompanying cooking ingredients.



The restaurant is fond of serving their fish in clay pots, which they will always recommend to their customers as one of their regular serving styles.
Claypot steamed Red Snapper (MYR40.00) 
(~MYR7 per 100g)

Coriander leaves are served separately, for folks who are not fond of the addition of them beforehand.
It is indeed a thoughtful move, as I do know of many who would shy away from this and it is often a love-or-hate relationship most have with them.

The fish was cut up into large chunks to fit them into the clay pot; and it did seem a little queer though that the fish seemed to be a little uneven on the portion and I believed it was one-sided.


The texture of the fish was smooth and well-immersed in the light tastes of the soy sauce which gave it that extra flavor on top of its natural sweetness owed to the freshness of the fish.




Stir-fry Baby Bok Choy (Siu Bak Choy) (MYR8.00) with garlic was a simple yet healthy finish to the above seafood fare.
The soft and crunchy texture of the vegetable accompanied by the garlic and simple broth made this a light option away from the flavored dishes we had.


Sour Ambra plum juice which comes in bottles are perfect for larger groups.
Priced at MYR12.00 per bottle, it did come across as a little pricey compared to the usual but the juice was rich with the flavors of the fruit combination, giving it that less than the usual diluted tastes we get at some of the places out there.



Compared to my last visit here, I would say the quality has improved in terms of the food and also the overall system in place here.
It is definitely another reason to indulge in seafood when you have interesting places like these, and on an island known as a food paradise.

There are ample parking space for the cars, and the restaurant has even organized their parking lots by stilts to guide their customers to a well-arranged layout on their premises.
It seems that they kept everything in order here, and nothing seems to miss their mind.



With the typical setting of the countryside in the background and the seafront dining before the you, it is definitely an authentic island environment to enjoy your seafood in much more atmospheric style.