Chinese New Year Delights @ Starview Restaurant

Chinese New Year is just round the corner ...

Welcoming the year of the Goat.

Time to spend good, quality Food Time with family and friends.

Here is one suggestion.

Instead of ordering a 10 course meal, why don't order only the best or maybe we should put it the all time favorites ...

And where else to go during the festive season ?

How about STARVIEW ?

Make sure you make your reservations earlier cause they a frequently overbooked during this time!

Another trick is make sure you have these yummylicious dinners with only people you like and familiar with, don't invite too many so that there is plenty left for second rounds.

Don't invite the greedy and inconsiderate who keeps one filling their own plates with no consideration for others :-)

Sumptuous Chinese New Year dinners must be delicious and overflowing, so no one must go home with a half full stomach.

So let us start off with the large prawn salad.

Followed by the yummy chinese style seafood chowder.

Yup NO sharks fin, you heard me right, not even on Chinese New Year...

Save the sharks!

Below is the recommended menu

And of course we must have the all time favorite Suckling Pig.

Healthy cod fish after that ...

Some light dishes to go with the heavy duty ones.

Good balance ...

Have to say the noodles is just so-so.

If you are superstitious and noodles is a must have then must order it.

Happy Pre-Chinese New Year folks !!!

1. Starview Restaurant
2. Address: 102-B-1;;102-B-4, Jalan Burma, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

   Phone:+60 4-226 5213
3. 
   

Passions of Kerala

 The worst time to eat Chinese food is Chinese New Year ...

Why ?

Lots of people crowding in to the little island to get a taste of its very best during the festive season and the holiday craze.

Food will be overpriced and may not be as good and as fresh as it is.

So Foodie has decided to recommend a Southern Indian option.

 Try Passions of Kerala at New World Park.

Along Burma Road in the front and Hutton Lane at the back.

Also ample carpark for all.

 Deep fried bitter gourd slices is a must order.

 Lamb Masala is superb.

Also very well known for it's fried fish.

 So here is how we do it ...

Order the banana leaf rice set and feel free to as for more portions of rice and veg.

 Pretty reasonable as well.

This is a bill that fed 7 pax in mid last year.

They also have a  branch at Island Glades.

Same owners.

City folks prefer it here due to its location.

Both are as good ...

Happy welcoming the Year of the Horse !

Lunch at a Boutique, anybody ?

 On a busy Friday, with the busy traffic, a friend introduced Foodie to a quiet and peaceful place to have lunch, away from the hustle and bustle but right in the heart of town.

 Never knew that this unique place existed but was told that it has been around for some time now.

Just in case some of you Foodie fans have not been here, this one is for you.

If you are around town and want to give yourself a long lunch treat but don't know where to go, here is the place to go ...

 Located on the 1st floor of Penang Plaza, the cafe is actually inside a boutique.

So while waiting for your food to come, you can take a stroll.

 Served by the owner, Lynn herself, you can savor the set lunch.

Few choices to pick, makes life easier for everyone.

Nice soup and nice mains.

 Mains on that day was beef stew with mash potatoes and oxtail set which comes with rice and some nice homemade vegetables.

There was also a healthy choice of grilled salmon, but we decided to indulge on the meats.

 When the time came for dessert, we were absolutely full to the brim but being gluttons we carried on and did not regret.

Cheese cake came as a small piece, just nice as we were so full already ... and it was very yummy and went very well with the coffee.

 was very impressed for a small cafe like this one, the milk that came with the coffee was warm ...

 So, what was suppose to be a quick simple lunch, turned out to be a long and lavish lunch and good catching up ... not to mention good value for money...

 So, if you have worked hard for the week and feel like pampering yourself, get 1 or 2 close friends and have a chill time at Lynn's ...

The place is pleasant and quiet :-)

Have a good weekend ahead ... remember not to work too hard and treat your stomach well :-)

Opening Hours     :     10am - 7pm

Closed on Sundays

Yet Another Hits the NO GO LIST - Sorry Mr Laksa Man

Deliberately no photos cause this is not intended to offend anyone...

Just want to warn Street Food Lovers where NOT to go

so we do not accumulate unnecessary calories :-)

In the midst of the hot weather, Foodie has decided to have a quick lunch and opted for the Laksa Man stall on the motorcycle at the corner of Burmah House and Goh Dental, right in front of CIMB bank.

No stall, just the motorcycle selling Laksa, Spring Roll and Nyonya Kuih.

Super friendly Indian man selling it, by the way he speaks perfect Hokkien.

Unfortunately, Laksa was not sour enough, no fish taste and no fish !

So sorry Mr Laksa Man ...

On a good note, the kuih talam was very tasty.

Please don't waste your time eating the Laksa.

If you wanna help, please buy the Nyonya Kuih ...

One man's meat is another man's poison ...
Links that favour this stall
http://penangpoint.blogspot.com/2013/01/penang-laksa-another-alternative-type.html

If you are into Indian Laksa, this is the place where Foodie goes ...
http://penangtuapui.blogspot.com/2008/07/penang-food-one-world-caf-indian-laksa.html


A little bit on Penang Asam Laksa
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/113905814/Penang-Assam-Laksa

Happy Laksa-ing ...

NO SMILE, No Photos - It's French!

Another one HITS the No Go List !
La France Cafe & Restaurant
For exact venue and opening hours, see links below
http://cafe-la-france.com/Cuisine.html

http://www.timeout.com/penang/food-and-restaurants/venue/Western/title/La-France-Cafe-and-Restaurant

 Used to be one of the hawker food stall at Northern Beach Cafe, they have undergone an upgrade to this new venue.

Food is ok, coffee (freshly brewed) is good, ambience is nice and cosy ...

BUT

 very sorry to say service was WITHOUT a SMILE

this French guy just won't smile!

Ok nothing against NOT smiling ...
the set lunch menu is super not flexible, no offense but if it is gonna be fixed like that, all Foodie can say is Good Luck
Set A - Pasta with drink, Set B and Set C is mains with dessert...
err... what if we don't want dessert ?
Reply by French Guy :  If you don't want dessert with the set, you just don't eat it then
Foodie *Faints*
I was told this guy is the boss ... No comments

The pasta ordered was average - ok
and then ...
why no more photos ...
NOT allowed to take photos !
even the food you have ordered not allowed to take photos... I don 't remember going to French restaurants in Paris and not being allowed to take photos!
ok enough said ...
after all it is French, French, French 
no more photos ...
unable to continue this post ...
if you want a good laugh, no harm giving it a try here, 
Coffee is GOOD of course not at the Penang Street Food price!
By the way, if you a filthy rich, maybe you could try giving a RM100 tip,
maybe the French Guy will give you a smile...


Good Luck !!!


What others feel :
http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Restaurant_Review-g298303-d2271630-Reviews-La_France_Cafe_and_Restaurant-Georgetown_Penang_Island_Penang.html

http://www.awesomepenang.com/home/jacgy-cynthia-11-another-great-place-in-georgetown-la-france-cafe-restaurant/

New World Park - What's Still Good There ?

 New World Park Food Court

This is a food court so it is rather difficult to do the regular rating.

In the past if you mention Swatow Lane, the first thing that comes in mind will be the Ice Kacang, Curry Mee and Pasembur.

So, is everything still the same ?

The food quality still as good and delicious ?

I suppose not.

Well, let us mention the good stuff first.

A very nice and clean place to enjoy hawker food, also a huge variety, some may not be so authentic though.  

For tourists who want to try a good variety of street food with limited time, here is the place to go.

If you have a fussy palate, hmmm... maybe not that great a place then

This is the man in charge of the food court stalls, the main person who collects the rental . 

Rumour has it that 16 million was spent to set up the whole area inclusive of the shop lots ...

As a kid, I remember this uncle preparing my ice kacang, now he is the man-in-charge of the food court.  It is nice to know that there are some with humble beginnings who do not forget their roots and remain as humble as ever.  Mr Ice Kacang, still takes orders from customers and on special requests, he will make it for you :-)

 If you are a diabetic, you can opt for fresh milk only, not the best but at least you don't lose out on this yummy treat.

Foodie's Choice
Ice Kacang add Mango, no ice cream prepared by  'The Man'  himselfRemember to order only after you finish your main course otherwise it will all melt away by the time you get to it

Good idea

Next we move on to the Hokkien Mee
Foodie's Choice - Add Pai Kut  RM 4.50
Good value for money
Piping hot soup

Ice Kacang stall also sells fruits on the side, just like the good old days, but a cleaner version 

Then you have a variety of other stuff, including the ridiculously priced Mee Goreng for RM 5.00! Nothing special about it.  Forget about the pasembur, really waste of your time...

Tang Hoon Fish Ball, So-So, taste a little like it is prepared by an Indonesian Maid 

This one is overpriced with super diluted Ang Tau Thing and Yam Cake with no yam. Used to be really good but I guess sometimes profit overtakes all cause...

Two curry mee stalls here...  In the good old days while still at Swatow Lane, we used to have one of the best curry mee here ... not any more :-(

So your best bet when you come here is Hokkien Mee and Ice Kacang (must be made by the boss) otherwise, quality is not there ...