Food from Various Places

I have been busy lately and did not update this blog as often as I should. Anyway, here is a set of 4 gorgeous photos taken from the various dining places recently. Above is taken in Sushi King which was Curry Chicken Katsu which consists of fried chicken fillet, Japanese curry of potatoes and carrots on top of rice and garnished with chopped spring onions. This meal was as delicious as it looked.

Here was our free dessert of chocolate shaved ice topped with Oreo, chopped ground nuts, chocolate powder and some battered sticks. When we dined here on the 7th floor of Xuan Xin Steam Boat Restaurant, it was just the opening for the newly renovated food cafe. Xuan Xin has 3 outlets in Gurney Plaza and is prospering well in its food business. The boss was an award winning chef since the tender age of 18 and has working experience in Singapore. He is now 33.

Here is another Japanese food of noodles soup with seaweed, egg, bits of chicken, vegetables and some special fish ball slices. The meal is easy to prepare - just like cooking instant noodles over a stove.

We also went to Siam Express Thai Restaurant on the ground floor of Gurney Plaza. This is tom yum soup with prawns and straw mushrooms. We decided to change the seafood ingredients which usually have calamari, fish, prawns to just prawns. That's all for my food blog post for today. Later on I have to catch a ferry to Langkawi for a business trip there on a Monday morning and then go to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.



So it will be a busy week for me shuttling here and there for business as part of my work and if I don't post today, I may not have time to post for this week. Till next time, enjoy!

Thai Cuisine at Thai Baiyok Restaurant

 

Just last month, I treated my parents to Thai cuisine at Thai Baiyok Restaurant at Heritage Club just opposite Penang Sports Club. Above is the combination of orders that I made for the 3 of us. I was suppose to go to the bank to settle my fixed deposits and got my dad to be my chauffeur. In return for the favor, I treated them at this new restaurant. It was our first visit.

 

Above is 'belacan' fried rice that comes with julienne mangos, bird's eye chilly which is extremely hot and spicy if you are not used to it, onions, julienne cucumber, cut long beans and topped with fried egg. I love belacan fried rice for its flavorful taste and succulent, crunchy vegetables that are paired with the rice. 

 

This is otak that was served and wrapped in aluminium foil shaped like a swan. Otak consists of fish, fragrant coconut milk, prawns and other seafood like calamari mixed with a blend of aromatic spices and steamed until cooked. You can also add basil leaves for the extra flavor and taste.

 

This sign board was put up at the entrance of the restaurant that serves Thai culinary. I don't mind patronizing this place again for its delicious Thai food but the bill can set you back by almost a hundred ringgit or about US dollars 35.00. If time permits and the pocket is deep, I love checking out new jaunts and food cafes to explore further in my dining pursuits all over Penang.  

Lunch at Tree Monkey Jungle Themed Dining

Yesterday, I treated my mum and myself to an outdoor jungle themed dining with Balinese teak wood furniture at Tree Monkey Thai Food Restaurant. It was opened just a few months ago sometime in September, if I am not mistaken. There is a nice view overlooking the sea from the hill lock.

This is the ambiance of Tree Monkey, situated on a small hill lock between Batu Feringghi and Teluk Bahang in Penang. It is mainly catered for tourists, which explains the slightly more expensive price than the usual ones for cheap Penang. 

 We ordered Asian Tapas for RM60.00 with 8 different dishes as stated below which I copied from the menu:

1) Mango salad - green mango salad with shallot and chilly lime sauce.

2) Satay - grilled chicken skewer served with peanut sauce.

3) Crispy herbs fish - deep fried seabass fillet with crispy spices and herbs.

4) Prawn chilly paste - stir-fried prawns with chilly paste.

5) Sweet bean curd

6) Kangkung belacan - stir-fried morning glory with shrimps paste.

7) Masaman curry - red curry chicken, potatoes, onions and cashew nuts.

 8) Tomkha soup - creamy chicken soup with galangal and lemongrass.

Another view of Asian Tapas. I loved the banana leaves that lined the food. It makes the food more interesting and appetizing. Yum, I am hungry now just looking at them. 

See the atap roof of the small restaurant that can seat a capacity of 70 people and reservations are recommended. When my mum called them, there were still vacant tables as it was newly opened and hence, not many people patronize this little Thai restaurant yet. The crowd has yet to come and we were lucky to get a good table overlooking the azure blue sea and near the trees. 

What was left of Asian Tapas after we fired the food with hungry stomachs!

 There is a little souvenir shop next to the restaurant which was inter-connected. I chance upon the opportunity to snap this souvenir gifts of bundled cinnamon sticks with Christmas decorations with Christmas less than 2 months away!

The basket woven table mat was placed for us as we waiting for our order.

 The short path to Tree Monkey which was just a minute's walk up the slope.
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Both mum and I had spice tea which was cinnamon tea. There seems to be cinnamon in abundance here. 

Our servings of Asian Tapas with Tomkha soup and spice tea added with condensed milk.

The entrance to Tree Monkey which was next to Tropical Spice Garden near Teluk Bahang, Penang. It is was different concept of nature dining with a splendid view of the open sea. 

My turmeric-coloured yellow rice with banana leaf to enhance the appetite. For more details, check out http://www.treemonkey.com.my

Mix of Chinese, Japanese and Thai Cuisines in Penang

This photo was taken this afternoon during my lunch at a hawker food cafe along Penang Road which is famous for its wanton noodles. The are 2 types - dried as seen above with brown delicious soya sauce mixed with sesame seed oil or the soup type. This order was specially added with more vegetables for RM5 per plate. It has black shitake mushrooms, shredded chicken, 4 wanton sui-kow, green vegetables, char siew or barbequed red pigmented pork and a bowl of soup. The yellow noodles blend well with the sauce and it tasted scruptious yet enough to fill any stomachs.

This ala carte side dish was ordered from Sushi King consisting of my favorite red crab sticks lightly fried in Japanese batter for taste. I love the tangy seafood taste of the crab sticks that are a popular ingredient in sushi. There are several Sushi King outlets in Penang and this was taken at Gurney Plaza - an upmarket lifestyle shopping mall where I patronize frequently.

This is a pot of Japanese green tea with 2 beautiful small cups made from bone China. I sipped the warm green tea as I waiting for my main dish to arrive in Dragon-i restaurant that was just opened less than 1 month ago on the ground floor in Gurney Plaza.

This Hong Kong fried rice was ordered some time back at a popular food haunt in Northern Beach Cafe. The special fried rice has additional ingredients and vegetables to it which explains the higher price than normal for this tasty dish. This blog does not have any recipes as I don't cook even though I studied Home Science which includes sewing, cooking curries and baking cakes in my secondary school. I have the luxury not to cook and always dine out after work.

One of my favorite dishes is the pie tee (above) which is actually an edible small container made from fried batter that is filled with julienned turnips, carrots, shallots, dried shrimps and topped with eggs and chilly sauce for taste. The pie tee is enough for a delectable mouthful that melts in your mouth as you chew it. All the juices from the vegetables mix together to form a delicious meal together with the crunchyness of the fried batter container.

While sipping green tea at Dragon-i Chinese restaurant, my main order of seafood soup finally arrived with extra fish fillets without any calamari to reduce cholesterol intake. The soup was delicious and infused with all the flavors of the fish fillets, prawns, scallops with vegetables and sauces - that was brought to a constant boil before serving.

I simply love this Thai influenced flavored lorbak or marinated chicken with secret spices for that delicious bite in your mouth. This lorbak was ordered near Weld Quay in Penang at a Thai restaurant that is always full of regular patrons such as myself - simply for its affordable, fast service and delicious servings.