Sip & Chew Café

Sometimes having a bunch of good colleagues and good friends is really helping you to pass your day fast. Don’t you agree? When I told them I got to leave early today as I have totally forgot that today is my wedding anniversary. And spontaneously they suggested to me let’s go out for lunch, let’s celebrate your anniversary with you before you celebrate with your hubby. Honestly, that’s sweet and really warmth too!

Well, today ain’t the day, but that was sometime a month ago…. Ya, it happened a month ago.

Nowadays many of my friends will drop by and asked me, ‘Hey, anywhere for lunch?’. I was like, ‘Hello, am I supposed to do this job??’ Of course, it’s been my pleasure to share and even to blog about it. Though, work load is like getting no where, and my stress level is increasing and that making me no time to write too.

When I created this blog, my whole objective is to write and to release my stress from work. And honestly, it helps. From there, it also gain some monetary motivation that keep me moving. After all the hoohaa at work, and all the high turn over, whatever left balance will be automatically transfer the jobs to you. That actually has made me no time to write, no time to take photo and no time to draft anything out from my mind. And the stress level has gone up to a time that I nearly wanted to give up everything. Almost every weekend and week nights I was sitting in front of the laptop and never stop typing or working or even analyzing. I do wonder at times, is this what I want?

Of course, I still surf around for food, and leave a few comments to a few corners that I frequently patronized. I just missed it anyway…

Sip & Chew Café… what attract me is not because of anything but this Flower Pot Ice Cream! Yes, that’s the Flower Pot Ice Cream!! I first got to know from Pioneer Woman whom blogged about it, and it attracted my attention since then. Who in the world so creative that creates this??

 

When my fellow colleagues asked me where to go for dessert, with no second thought I told them let’s try out this place. Though I know they are not using any good brand ice cream, but who cares, it’s something that attracts many insane people like us. When the flower pot was place on the table, they were like ‘Oooh….!!’, ‘Ahhh… !!’, ‘Eehhhh….!!’, ‘Wowww…. !!’. Any surprise expression, you name it, you can hear it! Then there goes the snapping sound, ‘click’, ‘click’, ‘click’, ‘click’…. (smile, I just can’t stop smiling when I think back that scene).

Ok, like I said we were here for desserts, of course, no main course, no snacks nor anything but DESSERTs! Yes, you heard me, DESSERT!

 

A crepe cake that shared among us… though this wasn’t the main character; however it does fill up our desire in terms of desserts’ hunger.

 

Here comes the main character, Potted Plant Ice Cream Cake. Isn’t that pretty??

     

After the whole ‘process’ … we were all happy and enjoyed!

Other Review

食在好味• Eatlicious

Kahying-Nana

PauPau

Flash.N.Go 生活玩家

Purplening

I Blog My Life

Cissy ~ 嘻咪录

Love Myself

我毛毛兔

Play and Chiak

Address & Contact Number

No. 72, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

Georgetown, 10200

Penang

Tel: +6017-531 3480

Business Hour: 

Tue to Sun 12pm to 12am

Love Bites Fusion Cuisine

With the 2 of our age added up, honestly this is not the place for us – Love Bites. When we entered, first glance, I could feel some young couple looking at us. Second feel was this place is so romantic yet unpractical, and obviously not for us. Since we have stepped in and Pik Nik has yet to open for business, that leaves us no other choice but to dine here.

Fusion cuisine has never been my cup of tea, perhaps I really do not know how to appreciate it.

Am sure many young couple would love to explore this place, not only explore but also would patron this because recently a few of the Hong Kong celebrities came here for a break. And it was publicly sharing in Facebook. Nowadays Facebook is a social network where you don’t have to worry what did you left out behind. Even on food, many will just posted it up in their timeline and shared what they ate and what they have tried. People like us still keeping a blog, honestly it’s all our passion or our integrity?! God knows, I believe?!

It was a heavy down pour that day… this is definitely a cozy place for crazily in love couple, cuz, the name has pronounced it all. Love Bites… tell me which couple do not go thru the crazily in love kind of relationship? In fact, for us that had married for 10 donkey years to maintain the excitement in life, not only having a frequent intimacy relationship, but also do have the on and off dating experience too. Walking in the rain, holding each other, watching movie in a theater, etc… this is a few of the example that I could think off. In fact, hubby also complained to me that I didn’t wanna go out for a date with him. (Silly me, isn’t it?)

Back to this Fusion Cuisine…. Guess am really not into it, thus whatever presented to me wasn’t really attracts me, and the serving waitress also not really into her profession. I overheard she told the guests that hang on first, am the only one serving. I can’t handle so many tables. I was like, gosh… is this the way to tell your customers???

When we stepped in, apart from having those glimpse from the others, but the waitress wasn’t warm enough to welcome us as their customer too. I was like am I in the right place first of all?? The facial expression cold and reluctant. That also the attitude that made me feel so awkward.

Looking at their menu… I guess I can understand they are creating such menu to attract more guests… they even have some passionate name for some desserts and main course too. And some are even fusion enough that had stopped me from trying it. I believe I am not adventurous enough on this!

Well… let the old lady here present to you their Love Bites’ dishes …

 

Tiramisu Coffee (RM8.90)

Fusion Aglio-Olio (RM22.90)

 

Lemongrass Pork Loin (RM22.90)

Address & Contact Number

Love Bites Fusion Cuisine

11 Nagore Road

10050 Penang

Tel: +604-228 6188

Business Hour:

Mon to Sat: 12noon to 11pm (close on Tuesday)

Sun: 3pm to 11pm

Home Cooked Sambal Fried Winged Beans 馬來棧辣椒炒四扁豆

The Heat Is On… a song sung by Glenn Frey. If you born in the 70s you will surely know who he is. This is also a famous soundtrack for the movie named Beverly Hills Cop in 1984 if am not mistaken. The lyrics was like this …

The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive
'Cause the heat is on

…. Blah blah blah blah… and followed by

The shadows high on the darker side
Behind those doors, it's a wilder ride
You can make a break, you can win or lose
That's a chance you take, when the heat's on you
When the heat is on
This song not only reminds me of the movie but also the campaign of these 15 days. Blue flags every where, free food every where, great news every now and then.

Despite this is our day-to-day topic during lunch, and it also give me an idea what to cook for dinner, just like the song – The Heat Is On!

So, this dish is really reflecting the current situation where we are right now.

Since small, we called this 四扁豆 instead of what others called it 四棱豆 or even 四角豆, 翼豆, 龍鬚豆, 楊桃豆. Whatever it is, this is definitely many peoples’ favourite.

Some will cook with Sambal Dried Shrimp (Hokkien called it Sambal Heh Bee), some will just eat it raw.

To make the Sambal, many people would prefer to use the mortar to bound it, however some will op for food processor, however the texture will not be as nice as using mortar. For those working wife or working mother, you can now go to the market and purchase 1 small container that is about RM2, where it’s very convenient.

Basically you just need to get those winged beans and a container of those sambal belachan. To have a luxury meal, you can even add big prawns too.  

 

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 Tablespoon of sambal belachan馬來盏辣椒 (蝦膏), depending how spicy you prefer
• 2 Cloves of garlic

• Winged Beans about 10 pieces cut into diagonal slices

• 10 to 15 prawns, de-shell
• 2 Tablespoon of Oil

Method

1. Heat up the wok with 2 tablespoon of oil
2. Add in garlic, stir fry till it’s fragrant
3. Add in the prawns lightly cook it and scoop out and set aside
4. Briefly stir in the sambal belachan
5. Add back the prawns, and
6. Add in the beans stir fry it in high heat then scoop
7. Serve it hot with steam rice

懷舊娘惹餐廳 Restoran Pinang Peranakan

These days submerge and not surface up for blogging is something that honestly could make you lazy. Not only that, you will be running out of idea what to do and what to write. You will tend to lose your focus and your objectives whether this blog is meant for food review or basically recipes creation. But, who cares, right? As long as you are the owner and you know what to do regardless is food review or recipes creation, as long as you know there are some readers out there will read some of the posts here and or some of the readers will keep following your posts, what would you be losing? Well, I would have to admit that in terms of monetary, you are definitely losing out a lot!  And these days things are so expensive, nothing is cheap, and that factor could honestly make one frustrated about it.

But what comfort you most is readers are like part of the family, they give advices, ideas and so on. Isn’t that warmth your heart? It does to me.

Let’s side track a bit… GE 13^th is the hottest topic in town, even in Facebook or in any where. It’s no longer a topic to chat in Kopitiam or any other coffee shop. Some friends are even talk about it during lunch, coffee or Tweet about it. And some are even boiling angry over CEC (Central Executive Committee) for not recognizing the particular party, and from the nomination this morning, latest news was announced that there are a lot more of independent nominees contesting this GE.  Well, basically there are a lot to talk about, some colleagues and friends are taking 15 days off to campaign, to get donations and etc.

Let’s move back to food, talking about expensive food these days, recently got to know this place where I’ve just discovered. Food serving was reasonable, and the price as well. Though the place is rather quiet and not many people visit, however it ain’t any bad idea to host a friend for lunch or dinner.

Pinang Peranakan Restaurant or in Chinese is call懷舊娘惹餐廳 is located in Logan Heritage Building, at Beach Street, Penang. To be more specified, it’s same row as Standard Chartered Bank and it’s diagonal opposite of HSBC Bank. It’s easy to recognize but parking is a headache. However, you can park your car at the empty land that is opposite the building.

 

Talking about food, it’s always my job to do, of course, when there’s some one whom is good in this area, you would be humbling submerge again. Anyway, these are the food that we had that day and it had made everyone of us happy and the time that we spent together in terms of working team was great.

 

Curry Tumis Black Pomfret Fish

 

Brinjal with Minced Pork Meat

 

Nyonya’s Tao Yiu Bak

 

Nyonya’s Lobak

 

Assam Prawns

 

As for the desserts that ends the lunch was Nyonya Style Ice Kacang and BoBoChaCha.

 

Oh yes, not to forget that the restaurant also cater for those that want to have a quick bite and not fancy over having ala carte. Set lunch is serves as well, customers would encourage to check with them before order.

Other Reviews

Cquek

Jerine Lay

Carolyn O’Donnell

Contact Number / Address

懷舊娘惹餐廳

Pinang Peranakan Restoran (Authentic Nyonya Cuisine)

4, Logan Heritage

Lebuh Pantai / Beach Street (土庫街)

13000 Penang

Tel: +604-261 2269

Golden Phoenix Restaurant

This year Chinese New Year passes very fast, and things happened just too fast till you can’t cope with it.  From the day, our boss was here for meeting and we organized a dinner in Golden Phoenix, things just gone so fast so that I didn’t rest well.

And the entire February is gone, and we are now in March, after few more weeks there’s the time many of us will practice Qing Ming for the ancestors. Time to see many folks busy buying paper clothes, paper cars and so on for the prayers. Some are even travel outstation to perform the prayers too.

Let’s not move too fast with that… capturing some light moment that we have before the New Year with our colleagues and superior in Golden Phoenix, Equatorial Penang. 

We do have Muslim colleagues in the team thus getting a Halal Chinese Restaurant would be more appropriate for this dinner. I guess nowadays most of the restaurants in the hotels are practicing Halal food and even practice too.

 

Since is approaching Chinese New Year, a plate of Yee Sang is something that shouldn’t be missed. Everyone was happily tossing the ingredients, and even happily saying have good bonus, good increment, good promotions, less customers’ complaints, less escalations, etc. It was honestly a cheerful moment when each one of us shouting for those prosperity words or greetings.

 

Sze Chuan Soup, it’s a special request from our manager whom loves the tangy taste. Though sour but this is honestly Golden Phoenix all time favourite. Tried this when we were young, and the taste didn’t change much too.

 

Roasted Chicken with Prawn Crackers. Though is something ordinary but I would have to admit that the marinade of the chicken actually make the chicken perfect, and it roasted evenly, the skin was honestly crispy too.

 

Marmite Prawns, prawns represents laughter, and it’s a must have dish on Chinese New Year. It represents laughter in the family and it would last as long as years.

 

Deep Fried Kailan and Stir Fried Assorted Mushroom with Brocolli. This is a vegetable dish that the hotel recommended. And in fact, this dish you would be surprise to know they fry with Chili Padi. Reason is to get the taste of it, and to make the whole dish more fragrant. Whoever got it, you can say that it’s a pretty good Jack Pot! (Am sure whoever read this, will laugh out loud)

 

Cantonese Steam Soon Hock Fish. When comes to steam fish I would have to op for Cantonese Style, not because am a Cantonese but honestly it has its unique taste and it will never go wrong with that. Soon Hock is one of the expensive fish in all the restaurants, I believe it’s due to their meat texture and its freshness.

 

Sze Chuan Fried Rice. The second last dish that ends the dinner. Each rice was perfectly covered with the special made sauce.

 

Last, is the dessert. We were debating should we op for cold dessert or warm. Ended up, most of us opted for hot dessert and they were recommended this Water Chestnuts Dessert for us. It was absolutely warm our stomach on a raining day.

Though this may be a bit too late for Chinese New Year, however, it was a warmth and happy dinner that I ever attended.

Thank you!

蒜爆雞塊 Garlic Fried Chicken

When hubby sent me home the other day and left for office again, I only have a few garlic and 2 pieces of chicken at home. When you’re leaving nothing to cook, I guess we got to think of an alternative way to cook something different.

But come to think of it, it wasn’t that bad, and it was a pleasant taste and it was full of wok aroma. Method of cooking this dish wasn’t that difficult too. I was just simply took whatever I have in the fridge and marinate it.

Oyster sauce is a sauce that is comfort those cook that is lack of confident in their cooking. Well, am one of them and some how it turn out to be something that hubby loves it.

Ingredients

2 chicken thigh, chopped

1 bulb of garlic, about 10 to 14 cloves

2 tablespoon of oil

Marinade

1 tablespoon of oyster sauce

2 tablespoon of light soya sauce

Method

1.   Wash and clean the chicken thigh
2.   Marinate the meat with the marinades for about 20minutes
3.   Removed the garlic’s skins and lightly press on each cloves
4.   Heat the wok with 2 table spoons of oil
5.   Throw in the garlic, lightly fried it till fragrant and lightly burn & brown too
6.   Then after add in the marinated chicken into the wok
7.   Without turning it, straight away I covered it with the lid for about 30 seconds
8.   Lid off and stir the chicken lightly and covered it again
9.   The mentioned process repeats for couple of times, this is to make sure the chicken is fully cooked
10.  Once done, dish out and serve with steamed rice

  

Enjoy!

I am submitting this dish to Aspiring Bakers #28: Chicken Feast (February 2013) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.

Steam Chicken 私房菜蒸雞

I know some people steam chicken will add in Chinese Sausages, and some will add Chinese Cooking Wine. But my version is only chicken and dried mushroom.  I find that adding the sausages into it, that could make the chicken very sweet, and it’s like losing its original taste.

However, different family will have their different way of steaming. For me, I cut it short and real simple. As long as no one complains and no one having stomach upset, I guess that’s the final result of that.

I truly appreciate if some one out there can give some advices, I guess I can find ways to improve it. Meanwhile here’s my simple version of steaming chicken.

Ingredients

2 chicken thigh

5 to 6 dried mushroom, soak and cut into strips

Marinade

1 tablespoon of oyster sauce

½ tablespoon of dark soya sauce

½ tablespoon of light soya sauce

½ teaspoon of sugar (or less)

Method

1.      Marinate the chicken for about 20 to 30minutes
2.       Boil water till it’s boiling hot
3.       Line up the chicken on a flat plate and garnished the mushrooms on top of it
4.       Steam the chicken for about 10 to 15 minutes
5.       Then serve while it’s hot.

I am submitting this dish to Aspiring Bakers #28: Chicken Feast (February 2013) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.