Gourmet Garden

A recent trip to Gurney Drive took us to the newly open Gurney Paragon Mall and to Brussels Beer Café that was recently opened. Brussels’ heart and soul is their bar that serves a wide variety of imported and draft beers, like Belle-Vue, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Leffe fresh, etc. Although beer is like the blood in their veins, but the Belgian cuisines that are churned out from their kitchen are like the air they breathe. Brussels Beer Cafe also serves a variety of Belgian dishes that will... (more...)

The Chinese New Year of the Golden Dragon is just 7 days away, here are some dining ideas for the traditional “Reunion Dinner” at some of the well known hotels in Penang. Starz Diner at Hard Rock Hotel Hard Rock Hotel’s Starz Diner  20 to 24 January 2012 Buffet Lunch: RM68++ Buffet Dinner: RM88++ Tamarind Brasserie at Parkroyal Hotel The Bungalow at Line Pine Hotel Line Pine Hotel’s The Bungalow Chinese New Year Eve Dinner – 8 course sit down dinner  22 January... (more...)

Located in Campbell House, an old vacant run down pre-war building turned new breed of heritage hotel, Il Bacaro is a traditional Venetian street tavern which serves authentic Italian dishes in a nostalgic setting with black and white photos of the owners’ childhood memories. Roberto Dreon is the owner cum Chef of the hotel and restaurant. Like most Italians, the emphasis on freshest ingredients only has “forced” the kitchen to make and serve freshly baked breads, handmade pasta... (more...)

‘Mee Goreng’ or ‘Mamak Mee Goreng’ is one of the many favourite fab foods that Malaysians enjoy and there are many comments on who fries the best. What we look for is not the best but the one that can deliver a more traditional bouquet of flavours. The best is only if we have tasted all the Mee Goreng in the world, or at least in Penang for this case. Mee Goreng literally meaning fried noodles is myth to have originated from Chinese ‘chow mein’ and believed... (more...)

Our first encounter with Poon Choi was some four five years back, while on a business trip to Kuala Lumpur. And our first home-cooked Poon Choi was in 2009, since then we have been looking and tasting this unique Hakka delicacy when opportunity strikes. There were good ones and bad ones, and there is a variety of versions that are available on offer by many established restaurants. Poon Choi (盆菜) is traditionally a Hakka dialect delicacy that is myth to have fed a Song Dynasty Emperor who was... (more...)

Again we were invited by Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa to attend one of the launching events at their premises last Friday (16th Dec 2011) evening. In conjunction with the visit of the 56 finalist Miss Tourism International World Final 2011, Rasa Sayang’s marketing team took the opportunity to introduce the Malaysian ‘Joget’ dance to the ladies, and at the same time announce their Lobby Lounge’s “Joget High Tea Buffet” that will begin this coming... (more...)

Another year is almost over, and Dong Zhì is just a day away. We last wrote about Dong Zhì or Winter Solstice was in year 2008.   This year we would like to share 2 new modern recipes for Tang Yuan that may appeal to the younger generations.   The basic Tang Yuan Dough: 225gm glutinous rice flour 180ml water Mix the water into the glutinous rice flour, and then knead into smooth dough that is non-sticky.   First up is something sweet, Tang Yuan in Honey Syrup. The traditional or... (more...)

Let see what is on offer at some of the more well frequent restaurants, cafes and bistros in Penang for Christmas and New Years’ Eve. Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa’s Feringgi Gril, Spice market Cafe & Pinang Restaurant & Bar Golden Sands Resort’s Sigi’s Bar & Grill By The Beach and Garden Cafe Hard Rock Hotel’s  Starz Diner Weissbräu German Bistro & Bar @ Straits Quay G Hotel’s  G Cafe G Hotel’s  Sesame &... (more...)

On 5th December 2011, we were invited by Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa to witness the launching of their “Charity Gift of Life Christmas Tower” at their Garden Wing lobby. With a height of 2.8 meters and made up of  68 golden Christmas boxes, the resort hopes to ‘fill’ it with donation (charity) tags that comes in denominations of MYR100, MYR200, MYR300 and MYR500. The resort hopes to at least collect MYR14,000 for their Gift of Life Charity Fund that will... (more...)

This is not a review, but we would like to share something worth sharing! We were invited by Spasso Milano’s PR company to an individual food sampling session just after it open its doors for business somewhere in September 20111. What was suppose to be a simple quite diner ended up becoming a gathering of bloggers, Tasteiest & All About Penang Food, sharing good food with good service and company. Spasso’s (Straits Quay) kitchen is currently being run by an Italian import who strives... (more...)

Many people say that ‘food blogging’ is all fun & play, but I beg to differ. It is a lot of work, but we enjoy every calorie if it. It is more enjoyable when we are hosted by business or people are passionate about what they cook-up and are able accept criticism and suggestion when there is any. Last week we were called in to sample and give constructive feedback by a 7 month old seafood restaurant in Bukit Tambun, Ho Ho Food World. Our last visit to Tambun, a famous point of interest... (more...)

We have pass by this Kuchi Japanese Restaurant some time back, and it did not seem to be anything out of the ordinary. But then again, looks can be deceiving! It was an invitation through our blogging friend, Lonely Teacher. He had tried the place out and recommended that we give them a chance to ‘sell’ what they have to us picky eaters. Kuchi’s co-owner, Alex Soon, was present to keep us inform of what was to be serve and what are their initial concept for their few months old... (more...)

Sometime in August G Hotel and ‘Sesame + Soy’, their Pan Asian Chinese restaurant, extended a gracious invitation to us to sample their ‘Business Lunch Set @ Soy’. Sesame + Soy’s uniqueness lie in their dual dining ambience, where Sesame is the epitome of fine dining while Soy is casual yet elegant. Soy comes across as a modern Asian bistro, infused with a hint of Zen that complements its casual vibe. Soy offers a scrumptious menu with a wide selection of tempting delicacies... (more...)

It was an invitation that was not to be missed although it meant traveling down to Kuala Lumpur on our own expense, an opportunity to meet an Iron Chef and sample something different from the usual Japanese cuisine was encouragement enough.We were invited to attend a media event hosted by Ten Japanese Fine Dining for their official launch. First launched on the Gold Coast in Australia, then six months later won two Gold Coast Restaurant Awards for Best Fine Dining and Supreme Award. And now, they... (more...)

Is it a review, not really? It was a gathering called be Project Penang and fully sponsored by Sakae Sushi. There were about 20-25 bloggers of different fields not only food bloggers and many of them were people we haven’t met before, there were some that may have been acquainted once during last years’ “Blog Fest” and there were a few that we have been in close collaboration to promote Penang through blogging and pod-casting. The gathering also saw some new faces, we... (more...)

In the coming weeks or may be months, we will be working with the bubbly ‘Lonely Teacher’ from Lonely Classroom to produce and record a series of podcast that will touch on places of food interest, etiquette, culture, trends and most importantly the joy of savouring tasty food. Our first studio recording was on buffets because we have just finished a month long event with SHangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang. Buffet, a system of serving meals by which food is placed... (more...)

Since it (That Little Wine Bar) opened its doors back in December 2009, this little but fine establishment has already caught our attention. We were fascinated with their concept and passion behind the cooking. Sometime in late June an invitation was extended to us to sample their skills and style. Would we return as a paid customer? Definitely yes if time does not forbid. Housed in a refurbish old government servant quarters, That Little Wine Bar provides a cosy sanctuary for people who wish... (more...)

In conjunction with the 54th Merdeka Celebration, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and GourmetGarden.com.my are partnering to deliver this exclusively for bloggers contest that will test the writing skills and popularity of our blogging peers. Joining is easy, you just have to sign up on our Facebook Page and wait to be notified through email. And details of the contest can be found on our “event & contest” page. The 1st batches of bloggers who have attended Sunday... (more...)

Housed in one of the pioneering hotels in Batu Ferringghi, the Feringgi Grill is situated on the Mezzanine floor of Rasa Wing at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang. With its full glass windows and well thought of layout, the dining area gives a breathtaking view of the grounds and garden of the resort, CHI spa and the ocean. The openness and close proximity to nature brings a sense of relaxation while savouring the wonders that can be flipped out from their semi-open kitchen equipped with their... (more...)

Last June we were invited by Shangri-La Hotels in Penang to experience the hype and festivities that comes with their regular beach parties held in their Golden Sands Resort situated on the Batu Ferringghi tourist belt. This time round the theme of the party was “Arabian Nights”, and which coincidently coincides with the beginning of the influx of Middle Eastern tourists honeymooning or holidaying in Penang. Timing couldn’t be right!Colourfully set tables on Sigi’s beach front... (more...)