vkeong loves good food, travel and photography!
Penang
Everything about Penang
Kafe Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul @ Komtar Walk
Feb 3rd
Call me slow but I just realized the famous Penang Road Teochew Chendul has three branches already at Komtar Walk, Prangin Mall and Sunshine Farlim. What to do? I have been absent from Penang for far too long that I already lost touch with the local F&B scene. Although they do have a branch in Klang Valley at a Giant Hypermarket somewhere, honestly I wouldn’t bother because I know the taste can never match the real deal up North.
As for Ais Kacang, I discovered that most KL people tend to love the Southern version more, those with stronger Gula Melaka taste and totally void of Sarsi flavor. Well I have stayed at both places long enough to develop a passion for both versions. But, if I had to choose, it will be the Penang Ais Kacang without skipping a heartbeat. I just love the refreshing taste that Sarsi syrup gives and not to mention the extra colorful ingredients in it too.
RM12 ‘Keh Liao’ Char Koay Teow @ Bee Hooi Coffee Garden, Penang
Jan 28th
Just when I thought Char Koay Teow in Penang wouldn’t get more expensive, I stumbled upon one that sells a ‘keh liao‘ (added ingredients) version that has a price tag of RM12 while the normal version is RM5.50. FYI, the most expensive Char Koay Teow I ever had prior to this was at Ah Leng that cost RM10. And coincidentally, this stall at Bee Hooi Coffee Garden along Kimberley Street is where Ah Leng used to operate before he moved to his current location.
Even though I knew the noodles would have a tough time competing with the caliber of Siam Road‘s, the curiosity got the better of me. I simply had to see for myself how this could top Ah Leng’s. So after I placed my order and sat down, I paid close attention to the cooking.
And just as I had predicted, the extra cost goes into having much bigger prawns and having an extra ingredient – mantis shrimps. There weren’t any cockles, which is weird so my only guess is that it was hard to get any supply during CNY.
Tong Pak Fu HK Dessert Restaurant @ Bukit Mertajam
Jan 21st
Firstly, do not confuse this Tong Pak Fu with the HK one that recently launched at KLCC and Sunway Giza. In fact this is a Penang based dessert chain that has branches at Pulau Tikus, Raja Uda and Bukit Mertajam. Although their names share the same pronunciation in Cantonese, one word used is different. The HK one from HK uses 百 (hundred) while this one uses 伯 (uncle) for the ‘Pak’. I think anyone who does not pay enough attention to details might think they are the same.
The menu selection is quite limited and consists of the usual stuff you would find at any dessert shop, so no surprises here.
Some mango dessert which I can’t recall its name. Couldn’t be bothered anyway because it is artificial as hell.
Fried Oyster (O Chien) @ CH Coffee Shop, Bukit Mertajam
Dec 28th
I miss blogging about my hometown’s food. For those who don’t know where I am from, it’s Bukit Mertajam – a small town on the mainland of Penang. Now that I am home for the holidays, it is time for food hunting again. There is a saying in the Chinese community that good food can always be found near temples. Come to think of it, that saying is quite true especially in small towns, like mine.
The most famous temple in BM would be Pek Kong Cheng which is situated right in the center of the town, just next to the wet market. In the morning, there are plenty of food stalls in the catering for the local marker goers and workers with some being the most famous ones in town like the white wantan mee, koay chap, prawn noodle and many more. Come night, it turns into a popular supper spot with new food stalls that operate until midnight.
My latest discovery is a Fried Oyster stall that is manned by a young man in his 20s. I seldom return to BM nowadays so I didn’t even realize the stall which he has been operating for almost 5 years. His style of fried oyster is true to the northern Malaysian style, in which the eggs are fried into thin pieces then folded on top of each other followed by the oysters. The smallest portion costs RM7 and consists of two eggs and roughly 8-10 oysters. There are a few large sized oysters while the rest are medium to small but nothing too tiny, so not bad at all.
