Monday, March 4, 2013

Penang - To Eat (Ocean Green Seafood Restaurant, Sawara, "The Floating Mosque", "Uncle Burger", Viva Food Heaven, Roti Bak Kua, Ban Chan Kueh, "Under The Tree", Sin Seow Fong Lye Coffee Shop (Macalister Lane), Chowrasta Market: Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen, "The Famous Cendol" , "Sky Hotel Char Siew", Da Jie Xi Cafe - Assam Stingray, "By the River - Nasi Kandar", Red Tea House Dim Sum)

Penang - To Do
Penang - To Eat

Penang To Eat
Ocean Green Seafood Restaurant
Ocean Green lies at the end of Gurney Drive, facing the Malacca Strait. It's a quaint location with a great view of the mainland. Watch as the sunset colors the night sky in a spectacle of changing hues as you enjoy their array of seafood dishes. 
Their signature dishes such as the Chicken, Satay, Stuffed Crab and noodles listed below are not to be missed.
ABBATIP: 
- The place is Halal certified*
- Their chilli sauce is really good. More sweet than anything else and really enhances the flavors of the dishes. Our table finished an entire bottle. No problem. 
Ordered:
 Chicken Satay
*Unlike most Satay joints which serve a bowl of dipping peanut sauce alongside the dish, the satay here is marinated with the flavors infused directly into the meat.
Another signature dish to try as a starting appetizer.*

 Spring Chicken
*Fried to a crisp. Great flavor and texture. A signature dish at this restaurant!*
 Steamed Prawns
Salted-Egg Batter Fried Squid
*Good, crispy salty goodness*
 Stuffed Crab
*Another Signature dish. Blue Swimmer crab meat, with mushrooms and cheese,
broiled to perfection. A definite must try.

  Tou Foo
  Baked Crab
 Teochew Mee Teow
*Very good flavor. Noodles had a great bite to them.
Lots of fresh ingredients in it. A crowd pleaser. A must order as a signature dish*

Dessert: Sea-Coconut and Longan
Total: RM468
Fed: Very well 6 Pax
 Sawara
Sarawa specializes in hearty fish head/sliced broths. There are other dishes listed on the menu, but most are steamboat items which you can add to your rich broth.
Click here for ABBA location of Sarawa: Pulau Tikus, 393 Jalan Burmah 10350 Penang
 
 Ordered:
Clay-pot Fish Head (small)
and side servings of golden mushroom and cuttlefish.
Alongside were cooked dishes of Home-made Sotong Balls and Char Siew.
The soup stock was nice, however the amount of actual fish seemed inadequate for the price paid.Although, the fish meat was very succulent and full of collagen. For the uninitiated to eating fish-head, be careful as bones and sharp teeth can 'bite' back.

The additional items aren't much to scream about. Neither were their signature dishes of Char Siew or Fried home-made Sotong Balls. Char Siew was dry, and Sotong Balls were greasy and small. In fact, they felt over-priced at RM12 per dish.
Total: RM91
Fed: 2


A foodies haven! In Penang, Penangknights are their own best food critics. It is through the spread of reputation and reviews, which guarantee only the best foods in Penang survive and stay open. You are pretty much assured great hawker food wherever you go.

Below, are a few of the many, many great eats in Penang and have listed down by area, from the Northern End to the Southern Tip. 

Focusing largely on the signature dishes, that are definitely worth  the pilgrimage. Most of the great hawker foods all have some back story to them, which adds that much more history and color to the dining experience.


"The Floating Mosque"
Home cooked Muslim food. Simply grab a plate of rice, and dish for yourself whatever dishes they have for the day. From Beef Rendang to Spiced Squids and curried Vegetables, all of which have great flavor. Prices are calculated by the staff at the counter.
What is their pricing policy? Like many other self service pick and choose, no one has an idea but food always taste great.
ABBA insight: It is said that during the tsunami, which hit George town in Dec of 2004, this floating mosque' which stands protruding out into the waters, was miraculously found to be completely untouched or damaged by the event. 
Click here for ABBA location of The Floating Mosque

"Uncle Burger"
 
Famous Uncle burger serves up chicken/beef patties with options of cheese and egg and a generous heap of beautifully caramelized onions between two large soft sweet buns. The perfect balance of ingredients and a handful of sinful delight.
*Taken 13Nov2015*
*Taken 13Nov2015*

People will make the pilgrimage from the southern most tip of Penang, to the Northern tip in Tanjong Bungah just to queue for Uncle Burger. Go for the works, it's absolutely worth a meal or a late night snack. He also serves hotdogs, split down the middle to get extra caramelization when fried on the hot pan. 
 *Taken 13Nov2015*
When asked why they weren't open the previous day, their reply was," We don't take holidays, only as and when needed"Open from Evenings till late.

Viva Food Heaven
Worth a mention at Viva, are the Oyster Omelets, cooked with local sweet oysters, served alongside a semi-sour chili sauce, a perfect pairing. The other foods stalls are pretty good ad well and even the Japanese stall serving Sashimi Makis weren't too bad either.
Ordered On:
16Nov2015
 *The blachan chicken is really good. Juicy on the inside and crispy on the out*

*Octopus steamed with garlic, limau pirut*
Located beside the Chinese swimming club, this collection of hawker food fare, span from Western, Indian, Fusion, Purely Penang and much more. It is one of the many food centers, generously spread all over Penang Island to feed the foodies. Open afternoon and mostly evenings till late. 
Click here for ABBA location  of Viva Food Heaven, Lot 303,Jalan Tanjung Tokong, 10470 Tanjong Tokong, Penang, Malaysia

Street eats:
Roti Bak Kua
(Sweet soft bread with BBQ sweet pork.)
 
Roti Bak Kua is a great street snack. Steamy soft sweet buns, lathered in sweet sauce, topped with charcoal cooked Bak Kua. A simple street snack that brings back tons of memories.
ABBA insight: Back in the day, Roti Ba Kua used to be bought along side Cachang Puteh (an assortment of nuts) before watching any movie. What popcorn is to cinemas, was Roti Bah Kua.


Ban Chan Kueh
(Crispy Peanut Pancake with assortment of condiments)
Another favorite snack of mine is Ban Chan Gui. With original fillings of sugar and peanuts, plain or with addition of jar gong (sweet corn).
Overtime variants have sprung up with options of white or brown sugar (a much more fragrant sweetness) and an assortment of fillings.

Some concoctions gaining popularity are the chocolate and banana with brown sugar which have garnered great reviews.
ABBAtip: The Best way to enjoy Ban Chan Gui is to open a tab and devour them fresh off the stove. Pay after you've had your fill. Having it packed to go, will often leave them soggy and disappointing.

"Under The Tree"
(Used to be good but gotten pricey and standards dropped!!)

This by the roadside store is has an array of home cooked, largely Chinese dishes. You can have your pick of home cooked foods and staff on hand will charge accordingly.

The bonus of eating here are the other supporting stalls which are the Penang Laksa, Dessert Stalls, Curry Mee, Ice Kanchang and other miscellaneous, all conveniently located under big trees. A nice place to have home cooked food and still not miss on other old time Penang favorites.
Click here for ABBA Location of Under The Tree, located at the end of Jalan Fettes

Komtar Area (Main City Area)

Click here for ABBAlocation of Komtar Area

Sin Seow Fong Lye Coffee Shop (Macalister Lane)
Chee Cheong Fun.
ABBAInsight: The Chee Cheong Fun business is all kept in the family. One of the three stalls located around Penang. The other is found in Chowrasta Market, review below. 
The other operates at Fatty's area, in the coffee shop beside Roti Ba Kua, reviewed above. 
Carrot Cake here are also a must try. Done Penang Style with fat carrot cake, cooked to a crisp on its sides, done either in black sauce with or without chilli. 


Chowrasta Market: Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen
The star is the silky smooth Chee Cheong Fun. It is one of the three shop lots located in the town area, which are all run by the family. Their half roll and chop technique ensure the right amount of both prawn and chilli sauces to adequately cote it's silky smooth rice rolls.  You can also have it plain, with oil, light soy sauce and sesame seeds which tastes equally good.

One of the other stalls is at Macallister Lane, reviewd above. Their Wan Tan Mee, Kway Teow Teng and Curry Mee here are really good too. 

Chowrasta Market is also the community market for the area. Be amongst the people in the morning as Penangknights get their catches of the day and groceries for the week.
Click here for ABBA location of Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen Coffee Shop
 
"The Famous Cendol"
 Cendol is a sweet dessert. Ice shavings, with string like green jelly, served with red bean in coconut milk and the right balance of gula melaka (palm sugar). 


"Sky Hotel Char Siew"


The Best Char Siew (BBQ Meat) in town. Right amount of caramelization, smokey carbon bits, and juicy, fatty morsels spread throughout the meat. Fantastic. 
ABBAinsight: Hugely popular. They will not allow others to buy up the whole char siew. By 11am, everyone will be waiting for their serves. Just make your order and the Uncle at the store can remember every order. Seconds are a definate must.  
Da Jie Xi Cafe
- Assam Stingray -

Economy RiceMust try Assam Stingray. I must say it is one of the most fragrant ones I've ever had. Other curries and side dishes are available. Pick and choose what you want but the winner here is definitely the stingray.

Keat Seng Restaurant
Opens mostly in the evenings and must tries:
- Seafood/Meat Haw Fun-
*pictured center


A mix of Beehoon along with fat white noodles. The Hawfun here has a distinct fragrant char from being wok fried by huge flames, coupled with its starchy soup broth and egg topping, great joys on one small plate.
- Ikan Bakar BBQ seafood-
*food stall in Keat Seng

Malay style hot plate seafood and vegetable dishes done just right.
Ordered stingray and Kachang Bottle (four cornered vegetable) with Ocra/Ladies Fingers vegetable dish.
Stingray had the right amount of caramelization, with just the right amount of dry curry spiced rub, to not be overpowering on the taste buds.
Kachang Bottle was cooked well, without leaving any green leafy after-taste. Fried with chilli padi, charlottes, fragrant hei bi hiam (prawn paste) and garlic. The crunch and sweetness of the Kachang Bottle along with Okra and spices worked well together.
- Other must eats at this food center are the thick Porridge with deep fried pig intestines, Lor Bak Store, and Curry Mee. 
Click here for ABBA location of Keat Seng Restaurant along Jalan Air Putih 

"By the River - Nasi Kandar"
(Indian Muslim Cuisine)
An array of spiced dishes are there for your choosing. Each curry, rich in flavor and distinctly different in aromas and tastes from the other. Located across a small bridge, by a very small, slow-flowing water stream, in Kedai Kopi Joo Heng Coffee Shop.
Click here for ABBA location of By The River, Kedai Kopi Joo Heng Coffee Shop


Red Tea House Dim Sum
Available only in the mornings opening from 6am-12pm. A wide array of Dim Sum available for your pickings at reasonable prices. A great breakfast/brunch location for everyone. Pick what you want or choose from the push cart as it comes along.
Click here for ABBA location of Red Tea House Dim Sum, located Opposite Sunshine Farlim(old), Fortune Court, Jalan Thean Tek, 11500 AIR ITAM, PENANG N5 23.898 E100 17.261

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Australia - Perth To Eat (Taka Japanese, San Churro, Annalakshi Ciao Litalia, The Imp Cafe, V Burger, Little Caesars, Jus Burgers)

Australia - Perth Where Crew Stays
Australia - Perth To Do
Australia - Perth To Eat

Perth - To Eat
Get the latest updates with: facebook.com/abbatravelblogspot 
Taka Japanese Seafood Restaurant
Located 1.1km from Parmelia Hilton Hotel, Taka is a cheap, good and value for money location. It is also popular with the local student populous. They also do take aways!

Items are priced from +AUD6 to under +AUD10 and come with a free-flow serving of hot tea when dining in house.
Ordered:
Large Karage Chicken Set. Pictured far right.
*Only large servings comes with Miso soup. 
Fed 1 @ AUD7.80
Click here for ABBA location of Taka Japanese Restaurant 152 Barrack St, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia


San Churro
Have the special chocolate craving? This is thus far the nearest San Churro's I've located nearest to the Parmelia Hilton. 1.4Km away.ABBA Orders: A definite must mention is their "Hot Cold" Spanish Drink. With a dollop of White Chocolate ice-cream served in a quaint cup of thick Spanish chocolate, the rich, hot chocolate mixing with the creaminess of the ice-cream, not only tastes awesome, but also adds another dimensional. The feel of hot and cold mixing, is incredible and an indescribable sensation. You must try it to believe it!

"Annalakshi@Perth City"
Authentic Indian Vegetarian Buffet. Pay what you feel, but please don't waste food.

What was served that night*I appologize for the lack of correct names of the dishes*
Clockwise from top
- Cucumber Zucchini curry
- Turnip tomato curry
- Savory Pancakes
- Refreshing Cabbage salad
- Flavored Rice
- Spiced Potato Dahl
- Refreshing Spiced Soup (center)
- Rice Pudding dessert not pictured
Cost: Pay what you feel
Great ambiance located by the bay and a stone's throw from the Hilton Hotel. Refreshing flavors, and popular amongst the Indian community (a stamp of approval for authentic flavors) and back packers.
Closed on Monday
Lunch 1230pm-2pm
Dinner 630pm-930pm
Cost: Pay what you feel Vegetarian Indian Buffet

"Ciao Italia@South Perth"

 *revisited on 28Sept2018*
Food 3.5/5
Ambience 3.5/5
Value 3.5/5
Service 3.5/5
This place gets incredibly packed, really early, really fast. Excellent classic Italian dishes, served to perfection. , just to the south of Perth. Each serving is more than enough to feed tow parties. Reach creamy sauces, sweet decadent desserts are definite wins! Remember to go early, cause a long queue will form very quick. 

The place itself is small and quaint, very packed, with 3 to 4 sharing a mini table, with barely enough elbow space. Their turn over rate are high, and food well worth the wait.
ABBATip:
Check for the latest operating days and hours.
Monday now open.
Tuesday - Saturday operates from 1700hrs-2200hrs.
Click below for the latest operating times of Ciao Italia.

Click here for ABBA details for Ciao Italia
"The Imp Cafe & V Burger @ Victoria Park"

Victoria Park; This stretch of road offers several pubs and eats, popular with after work crowds and a nice place to chill as well as good eats.
Imp Cafe
*image source from http://www.mitchellanddent.com.au/tittletattle/cheeky-coffee* 
Hunting for that ULTIMATE Sticky Date Pudding? Its right here. Of all the sticky date puddings I've tried thus far, this place serves 'em nice, hot, gooey, sweet, caramel goodness. That extra charge for that scoop of vanilla ice-scream on the top, just rockets the flavors and textures over the edge.

Their other desserts are also must tries and its along the streets at Victoria Park. The area itself are filled with pubs and grubs with another must eat burger joint further down. Definately much more finds over here.
"V Burger"
Towering burgers, in perfectly toasted buns, with savory spreads. Golden fries are a standard over here. Meat patties are succulent and grilled to perfection. The variety of burgers go for about AUD15-18 for the set. Very filling and incredibly satisfying.
Other Burger Joints worth a mention are: (find your nearest branch)
Click here for ABBA Details: Flip Side @ Freemantle SW of Perth City
*local surfers at Cottesloe beach were all reaering to go to this joint after catching the waves.
Click here for ABBA Details: Jus Burgers @ Subiaco Perth City 

"Little Caesars/ San Churros/ Jus Burgers @ Leederville"
Leederville; Another pub/club and grub place. Popular with university students as well for party goers whom don't want to be in the main hustle and bustle of North Bridge.  
"Little Caesars"
 
Little Caesars, having won numerous food awards, is one of the best in the biz. Great Pizzas made to order, with options of having half and half. Try their desserts pizzas. Those are their winning creations.
Click here for ABBA details of Little Caesars and its other locations
Click here for ABBA location of Little Caesars
"San Churros"
Definitely, by far the best Chocolate drink and Churros I've had so far. Their Chocolate blends are thick, creamy, and full flavored. A single serve is definitely enough for two to share, or for one. The Churros, made to order, with their Dark, Milk and Caramel drippings are incredible!

ABBA Orders: A definite must mention is their "Hot Cold" Spanish Drink. With a dollop of White Chocolate ice-cream served in a quaint cup of thick Spanish chocolate, the rich, hot chocolate mixing with the creaminess of the ice-cream, not only tastes awesome, but also adds another dimensional. The feel of hot and cold mixing, is incredible and an indescribable sensation. You must try it to believe it!
"Jus Burgers"
Another burger joint that's pretty much the same as "V Burger or Fipside", but a little more fancy with Wagyu meats and concoctions. Burgers here go for about AUD15-20 as well.
Click here for ABBA details on Jus Burgers
Click here for ABBA location of Jus Burgers in NorthBridge (Located Near Crew Hotel)

Monday, February 18, 2013

Shanghai - To Do (ABBA Contribution Shanghai Museum, Hongmei Pedestrian Street,Hongqiao Int'l Pearl City, Bao San Lu)

Shanghai - Where Crew Stay
Shanghai - To Do
Shanghai - To Eat
Shanghai - To Do
Like us on facebook to get the latest updates
Shanghai Museum
*Txt and Pictures Contributed by Denison
The museum itself is located next to a grassy park with dozens of white pigeons. If one can ignore any concerns about pigeon droppings, vendors are there selling feed for the birds.

The museum is shaped like a bronze pot supposed to represent heaven and earth. The original can be viewed the museum shop. Well-lit and well laid out, admission to the museum is free and phototaking without flash is allowed. The exhibits contain a mind-boggling collection of a million items covering several thousand years of Chinese history . 

They are broken up into several rooms like coins, furniture, calligraphy, jade, artifacts of ethnic minorities and so forth. One is advised to pick one to two rooms to fully.
ABBA Directions: To get there, one can take the MRT which is only RMB4 either way. Board the Shuicheng Road Station on Line 10 and transfer to Line 1 for People's Square Station.
Hongmei Pedestrian Street
A short walk parallel to the fly over, about 2 junctions, brings you to Hongmei Pedestrian Street/ Lao Wai Jie, another enclave for a truly international audience.Lining both sides of this pub/grub street, it offers Lebanese, Indian, Turkish, Japanese, Western, Chinese and many more. These bistros/pubs come with their own microbreweries, serving unique beer brews and some with performances from live bands to belly dancing.

Pearl City is Either a 15min walk from the hotel or a 3min cab ride at RMB14 from Hong Qiao Mellinium Hotel


Supposedly an off beaten path to the real tourist trap locations, like Lao Shanghai, Nanjing Da Lu, prices here supposedly start lower. However, they also have to be bargained down. 



The three story building offers a simple spread of clothing, tailoring services, toys, art, belting, electronic, high quality pirated movies and of course pearl products.



Bought Sluban Water Airplane at Pearl City
Pieces fix well together. Instructions are clear and they do provide spares of a few of the pieces. A good size of 270mm long, with sticker decals.

ABBATip: A general rule of thumb start with 50% of the price and the less bold can start at 70% Even then, the sellers still make, depending on how high they quoted you at the start. Same goes for any shopping in China. 

Rewawa or Remomo
Latest 2016 Trend
*No Full reviews on its reliability or how its like. The wheels do feel good thou but the shell itself is definitely heavier than the original.
Prices from Crew Shop:
20" RMB270
22" RMB300
24" RMB320
26" 350
29" 380*
Pearl center is reportedly cheaper, and on my own when having a meal at 巴蜀隆门火锅 Ba Shu Long Men Hot Pot, stepped into one of those 4-stroied counter fit sales shop along Nanjing West Street and queried the price on one of the largest Riwawa/Rimomo. Price started from RMB380. As I walked away, RMB300,250 and 200. So do haggle for your purchase.
Bao San Lu
*ABBATip:A Cab ride from Millennium Hotel to location, approximately 35min at 50 RMB.
Bao San Lu is a large technological enclave selling a selection of refurbished electronic products. The huge sheltered area comprises of Handphones, laptop and mobile phone batteries, miscellaneous accessories, various connectors and more. 

It is also home to a sporadic sprinkling of miscellaneous shops like electronic toy shops, and an array of homeward products. Located diagonally across from Bao San Lu Train Station.
Click here for ABBA location of Bao San Lu

Click here for directions from Millennium Hotel to Bao San Lu
A rough price guide
iPad/iPhone to HDMI output with
micro USB Charging capabilities connector:
RMB130 *Tried, tested and it Works!*
Spare Galaxy Note Battery at RMB160
3.55Jack to L/R Audio output connector: RMB5
IPAD USB Charger: RMB15
Large Pseudo Transformer toys: approx RMB250 each
1meter LED Lights: RMB50