Monday, November 30, 2009




PHEW! Another LOOOONG weekend, with so much happening, so no time to update at all.

First of all we had to rush to KL for various reasons: to see my Dad, and also because a very dear cousin had had a mild stroke, so we went to see her. Fortunately, it was just a warning shot from her body to say, "BEWARE! YOU ARE PUSHING YOURSELF TOO HARD!" so she is very well, considering. However, she is still in hospital but should be out by tomorrow. TAKE CARE, CUZ.







The journey up and down was something else which I shall be ranting about another time, however, another reason for going was, because this dear cousin was unable to use them, she kindly offered us her tickets to see 80s pop group BONEY-M! HAH! If YOU know what (who) I'm talking about, then you're probably of my generation! They were apparently one of the most successful pop groups of that decade, with many hits still regularly played at parties: RASPUTIN, SUNNY, RIVERS OF BABYLON etc.




It was held at the massive ballroom of the Sunway Lagoon Resort: there must have been at least 100 tables if not more. As it was a charitable event too (the tickets cost an amazing RM380 EACH) all the Datuk Datuks and Datin Datins, not to mention the Datuk Seris and Tan Sris etc were there, so it was at least 9 before the food was served.





Which, I have to be honest, was not really worth the wait. I guess serving 100 tables is not easy; it's bad enough getting the food to the table hot let alone cooking it properly. As the speeches and fund raising activities (an auction of a RM25,000 pair of earrings which went for just RM13,000 - I actually had the audacity to put my hand up to bid when it was at RM8000 but luckily for my husband nobody saw it!) had been rather long, they then charged the food through course by course: before you'd finished one the next was being served. I didn't even have chance to photograph any - as soon as the platter hit the tab le 10 pairs of chopsticks were sticking into it. The soup, served individually, was the only thing I could take a pix of but that was rather gooey: pure starch with a bit of tang hoon in it I think. The one good thing was the codfish, steamed with almost pureed ginger which was quite edible.





The only original member left of the group is LIZ MITCHELL (one on left in old pix on top) the one whose voice did most of the vocals for their songs; her deep contralto is quite distinctive. Unfortunately time had taken its toll and although still very attractive (in fact, more so than when she was young I feel), the sylph-like figure has become rather erh, shall we say ... matronly, although she was still able to belt out all the hits of yesteryear and boogie with the best of them. Sad to say, the muscular young man from the old group had been replaced, albeit with yet another of similar physique!




It was quite a good show, esp as she involved many from the "top tables" who were only too happy to get up and bop with her. It was quite sad to see everyone slithering their way there to pose with her for a picture for their "moment of fame". Our table was quite a way away so we could only see her through the huge screens which had been set up.




She put on all the old songs including some covers of other well-known ones like "Let It Be" and some Bob Marley hits. Strangely enough she didn't include "Mary's Boy Child" seeing as we are so near Christmas.

After that it was another battle to get the ticket machine to read our parking ticket - that took half an hour what with one thing and another - then the long trek back home before I could lay my head down for some z-z-z!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

SISTERS, SORORITY, SOROPTIMISTS





THERE IS A SMALL BUT GROWING team of professional women in town who are trying, quietly but not completely so, to make a difference to those who are less fortunate than them.

They are the Soroptimists, a sisterhood of women who have united to do good causes. The word is from "soror" meaning sister, and "optime" meaning the best, and the group started in the early 1920s in Oakland, California. There are hundreds of branches all over the world.

The Penang Chapter recently rebanded after a few years of inactivity, but has now come back, small but strong, and is now under the leadership of current president Dr Datin Shuba. They have been organising various charity events to raise funds for several deserving charities in Penang.



HOWEVER last Saturday was a night for themselves, the sisterhood who work hard and without profit for themselves (except fun that night!), and I was lucky enough to be asked to join them for their annual do at a private function at Traders Hotel's The Brasserie in town.



It was a great night, and the hotel did us proud: the theme being FLOWER POWER, they went to town decking the place out in colourful, bright and beautiful flowers! Everyone got in the spirit of things as well, wearing flowers in their hair - it was like going to San Francisco! The food was excellent, and the wine really did flow quite freely.


Congrats to Melvin, who won a prize for being the man who took the most trouble - he came as a beatnik, down to the leather sandals and flowery trousers - and to the two women who got the ladies' equivalent.

Highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the BAND who did a terrific job with their cover versions of etro 60s/70s/80s music - we are, after all, ladies of that era! Everyone really enjoyed the good old bop and letting their hair down, moi included, much to my husband's horror - apart from his bad back, he typically shies away from such exhibitionism! However, after nearly 3 decades together, he's used to this crazy wife by now ... I think.

I really wish more hotels in town would offer this sort of service - somewhere a group of us can go to, with spouses, for a decent night out: have a good meal and a drink, a bip-bop-a-lula but not too expensively. It should be somewhere we can go at any time, not just for a SPECIAL night out, but for any night out. We don't really have it in Penang - it's all eat eat eat or drink drink drink only. Why can't we combine both? PLEASE MR HOTELIERS, I'M WAITING TO WRITE ABOUT IT!!

Well done everyone, and thanks. It was a terrific night. If you want to know more about this very philanthropic group, let me know.

CHOO of the SHOE(S)





IT WAS AN EVENING TO BE SAVOURED AND DINED OUT ON FOR THE NEXT FEW weeks. I had been invited, along with, as would be expected, a load of other media to meet Tourism Malaysia's new ambassador to Old Blighty: shoemaker to the stars DATO' JIMMY CHOO.





It was his inaugural visit here in his official capacity, and on a whistle-stop tour to Penang introducing key members of the UK press to Malaysia. On his rather short 3-night stay here in he was staying at, where else, his favourite when he is here - the swanky Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Batu Ferringhi, and the hotel had laid on the evening to introduce him. It was an exalted evening as no less than the Chief Minister himself was there, with his wife Betty Chew, to meet him as well as Ms Ooi, the new General Manager of Penang Global Tourism.





Chef Adam Roy cooked up his usual FG specialities: a starter combining the best of their appetisers including grilled duck liver and pizette, and a Grillin' n Chillin' from land and sea: smoked lamb, double-smoked beef short rib and my favourite the smooth and delicious black cod, finished off with "Death by Chocolate" ... mmmm



It was interesting to meet the Dato, who was there with his Hong Kong wife. Very suave and sophisticated, and quite chatty, which would imply that Tourism have appointed the right person for the job! Hopefully, he will promote not just Malaysia but PENANG, as he is a Penangite from Hutton Lane.

I was lucky enough to have a 15-minute tete-a-tete with him after the meal, to ask him about his favourite ... er ... what else did you expect me to talk to him about but FOOD, which I shall be writing about in Star Sunday Metro. He did say that his all-time favourite is Kuey Teow T'ng.

For a change, the CM stepped aside whilst Dato Jimmy presented the Rasa Sayang with their "World Travel Awards" "Malaysia's leading spa resort to resident manager Christian Nannucci.


Saturday, November 21, 2009

CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS



THIS MAY SOUND LIKE YET ANOTHER OFFICIAL GET-TOGETHER TO BRAINSTORM about what to do with those feathered creatures which flitter tither and hither in our skies ... at least, that's what I thought when I first received an email about it ... but it's not.




It's actually a new "contemporary opera" based on a 12th century Persian poem written by Farid ud-Din Attar, describing a flock of birds' search for a leader, using sound and movement to tell the story.

Last night was the first of 3 performances at the Wawasan Open University stage by Five Arts Centre with score composed by Johan Othman from Universiti Sains Malaysia and directed by Chee Sek Thim, and the lyrics written by Brit William Radice from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. We had been invited by British Council who were supporting the performances.

Personally, I thought it was a bit high-brow for me, but then perhaps it's because I am a philistine. However I found it quite incomprehensible, not least because the words were indiscernible although the vocals were quite powerful. I also found the enharmonic music rather disturbing and not at all to my liking. Five Arts Centre, based in KL, certainly mean it when they describe themselves as a collective of artists and producers dedicated to "alternative" art form! However, kudos to them for taking the brave step of staging the production. One has, after all, to experience different types of shows to ascertain which one likes best. I had no doubts about this!

However what was rather a lot nicer was the reception they hosted after the show. It was good to see a lot of people, all there in the name of art. Nothing, of course, at all to do with the free booze and food.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

ADULTS IN TUALANG






THAT TITLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE a witty play on words, as "tua lang" in Hokkien literally translates to "big person" ie adult. So there we were, this group of tualang (adults, except for this couple who for some reason had their DOG with them in a little baby stroller ... ) in Tanjung Tualang, all gasping for a taste of the very famous freshwater prawns.






This place is on the outskirts of Ipoh, almost in the middle of nowhere it seemed like - the journey there seemed to take forever, down dark, unlit country roads and lanes. "This better be worth it," I grumbled to myself. It's really the sort of place you need a local to show you cos you sure ain't gonna find it easily!







When we finally arrived at the town, our host said , "That's the town," and, "Did you blink? Cos if you did you probably missed it!" Ha ha!





But the street which interested us most was the one where there are at least ten seafood restaurants all serving the prawns. Apparently some bright spark had the idea of converting the disused tin mines into prawn farms, so these "large headed" prawns are the result. They were all there, one after the other. For some reason our host chose the "Luen Fong", one of those typical old-fashioned Chinese seafood places, bright and clean. Bubbling aquariums lined the entrance, filled with some quite lively prawns swimming about, all probably quite unaware of the fate that awaited them.



When we walked in the place was quite empty, but believe me within the hour it filled up. The dishes came in quick succession, firstly the famous prawns, quite large, steamed so you get the maximum natural taste (a bit negated by the ginger, garlic and chilli sauce you dip it into but still!). They are ENORMOUS, and if I'm a bit honest, slightly off-putting. The head, which most people savour, was quite liquidy so I forwent the pleasure of sucking at the juices like some of the others did. Being fresh-water creatures, the flesh isn't as salty as sea prawns, so I thought a bit of seasoning prior to cooking might have helped.







After that came the rest of the meal: some pork trotters braised in soya sauce until they were falling off the bone, a couple of veg dishes, a steamed whole catfish, fresh and not as muddy as some can be, and yet more prawns, this time fried with salted egg yolk. Smaller this time, so less
"jeelak" for me.





We rather thought the generous host had over-ordered a bit - but as you can see, between the 8 of us we tried really hard not to let him down ... practically every plate was scraped clean! The total bill for two tables came to just over RM600 - and that included a couple of beers too. Very reasonable really, however, rather a long way if you are thinking of heading there just for that; it's something I would recommend only if you are going there for something else or are passing by.


However, now I know why the famous Ipoh Hor Fun is so good - with the essence and red oil from these prawns combined with good old bak jam kai (white chicken) it must make the most delicious stock ever. Yummy! I can't wait to try cooking it for myself.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

PULLING OIL ... ?


HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THAT EXPRESSION? WELL, to be frank, I hadn't either ... until yesterday when a friend forwarded me an email about it. Sounds like you've got to go prospecting for oil and may strike it rich, eh!


Having said that, you just might! Oil pulling is a cheap, easy and apparently very effective way to good health and don't worry, I'm not talking pyramid selling or network marketing - save me from that please!


It's very simple: every morning, put a tea or tablespoonful of oil (cold pressed preferably, and probably healthy oil ie coconut or sunflower - olive smells a bit overpowering) and then swill it (as opposed to gargle) round your mouth for 20 mins. The oil gradually mixes with your saliva and it's supposed to DRAW TOXINS and KILL BACTERIA, thus healing your body. This should be done once a day, but can be done 3 times if desired. If your muscles tire then you're doing it too vigorously. After that spit out into the toilet and rinse mouth or brush your teeth. That's all there is to it!


According to Dr Karach who writes in the website http://www.oilpulling.com/ it can cure many illnesses and return the body to health. A trawl of the internet shows many testimonials, both for and against.


Apparently humans are only living to half their potential lifespan when we could be going to 140 or 150 years old! Not sure I want to do that, but am prepared to settle for a mere 80 or thereabouts, so am going to give it a go - I tried it this morning and can't say I've noticed much difference which isn't surprising as one is supposed to do this for a few weeks before noticing any difference, but will keep you posted. If nothing else the exercise should help to tone up sagging facial muscles!!


Sunday, November 15, 2009

PLAYING IN PENANG




WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHY I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN PENANG, my reply is, "It's got a bit of everything to offer." You name it: food (but of course), the sun and the sea, shopping (imperative); it's reasonably cheap for poor writers (please send all donations to ... !!), and most importantly it's HOME.


Now I'm not a culture vulture, nor snob (can't abide those people who pretend to be what they're not), but, once in a while, it's nice to while away the evening in a civilised sort of way. Up here, we don't have that much choice, but we do have something: the Penang Players' annual Dinner Show.



Our local amdram (amateur dramatic) society consists of a group of dedicated people who want to tread the boards, usually at the Hotel Royal in town, for the fun of it, and we really enjoy it: you have food (a buffet dinner), drink (BYO or buy there) and entertainment - all for a donation of just RM68. It's usually a fun evening out and you're also doing a good cause: keeping such non-profit organisations going in Penang.


Last night was no exception; actually, it WAS an exception, because the performances were amongst the best I've seen from the group - no mean feat, as we've been hosting a table there every year since 2002. They performed 3 vignettes written by American playwright Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite 719", directed by Jayaram Menon and produced by Chairperson Joelle Saint-Arnoult.



The first act featured my old friend and fellow Star columnist Mary Schneider, who acted as Karen, wife of adulterer Sam Nash. As usual, she looked stunning, and an old hand at this having been with the group since 1992; she played the slightly klutzy role well. Lim Yao Han and Shamila Ariffin were very creditable in Act II, but the stars of the night were undoubtedly husband-and-wife team Judith Chandler and Randy Moss, both teachers at Uplands, who were outstanding as the frustrated parents of Mimsey on her wedding day. They were perfect for the roles, and had the place roaring with laughter at various points. Randy, who is the Head of the Arts Faculty at Uplands International School and Consultant for the International School Theatre Association, can safely boast that he doesn't just teach (you know what they say - those who can't, teach!). He definitely can.




It's a sign of how popular this group is that not only were they sold out over the Friday and Saturday nights, but they are also holding a matinee (show only) performance today, which was originally intended for students but has now been opened up for all and sundry because it is so popular. In fact, next time they should do TWO performances a year!!




WELL DONE GUYS, and I look forward to your next production.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It was a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY ...



... to meet not just a few of the other hard-working Penang Food Bloggers, but also some journalists. We were all there to be introduced to The Golden Sands Resort's new Executive Sous Chef John Brock, who is a friendly Kiwi from North Island. He will be assuming responsibility for the resort's western offerings.




We had all been invited to preview a couple of the new dishes that he will be introducing to what will take over from Sigi's By The Sea, currently scheduled to open in mid-Jan '10. The usual suspects were there: Penangtuapui, C K Lam, and a few others I hadn't met before.

According to his particulars, John's culinary experience includes stints in the UK and France. That's him explaining to us what we were going to try btw: a small, select menu: Red Lion (hmmm ... never had that animal before ... it was actually fish of course (ang sai) served on a bed of crushed (not mashed - note the difference!) topped with sliced fennel, and Beef Tenderloin. Actually both were quite delicious, although I did feel, and I think the others agreed, that the presentation could have been a bit more elaborate. However, as everyone also agrees, I am rather a fussy person!




The dessert was rather yummy: Mango and White Chocolate Bombe - the latter was quite out of this world. It figured, as John told us desserts are his particular passion. If that is a taste of things to come, I can't wait for the new restaurant to open .. mmmmmmmmm ....




Golden Sands will be taking down the hoarding outside this weekend as they present the newly redeveloped place which cost some RM38 million to achieve (I think although I might have the figures wrong). The Shang group is quite particular about the properties which come under their name - this is an example of how they constantly stay ahead of the game. That can only be good news for Penang.

Monday, November 9, 2009

WHAT A BRASS!






WHEN OUR VISITORS LEFT LAST WEEK I THOUGHT we were going to have a quiet few days chilling out ... boy, was I wrong!




Firstly, there was the "hairy" if interesting experience at the Eq's Golden Phoenix ... then, the very next day, Traders Hotel's The Brasserie invited me and a whole load of other Penang bloggers to preview their Christmas menu, courtesy of newly-joined Executive Chef Siva. It was good to see some familiar faces, some new too, but all with one thing in common: FOOD. Especially Penang food. There was much "flashing" about the place as everyone had their camera out to snap pictures of all the delish food on offer. There's Comms Mgr Eileen in discussions with old friend blogger "Penangtuapui".








I like the place; there's an air of intimacy about it, a sort of trendy elegance which few other places in Penang manage to achieve - must be something to do with the wood-panelled walls and low ceiling. It was a shame when they closed down, and it's great that they have reopened albeit just for lunch.




The semi-buffet concept is also a great idea as it means one isn't stuck with just one starter and one dessert ... variety, as we know, is the spice of life! The ones on offer are good offer: a home-made soup (pumpkin in this case), lots of sashimi and salads with dressings including freshly-made Caesar should you so wish, and a variety of breads and buns to go with them.








For the entire month of December their choice of mains (beef, pastas, fish) will include yuletide flavours: Roast Turkey complete with stuffing and cranberry sauce. Mmmmm ... although having said that I decided to opt for the tenderloin instead - if I start with turkey now I'll be gobbling by the end of the year! That's on the assumption that I will be invited to many other turkey meals of course!








I'm always very impressed by their desserts: there is a good selection - complete with Ginger Bread House; it's all delicious, but what's even better is they come in tiny portions: perfect after a filling meal ... one wants just a tad of EVERYTHING - the cookies are excellent, and so are some of the creamy puddings. And here's a hint: the moulten chocolate goes with EVERYTHING, not just the marshmallows on stick.


Unfortunately I had to rush as we were leaving town that day ... but that's another story!














Sunday, November 8, 2009

HAIRY HAIRY, QUITE CONTRARY





ALTHOUGH I'D BEEN INVITED MANY TIMES to try them in the past, for one reason or another, I had never actually, so it was with alacrity that I accepted Equatorial Penang's invitation to try their newest dish, something that is only available seasonally: HAIRY CRABS.





They are so-called because of the mass of dark hair which grow on their claws, are air-flown in from the Yangzhi River delta near Shanghai. The official season opens in late September, and Eq's Golden Phoenix Chinese Restaurant is one of the few places in Penang where you can find them now, available lunch or dinner. However, they only have a limited number, which is rapidly reducing as more and more folks find out about them.



The experience was quite an eye-opener: for some reason, I'd stupidly assumed that eating one crab is the same as eating another, hairy or not - fried, baked, cooked in ginger and chilli, black pepper sauce etc etc ... but believe me - it isn't!




For one thing you're not supposed to drink Chinese tea with them as the chemical reaction between the two will cause quite severe stomach upsets - one drinks sweetened ginger tea or wine with it. Neither are you supposed to eat persimmons. Something to do with the ying and yang/cooling and heatiness principles - the crabs are "cooling" so the ginger tea or wine "heats" you up again!


Secondly, they are only ever steamed for 15-20 mins, which ensures the yellowish "jin" (roe) inside is still quite soft and runny so you can suck it (literally); whatever remaining flesh there is - and there's actually not much - is extracted and dipped in a vinegar and ginger sauce. It was an educational experience and a half, and I really learnt a lot that night.

At the Eq you can select it live from the tank, and it is presented to you 20 mins later, steamed, and if you wish prepared by Danny who valiantly dons plastic gloves as he prepares to do battle with the cooked crustaceans.



Verdict: the roe is eggy, as one would expect, and the flesh, because they are freshwater creatures, is unsalty so the ginger and vinegar combo makes a good companion. It is definitely something I am glad I've tried. But if you're planning to, at RM86++ per piece, it's something to be really savoured!

The Golden Phoenix also offers quite a good selection of other Chinese dishes, and very tasty ones at that, including some fantastic pork-free Dim Sum so if you're that side of town do definitely pay it a visit.

Friday, November 6, 2009

BIG PEACE ... aka TAIPING


ONE DAY LAST WEEK, in an effort to keep our visitors from being bored, and also to show them at least something other than Penang (we had talked about going to Langkawi/ KL/ Camerons/ Haadjai etc etc etc but all to no avail ... many things kept us stuck in Penang, not least because there was just so much to see, do and eat .. anyway, I digress) we decided to take them to Taiping.





Now it's not as random as all that - Taiping has got many firsts listed (31 to be exact - check out website http://malaysiabudgethotel.com/destinations/taiping-perak.html) in the country, including the first English newspaper to be published, the first Malay school, the first English girls' school - Treacher, where both my mom and my aunt taught); apart from that its other claim to fame is ... my parents were both born there! So I spent a lot of my childhood there staying with relatives; I love the place, with its (still relatively) quiet streets and sleepy little hollow feel, good food and in fact make a point of returning there every year to see the few members of our family left there, esp during Cheng Beng and Chinese New Year.







It was also an opportunity for them to see the Penang Bridge and a bit of our countryside as it's rather different from UK's gentle rolling dales, and it's near enough to make a day trip out of it. In fact it was a rather quick journey: we got there at about noon and even then the storm clouds were already gathering in the horizon over the hills. We met some relatives for lunch: just in time actually, cos when we were in Prima Kopitiam the heavens opened, and it bucketed down as it has been doing every afternoon there for a while apparently.





Still, it allowed me time to enjoy the chicken rice which this cheerful and friendly young man (forgot his name) has been cooking and serving for the past ... wait for this ... FIFTY ONE YEARS! He is 65, and started at 14 or so helping another Chicken Rice Stallholder, and set out on his own a few years later. He has been at the place for over 40 years.


His Chicken Rice is good - only pak cham kai he maintains, as the more modern roasted version is NOT Hainan Chicken Rice - and the flesh is tender and silky, but I had to tell him that his chilli sauce is not brilliant. He blamed it on the "Thai chilli" which isn't as good. I didn't think that was a very reasonable excuse really, but at least he didn't get upset about it! The really sad thing is although his daughter helps him now, none of his other kids is interested in taking over so once he retires, that's another Malaysian legend gone. He seemed quite prepared to teach others his skill so PLEASE someone - take him up on it, because we will lose our heritage (Malaysian or not) at this rate!



Anyway with the weather still pretty wet we just had a quick spin around the famous beautiful Lake Gardens (another first) and overhanging branches of the gorgeous centuries-old raintrees, past the prison (yet another)then headed back home to Penang ... in time for yet another dinner!