Everyday Food I Love

The Olive Tree Group, a prominent household name in the restaurant and bar scene, is expanding and opened its latest branch at Penang’s Strait Quay. After much anticipation, Rockafellers Straits Quay has now opened its doors to local bar hoppers and veteran foodies at one of the most famous piers and tourist hot spots in Penang – Straits Quay. Aiming to bring quality alfresco dining across Malaysia, the launch marks the opening of the 20th F&B outlet under the Group’s portfolio. Boasting a laidback, sporty ambience, patrons will be in for a treat as they indulge in the best of Northern Indian, British & Irish cuisine made famous across the brand’s history such as scrumptious sliders, palatable pizzas, and flavourful cocktails that’s worth every penny. Located strategically in Straits Quay Marina Mall, customers will be filled with retail and dining experience for you to indulge in. When you’re done shopping to your heart’s content, Rockafellers Straits Quay is right around the...

December, a month for school holidays and seasonal celebrations, is also a time for family vacations. With crystal coastlines, thickly forested hills, and beautiful beaches, Penang is never short of stunning sights. Coupled with its temperate weather, the island is just the vacation spot for some family quality time.

My decision to undertake a cruise review on-board the  Costa Victoria , raised many an eyebrow. For one, I am not known to be the seafaring sort, and second, I have no idea how to swim.  Well, f**k that, this is 2017, so out the window goes that rubbish.  Despite this, I am an adventurer at heart and an offer to experience an Italian Cruise at sea isn't something that comes your way all the time, so I took it.

For many years now I have confined my travels to land-based adventures, with the occasional air flights to transit places both near and far. And to the surprise of many, for the second-time this year, I found myself on another sea voyage, this time aboard an Italian luxury cruise liner, the Costa Victoria. If you are wondering how my first cruise experience went, you can read all about it here .

I will be the first to tell you, as a confirmed landlubber, I have never been on a luxury cruise liner before. Barring a fishing day-trip off Port Klang, I have steadfastly avoided making any voyage out to open sea over the years because of my inability to swim. I was raised on a farm, so open plains and mountains have always been more to my liking compared to large bodies of water.

G Ball is G Hotel Gurney annual corporate appreciation dinner to thank all the clients and partners that have been supporting us throughout the years. Themed in circus with the title “The Greatest Show” this year, we saw over 300 guests including media and bloggers joining us that night.

The five star G Hotel Gurney and G Hotel Kelawai garnered 7 more global prestige hospitality award recognitions collectively in the final quarter of the year 2016, denoting another milestone made from its excellence and top notch hospitality. On 20th October, G Hotel Kelawai was announced as the winner by The Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards 2016 for Best Design Hotel in Continent level and Best Lifestyle Hotel in Country level during a dazzling Awards Gala Ceremony hosted at the magnificent Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.

The award winning sister hotels, G Hotel Gurney and G Hotel Kelawai continued to bask in 5 more awards into the burgeoning awards cabinet from renowned international organizations and online travel portals.

Festival Season on Scenic Malay Island Makes for an Unforgettable Vacation. Penang island off Malaysia’s northwestern coast is tourism’s best-kept secret among travelers in the Southeast Asian region. The island has a vibrant multi-ethnic community comprising of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Europeans, and its history and culture draw from these multiple sources. Some of its famous attractions include beautiful Chinese clanhouses and mansions, British-era Fort Cornwallis and Clock Tower, and resplendent Buddhist and Hindu temples.

Ming Xiang Tai’s philosophy is to regain the cultural essence of traditional handmade pastries and biscuits. At Ming Xiang Tai trishaw egg tart has been their signature since the early days of 1979 when it was first sold straight from a trishaw by his mum Madam Yin Yu Qun, t he egg tarts are named as the Trishaw Egg Tarts, to honour his parent’s hard work in selling these pastries.  Today, their shop occupies a pre-war building, sprouted a few branches and  streamlined his family's 20 kinds of products to ten multiple. He emphasized on quality instead of mass quantity. The egg tarts are then named as the Trishaw Egg Tarts, to honour his parent’s hard work in selling these pastries. 

Be rewarded for sharing your special dining moments at 27 Malaysian restaurants and bars on social media. With the launch of the SPG Dine and Share campaign, SPG Members now have the opportunity to wine and dine at different restaurants and bars around Malaysia and share a snap of their favorite dining experience on either Facebook or Instagram to enjoy further discounts. SPG members can receive discounts ranging from 10% to 25% at 27 participating restaurants and bars while continuing to earn their Starpoints on all eligible Food and Beverage spent to get even closer to that next dream vacation.

Sky Hotel or Qing Tian Coffee Shop at Chulia Street is a place where you can find a good and famous char siew. This coffee shop well known to many local Penang, serves the best Char Siew and Siew Yoke. Make sure you come earlier before 12pm to avoid the huge lunch time crowd.

Kedai Kopi Seng Thor located at Kimberley Street serve a good Koay Teow Theng, it is an instant cook type. Koay Teow Theng is a popular Penang hawker food of flat rice noodles cooked in clear soup and topped with slices of pork meat, minced pork, pork innards and fish balls. This is garnished with garlic bits, fried pork fat and scallions. Koay Teow Theng is usually served with a condiment of sliced chilli in soy sauce, either the big, red chilli or the hotter small green chilli.

Kedai Kopi Seow Fong Lye at Lorong Macalister, this coffee shop was always packed! Early morning people were already seen lining up at the Chee Cheong Fun stall  and the Char Koay Kak stall was equally as famous. Chee Cheong Fun stall operate from early morning until noon, but during peak season (Public holidays and weekends) the noodles may run out before 12pm.

Kimberly Street is a nice place to have some Penang Hawkers food at night, famous for their very good Char Kuey Teow, Kuey Chap, See Ko Teng (Sweet desserts using Gingko, Longans, jelly) and chicken feet. These stalls are at the Junction of Kimberly Street, Cintra Street and Sungai Ujong Road. Some Penangites think this place serves the best Char Kway Teow in town. Kuey chap which is a thick handmade noodles serve in dark brew gravy, chopped pig's skin, intestines, coagulated pig's blood, liver, duck-meat, hard-boiled egg and many other delicacies, this are Penang soul food.

Nasi Kandar Beratur (The original recipe since 1943) is one of famous Penang food, located just next to the heritage Masjid Kapitan Keling along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (formerly Pitt Street). It will always be a long queue slightly before the start of their business at 10.00pm. Nasi Kandar Beratur has more than 6 decades of experiences and claim they're the most original taste among the rest of the Nasi Kandar restaurants in Penang.

Zi Zai Restaurant's started by chef, Mr Tan Hock Chai who strive to offer the cheapest and most delicious food for his customers. Signature dish of this restaurant is the "Poon Choi" (basin dish) which you need to make reservation few days in advance. The Poon Choi that can be found here at Restoran Zi Zai boast some very exquisite items, which includes Abalone, Roasted Duck, Braised 3 Layers Pork, Steamed Chicken, Sea Cucumber, Fish Maw, Mushrooms, Hock Chew Fish Balls, Fried Fish Fillets, Sweet & Sour Prawns and vegetables such as Broccoli, Chinese Cabbage, Yam and Sweet Turnip. Advance booking require if you are here for "Poon Choi".

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a great destination for Pre-Wedding photography. Built in the 1880s, the magnificent 38-room, 220-window Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze, a local merchant trader who left China as a penniless teenager and ended up as ‘the Rockefeller of the East’. The house sits on the ‘dragon’s throne’, meaning that there is a mountain (Penang Hill) behind and water (the channel) in front – the site was chosen for its excellent feng shui. The building was rescued from ruin in the 1990s. You can visit it and also stay in the exclusive hotel. Daily guided heritage tours of the house (in English) : 11am/ 1.30pm/ 3pm - Admission fee RM 12.00 per person.