ZENZI Bar in Upper Penang Road by SamT

Saturday nite fever struck again. It's been a while since my last outing; so I decided to hang out with another couple of friends at Upper Penang Road (behind City Bayview hotel, next to MWE building where Maybank is) where a whole stretch of bars, pubs and restaurants, welcoming the howling party animals...

While I was deciding which bars to enter, ZENZI bar caught my attention. The location of this bar is exactly at the same spot where Tiger Arms was. It is just few doors next to Smoky Jack, another restaurant and bars that I am going to write about.

Nothing much has changed inside but this creative "hang-up" caught my friend's atention and while taking this photo, a lady walked up to us and joked about this special piece was from her creation. Yeah, apart from that piece of art, the staffs here are friendly, not to mention about this lady boss.



The long island tea was worth the money, it's a buy one free one kinda deal... and the mix was wonderful. Of course, my ever favourite Kirk Kenny, the smooth Irish beer.


As the night went on, the more sober we were getting... hopping into another bar for few drinks and dance all night long ...

Lebuh Melayu "Koay Chap" by SamT

If you like “Kor Cha Bi” or traditional taste in English, I would recommend the “Koay Chap” in Lebuh Melayu, Penang (Thai Goo Aw – in Hokkien). Not many people are aware of this store, only those that are of older generation or those who followed their parents since young; also this store used to be at one of the coffee shop alongside of Carnavon Street.

“Koay Chap” is an old time local delicacy where the noodles are made of rice flour and shaped into thin slices. The aroma of the blackish soup contains the sweetness of duck meat.

"KOAY CHAP"


To enrich the taste, there are side dishes that you can choose. Usually, I would go for a combination of braised duck meat, braised hard boil eggs and bean curd. To me, they are the perfect match for “Koay Chap”. Of course, you can choose to have either of them, and price will be different from the combinations.

BRAISED EGGS; BEAN CURD: DUCK MEAT

This shop opens in 2 sessions, one in the morning and the other during lunch hour. Both sessions serve different kind of dishes. Starting at 6.30am till 11.00am, only “Koay Teow Th’ng” is sold. The taste of “Koay Teow Th’ng” is compatible with the “Koay Chap” as they are cooked by the same owner, using the same genuine ingredients. From 11.30am to 3.00pm, it will followed by the sale of “Koay Chap”.

Apart from “Koay Chap”, this store also serves duck porridge and rice, which are equivalently tasty. Even though the time of interval and closing are stated clearly, I would recommend you to go early due to its popularity.


My Scores: (Out of 5)
Taste: 4
Environment: 2.5
Service: 3
Price: 3
Parking: 3 (parking spaces alongside the )
Address: 113, Lebuh Melayu, Penang
Others:
Morning session: 6.30am – 11.00am
Afternoon session: 11.30am – 3.00pmClose on Sunday afternoon.

Tiffani Vegetarian Food by LENG

Upon hearing that one of our friend would only be eating vegetarian food on the 15th day of the Lunar month, I recalled that my Mum mentioned to me a really nice vegetarian restaurant she visited recently. Hence here we are at Tiffani Vegetarian Restaurant!

It was after 2pm when we arrived, the place was empty. So we got the full attention of the waitress there! The interior of this restaurant is clean and bright, with shelves by the wall displaying many vegetarian foodstuff for sale. There are sauces, instant noodles, cookbooks etc.

Browsing through the menu, we decided to order a few dishes to share among the 4 of us. We ended up ordering 6 dishes! I have to say they are all very delicious! I was very impressed how they could actually make the food taste like the real thing!

Chicken chop & Pork Chop

(looks like what you order from the Western food stalls??)

Fragrant spice fried rice (Very fragrant indeed!)

Sambal fried rice (super spicy, lotsa kick!)

Fried noodles

Char Koay Teow (Yumm, you can taste the "wok hei", heat of the wok)

All in all, I was both impressed and glad that I have been here. Now I will be first one raising his hand when someone asks if anybody knows a good vegetarian restaurant!

My score:

Taste: 4

Environment: 3 (air-conditioned & clean)

Service: 4

Price: Approx. RM40 for 6 dishes which we ordered above

Parking: 4 (many along the road outside)

Address: 27 & 29 Amoy Lane (right behind New World Park food court)

Tel: 604-228 9468

Thai Garden Restaurant & Pub, Penang by GNEB

Thai Garden Restaurant & Pub is a fairly new restaurant in Penang. It has only opened its door to customers approximately 4 months ago. It’s located right opposite Penang’s High Court in Light Street.

From outside, it looks more like a normal pub than a restaurant. Inside, it’s a little pub plus a very good Thai restaurant. We were kind of hesitant to go in at first wondering if there’s really a restaurant in there, until the friendly Marketing Manager (Siva) actually came and opened the door to welcome us.

Thai Garden Restaurant & Pub

The lights are dim inside, just like in any other pubs. There were some tourists in there who seemed more like regulars in the place. There were not many people in here for their food though. We were in fact one of the 2 tables who were here for dinner.

The staffs are really friendly but I feel that their service could be further improved if they would also know how to recommend their specialties to their customers. Although Siva was actually taking our order, he looked a bit lost when being asked what to recommend. In the end, I ordered the following familiar Thai dishes, just to be safe.

Tom Yum Kong (RM14.50) – This is so nice that we were surprised that this is actually served in a pub!

Pad Pet Gai (RM11.00) – Fried Chicken in Spicy Sauce. The gravy is rich in the aroma of coconut milk and basil leaves. This is highly recommended.

Fried Mixed Vegetables in Oyster Sauce (RM10.50) – lovely fresh and crunchy vegetables.

Onion Omelet (RM5.00) – I’m a big fan of omelets. This omelet has a special taste in it. I don’t know how to describe that taste, but that in my mind is how omelets should taste like.

They say never judge a book by its cover. Knowing how typical pub meals are like, Thai garden was definitely a big surprise!

If I hadn’t already mentioned, Thai Garden Restaurant and Pub is located in the heritage belt of Penang. After the meal, you can also take a stroll down the nearby attractions or along the Esplanade.

My Scores (Out of 5):

Taste: 5 (I was impressed!)
Environment: 3 (I feel it’s a bit dark inside)
Service: 4 (very friendly staff)
Price: 3 (average and depending on what you order. No service charge)
Parking: 4 (if you go in the evening, plenty of parking along the street)
Address: 26, Light Street, 10200, Penang
Tel: 604-250515
Website: http://www.thaigardenpenang.com/

Hock Lye Seafood Village, Penang by GNEB

When we talk about good seafood places in Penang, what comes to most people’s mind is none other than the all so popular and touristy Batu Kawan in Tambun. Over the years though, Batu Kawan has become highly commercialized and the traffic condition is just terrible, especially during weekends.

I have discovered one seafood restaurant that serves very fresh seafood at very reasonable price on the island recently. This is definitely a good alternative to many islanders who love fresh seafood and can enjoy it within their easy reach.

I wouldn’t be surprised that many people have not actually heard of Hock Lye Seafood Village and do not know where it is. This place is located beneath the flyover at the cross-roads between Jelutong Express Way and Gat Lebuh Macallum. If you come from Jelutong Express Way, take the right turn after the traffic light at Gat Lebuh Macallum and then take the first right turn again and go straight till the dead end. Hock Lye Seafood Village is just right there.

Hock Lye Seafood Village

It's good to sit in the open area when the weather is good. You can enjoy the food and the breeze at the same time.

Catch of the day!

Crabs

Oysters


Horse Shoe Crabs – these creatures just freak me out!! Don’t they look like the Alien babies that Sigourney Weaver was fighting with?

You gotta have a look at this fella! He’s huge!

Say “Cheese” bro!

Shrimps boiled in hot water - You could taste the freshness in the shrimps without any condiment.

Fried Oysters Omelets topped with spicy sauce – I’d never tried fried oysters omelets this way but it was certainly very tasty and unique.

Steamed Fish ala Teow Chew – The fish was very fresh and the texture of its flesh could tell. The gravy was a bit sour though due to the pickled vegetables (kiam chai).


Fried Teow Chew Mee Teao (Teow Chew Noodles) – This was very delicious and I could only say I loved it!

Spicy Curry Crabs – The sauce was delicious. It’s perfect to go with white rice or bread.

Stir Fried Bok Choy with Garlic – If you like garlic, this would be a perfect dish.

So how much was the meal? Err…I didn’t pay this time as it was a treat. All I cared about was to eat.. he he..

Well, if there’s any hint to the bill, my family loves this place and we’ve come back again and again for seafood. So, it can’t be that bad.

My Scores (Out of 5):

Taste: 4

Environment: 2 (literally nothing to see as it’s below the flyover, but breezy though if the weather is right)

Service: 4 (thoughtful and friendly)

Price: no idea as I didn’t pay, but I know it’s reasonable.

Parking: 5 (free parking at the open space in front of the restaurant)

Address: 130A, Jalan C Y Choy, Bridge Street Foreshore, 10300, Penang

Tel: 604-2627524

Others: Open from 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 10.00pm

The Demise Of 2 Entertainment Icons

What a gloomy day today..

While I was driving to work today, I heard about Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett’s passing on the radio. I wasn’t sad but I guess I was shocked and speechless.

Most people my age have grown up watching MJ and Farrah on TV. They were the icons back in the 70’s and 80’s. Ok, please do not have the wrong impression that I’m that old. It’s just that Charlie’s Angels and The Thriller were really popular during my early childhood and primary schooling time. By the way, I was only a toddler when I first watched Charlie’s Angles on TV back in the late 70’s.

So, they are really dead…

One of them was my favorite angel of the sexy trio. I still remember the sequence of my liking, in descending order, went like this – Jill (Farrah Fawcett), Kelly (Jacklyn Smith) and Sabrina (Kate Jackson). These hot chicks (aunties by now) accompanied my early childhood.

The other one whose songs I listened to when I was attending primary school and then secondary school. I never did like MJ that much but his talent was truly undeniable. It was his “Heal The World” that accompanied me as I stayed up burning the midnight oil; his “Black or White” that I listened to in my car as I attempted to skip the boring tuition classes after school; his “I’ll be There” that I sang the first time I went to a karaoke.

I will not go crazy over buying MJ’s CDs nor downloading Farrah's bikini poster as some fans would do now. However, I will cherish my childhood memories more, with MJ and Farrah being part of them.

My tribute to them..

Wen Chang Hainan Chicken Rice by Leng

Hainan chicken rice must be my ultimate choice when it comes to what to have for lunch. So when my regular outlet rests every Tuesday, this is where I come for my fix of Hainan chicken rice.
From the newspaper cuttings pasted on the wall, it seems that this chicken rice shop started out as just a stall and now being run by 2 generations of the family. I remember this location used to house Green Planet Cafe which served western and oriental food, catering mainly for Western backpackers.

As you can see, it is now buzzing with mainly the local busy lunchtime crowd. Food here is served very quickly since all the things are cooked beforehand. Chicken only needs to be chopped, and rice only needs to be scooped.

Within minutes of ordering, voila!

When having chicken rice, the chilli sauce which accompanies it, is very important. I feel it will either make or break the deal. It should have the right balance of garlic, ginger, chilli, vinegar and sugar. All combined will be like a mini explosion with every mouthful of chilli, chicken and rice!

My score:

Taste: 4

Environment: 2

Service: 3

Price: 5 (cost less than RM15 for 2 people including drinks)

Parking: 4 (plenty along the road)

Adress: Cintra Street, Penang.

My Vacation in Jogjakarta, Indonesia (Part 2) by GNEB

Day 3

As we were able to cover most of the tourist spots on Day 2, we decided to spend Day 3 solely on shopping and relaxing. Having seen how cheap things could be in Jogjakarta, we were really excited about the possibility of finding some good deals in Malioboro.

But first, we wanted to do like what holiday makers should do – waking up late and lazing around. We decided to have our breakfast in the garden, enjoy a bit of the morning sunshine and chill out by the pool, before we raid Malioboro with full force.

Rumah Mertua Boutique Hotel is definitely nice to look at and comfortable to stay in. The garden is so beautiful in the morning. Having breakfast in the garden was such a pleasant experience.

I was very impressed with the breakfast and I will continue to say that in this article. It’s so nicely prepared and presented, unlike most of the other hotels where you only get scrambled egg with some starchy baked beans for complimentary breakfast.

You first get fruit juice and “kuih” as “starter”. See, it’s like a proper 3-course meal!

Then, piece de resistance…

Mee Goreng (Fried Noodle)

Bee Hoon Goreng (Fried Rice Vermicelli)

Last but not least, dessert!

Pineapple Pancake

And mind you, these are all very tasty food!

This is Rumah Mertua Boutique Hotel, taken from the entrance (and while waiting for our taxi to Malioboro).

As I mentioned, this is a hotel located deep inside a Javanese village. There’s hardly anything in the surrounding areas.

Malioboro

Malioboro is the main business and administrative district of Jogjakarta. It’s a busy city but it’s definitely not one full of skyscrapers and modern buildings. It looks pretty much like Hatyai in Sounthern Thailand.

Like Hatyai, there are also street vendors along the sidewalks selling local handicrafts and produce. This is where you get the bargains if you’re looking for some souvenirs to bring home. Remember, haggle the best you can!

Jogjakarta is famous for its batik. It’s apparently the “home of batik” in Indonesia. There’s an indoor market that sells batik clothing and fabrics. The place looks a bit déjà vu – it’s Hatyai that it reminds me of.

We wanted to try some of the local food and so we went to this really “old fashioned” looking coffee shop called Cirebon Restaurant.

We tried their Vegetable Boiled Noodle which is a bit tasteless and insipid – ok, wrong choice of food…

Ayam Betutu

Some chicken cooked with spices thingy – another wrong choice of food!

Chicken Satay

Somehow they call it chicken kebab – this is at least better than the other 2 dishes mentioned above.

There’s this extremely friendly waiter in the restaurant who kept talking to us the entire time we were in there and offered to take us to the shop that sells “oleh-oleh” (local cookies).

We ended up buying a few boxes of “Bakpia”. Don’t ask me why it’s called “Bakpia” when I know it should actually be called “tao sar pia” (or “tambun pia”) as they taste 99% like Penang’s “tao sar pia”. The only difference is that the filling of “Bakpia” is not necessarily made of “tao sar” (bean paste), but also cheese and chocolate paste.

Apparently, Bakpia is very popular among tourists and there are some who queue up and buy them in big boxes .

I was pleased that they also sell wajik. I had it on the first day at the hotel as part of the welcome refreshment and fell in love with it since….

A word of advice, don’t go too crazy buying too many boxes of them as they have a short life span. It’d probably expire even before you leave Jogja (i.e. the expiry date is only 2 days from the manufacturing date).

There are 2 decent shopping malls in Jogja. One is Malioboro Mall right in the middle of Malioboro and the other (better one) called Amplaza which is near the airport. I got myself an Adidas top for gym for only RM60 and my friends bought themselves 2 pairs of Nike respectively, only for RM 130 each pair. What a shopping paradise!

I also bought a cardigan and a vest, averaging only RM20 each! I’ll wear them in my upcoming trip to Perth.

Having spent the 1st half of the day walking around and shopping in the city centre, we decided to pamper ourselves at a spa not far away from where we stayed.

It’s Java Garden Spa (Jl. Damai, Sleman).

The stepping stones that lead to the main entrance..

The spa is facing a green padi field

I had the foot massage for Rp107,000 (RM35).

My shorts but not my slippers J

Once done, it’s time to pamper our stomach at a newly opened Thai restaurant – Congkrak restaurant just opposite the spa.

Mango Salad (Rp 22,500 / RM 7.5)

Black Pepper Crabs (Rp 82,500 / RM27.5) – we had 2 of this for only RM27.5!!!

Lemon Sauce Grouper (Rp 33,000 / RM11) – can you believe how cheap it is??

Hot Plate Tofu (Rp 32,500 / RM10.8) – I love this place!!

As if that was not cheap enough, the restaurant gave us a 25% discount of the total bill!