Taste Thai Cuisine - 2nd visit

Two cute little maiden statues greet you at the door.

She must know, that for me return twice in 2 days must mean I kinda like this very Hakka-ish looking , minimalist but very sweet little restaurant already.

Taste Thai Cuisine - Alma

Though there are so many Chinese-Thai restaurants in Prai ,so far I have not been compelled enough to give them a try after a bad experience at a supposedly famous one near Bagan Ajam.

However, I simply could not pass up the chance to try out this place . Being fairly new yet managing to attract a hoard of diners ? Ok, I'm going in.

Shin Mi Seafood Restaurant

The owner used to teach in Kedah before . 

After the tsunami battered this area, he bought over the 100 year old premise , and has not looked back since.

Joyce hokkien mee - Pulau Tikus morning market

The signboard indicates that they've been in business since the 1950's. If that is the case ,I'm just wondering how come most of today's Penang hokkien mee version on the island, has become so corrupted with sugar and all that other etc ingredients.

Tai Buan porridge - Muntri Street

The weather's been so hot lately.

33 Celcius on Sunday.

Dove into this oldie but goodie Moi place to cool down the system.

Am featuring this bowl of humble porridge first because for Moi connoiseurs , achieving a texture of this consistency takes a lot of TLC as well as some secret kungfu .

Green umbrella tomyam stall - Sathorn

You'll find this row of green umbrellas a little way off  after you come out from the Silom underground MRT station .

Very popular with the local ladies, you'll get to see a broad spectrum of them eating here, from nurses, to schoolgirls and even resident tarts from Patpong 

( NH ) Royale Burger,main courses and other memories - Mediteca

 

 

 

They didn't name this the Royale Beef & Cheese Burger for nothing.

 

 

 

 

Two thick slabs of extravagant meats sandwich the freshest salad leaves and most sinful cretches of cheese meant to pop your drawer buttons open.

( NH ) Appetizers & Salads - Mediteca

 

 

I just love how the sun seeps through the balustrades to light up the quaint but chic little atmosphere inside. The appetite is immediately worked up as we gingerly navigate our way through the  simple display counter.
 

 

 

 

Much thought has been given to lend simple dishes such aplomb and character. The potato gratin in the foreground is the most marvellous thing I've had in eons ! Finely sliced, lovingly baked with careful layers of cheese,omg, I'm in heaven.

( NH ) Cold cuts,pickles & cheese - Mediteca

 

 

It's been a long time since I've seen someone pour so much love,dedication and pride into his craft. That's part of the reason why people are raving over Mediteca. Chef Riccardo is the secret ingredient.

Entirely approachable, he's downright serious when it comes to getting the art of making delicious food, just right, for each and every customer that walks through the door. 

The machine you see here is what he uses to personally slice cold cuts as the customers come... one platter at a time.

No precuts left out in the open to dry.

 

 

 

 

Fact is, most Malaysians ( me included )  have never actually been that fond of cold cuts and hard cheeses . Last items to be finished at the buffet table if you ever noticed . But ah,wait, this is where he works his magic.

( NH ) Midnight queue- Air Itam Duck Rice

Update 16th August : 
this is why Penangites are reluctant to recommend their favourite haunts to outsiders. There are too many customers now. It makes the traders head grow very big. Quality is compromised. Standards have dropped. The other night I was here, the pork was not fresh, the meat very salty, I got a hard boiled egg that already went bad, plus the rice was too soggy.

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And so, I finally went and did it. Joined the queue for the famous midnight duck rice in Air Itam, that is.

Look carefully at the picture and try to spot the 3 boys in pyjamas. Nothing unusual except for the fact that they're full grown Teenagers !

Have always been very fond of Air Itam because of all it's quirky familiarness but this stall certainly takes the cake.

There are just so many patient people , united in the still of the night , awaiting their turn like a congregation of confessioners at a chapel of food.

( NH ) Que Huong Toi - Jalan Jelutong

This quaint little outlet, with hardly any parking space, has been creating quite a buzz among Penangites and I intended to find out why.

  

    However, as opposed to all the people who have been raving about how great Vietnamese coffee is, it was seriously too thick for my liking.

( NH ) Sushi Zento - Precinct 10

Frankly speaking, I've put off coming here for so long..

...because I always imagined it would burn a big hole in my pocket

Set Lunch at Rakuzen

If you think you know what ikan kembung or mackerel should taste like, then you should really try out the grilled Japanese version . The last time I had something as good as this, was many, many years ago in Baiyoke Bangkok ( don't take my word for it, it's different there today , gone downhill since )

The japs call it Saba, but as you know, these waters in Southeast Asia are where the best tasting ones thrive.

Couple that with skillful cooking method and walla...what you get is a fantastically creamy, tender, lightly crisp, juicy piece that can take you to heaven.

Rakuzen - Gurney Paragon Mall

Japanese cuisine fans were super excited when the Super Dining group, finally made it's entry up north.

Decided to wait it out, to allow things to settle down a bit.

So they placed us here. In this chic looking basel wood section which allows you to peek at other diners, now and then. Was bothered by the temperamental air conditioning. One minute it's cool and the next minute a little stuffy. Maybe it's because we're near the glass kitchen that's just next to the main entrance.

( NH) Eng's Noodles - Jalan Raja Uda

We're pretty early. Explains the lack of crowd. Don't worry, the place will soon fill up.

For less than Rm $30, 'kacang' fans, who are not afraid to stare high cholesterol in the face and wolf it down, will know they've found their grease heaven.

Kim & Gary - watermelon birthday

Who bats an eyelid over a birthday cake these days ?

But just imagine the look of surprise, should this be brought to the table instead .

Exclusively extended to cardmembers celebrating their special day , a minimum of four paying diners as well as a preset spending amount are required, before you can go ahead and request this free gift . And for good reason because the contents seem to be bottomless !

( NH ) Xin Ji De Shi Dimsum - Jalan Dato Keramat

You can't imagine how hard it is to find a reasonably priced tasty dimsum outlet in Georgetown. Old joints don't necessarily guarantee a wonderful experience while the good ones never seem to be able to sustain themselves in the long run .

Although this is a new discovery on my part and I have no idea how long they've been open , I sincerely hope they stay on for a long time to come. Because hey, first of all, their variety is awesome ! Omg...so much to choose from and this is just the steamed section to begin with.

Secondly, after you select what you want, they will heat it up on the spot for you !

(NH) Sumida Japanese restaurant - Set Lunch

If you haven't noticed already, I'm making a slow and steady transition in my diet, since the beginning of this year. Japanese cuisine, seems to be becoming, part and parcel of my life now. Late bloomer , I know, I know ....
Somehow when we travel, it changes our outlook and influences our decisions. While it wasn't my trips to Japan that changed me, rather, Bangkok plays a starring role in this, especially after I saw the explosion of Japanese joints all over the city being wholeheartedly embraced by the Thais themselves .

Coming back to Sumida, it's been around for some time already. The fact that I wanted to try another new place, brought me here. Rumour has it that the place was originally helmed by a Japanese owner but not anymore.

888 Hokkien Mee ( NH ) - Lorong Mahsuri 2, Bayan Lepas

The long line of cars parked illegally by the roadside show that they are open for business, ready to satiate your night fix for a steaming hot bowl of hearty Hokkien Mee.

 

Although they share the same name, the food here, in my opinion, tastes different from their original Sar Tiao Lor stall in Georgetown.

Happy Cafe - Economy Rice , Jln Sungai Dua

You know how hard it is to find a cheap and good economy rice stall in Penang these days ? This fella deserves a mention.

 

Presumably, he's relocated from the now defunct Bali-Bali 77 down the road near USM. Nice humble chap, this owner. He speaks Hakka by the way.