Sweet Spring 糖水春 @ AMK Hub

Durian puffs, S$4.20.

This was a random pit stop in the midst of aimless wandering at AMK Hub. I wasn’t hungry, and planned only to have mango sago pomelo, but the cute waiter convinced me to order a dimsum item to go with it. 😀

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Last day in Penang: Street food opposite Traders Hotel

Before you groan, “Not another Penang post!”, this is the FINAL post on our June ’09 Penang trip.

We were supposed to leave our hotel at 3pm to catch our flight back to Singapore. Because we had a late, big breakfast, we still weren’t hungry by 2pm. However, I was determined to squeeze in one more meal before leaving Penang!

Plate of fried fritters (3 pieces for RM2.20) & red bean soup, RM1.00

The day before, based on CK Lam’s recommendation, we went to an alley along Magazine Road. It’s at the traffic light junction opposite Trader’s Hotel. However, it was already evening, and the stalls had already closed. This time, we were lucky. All the stalls were open!

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Peranakan lunch buffet @ Spices Cafe, Concorde Hotel

Since the airing of The Little Nyonya, there’s been a revival of all things Peranakan, particularly food. Even this year’s Singapore Food Festival’s (July 17 – 26) focus is on Peranakan cuisine. In support of the Singapore Food Festival 2009, Spices Cafe at Concorde Hotel is spotlighting Peranakan dishes for its weekday lunch buffet in July and August.

The Peranakan dishes on bain marie section.

82-year-old Baba Jolly Wee, a renowned Peranakan cooking expert, was specially invited to helm Spices Cafe for this authentic and traditional Peranakan spread.

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Penang Day 3: The Great Penang Cendol Face-Off!

Penang Road's famous Teochew cendol!

Folks, this is THE most famous cendol stall in Penang! Many proclaim it to be the best on the island. Just remember, it’s located in Penang Road in Penang!

Technically, it’s in Keng Kwee Street off Penang Road. But no worries, just ask and the friendly locals will point you to the right direction!

Interestingly, directly opposite the No.1 stall is another cendol stall. They claim to be just as good as the original!

So how will the clueless out-of-towner know which is which? Easy!

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Penang Day 2: Hotel breakfast, Toh Soon Cafe, and tang yuen for supper.

The good: nasi lemak with chicken curry; beehoon goreng. Not so good: sausage, baked beans, hashbrown.

So I sauntered cheerily into the executive breakfast lounge, only to be stunned that Michael Jackson had suddenly died of a heart attack. I’m not a big Michael Jackson fan, but still, I admire him for his incredible talent and the musical legacy that he leaves behind. RIP, Michael Jackson. You’ll forever be the King of Pop.

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Crab buffet dinner @ Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court

It’s time to go crab crazy! For just two weeks (25 June to 12 July 2009), Ellenborough Market Cafe is bringing back their highly successful crab buffet, first introduced last year.

Both media and food bloggers were invited for food tasting sessions prior to the launch. Besides being a preview, it was also a feedback session. Hence, some dishes may be fine-tuned; taste and presentation may differ slightly from what you see here.

Black pepper Sri Lankan crab

As it was a private tasting session, dishes were presented ala carte. Let’s start with an all-time Singaporean favorite: black pepper crab!

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Barracks Cafe @ House

Barracks - no army rations here.

Occupying the premises of a former army barracks, House is a lifestyle concept that houses (sorry, I couldn’t resist) a spa, cafe, and bar. This is how the cafe’s name comes about. But this is also where any association with an army camp ends, for Barracks resembles nothing like a military mess hall. From chic, quirky decor down to stunning food presentations, our experience at Barracks was a total revelation. This is one canteen that soldiers would happily dine at everyday!

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Mei Heong Yuen – Mango sago with pomelo

Mango sago with pomelo, S$3.50

Mango sago with pomelo! Mango sago with pomelo! Try saying that as fast as you can 10 times! It’s like a tongue twister, isn’t it?

I much prefer its Chinese name 杨枝甘露. Literally “honeyed dew drops falling from a willow tree branch”, doesn’t that sound so much more poetic?

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