HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE -

OK WHAT TO SAY? NOTHING MUCH HAS HAPPENED REALLY, except it's been eat, eat, eat, and drink drink drink for the past er ... fortnight?!! And nothing looks set to change as we zoom towards year end and a brand-new decade.

On Christmas Eve we joined some friends for a Christmas Eve with a difference: seafood at Ocean Green! At least one didn't have to look yet another turkey in the eye ... or breast, for that matter. Then on the 25th itself a group of us, family and friends, met up at the Penang Club for their traditional Christmas lunch, which, I am honour-bound to say, was a disappointment. But then why am I surprised? After almost a year of boycotting the place why oh why did I decide to go there again?

The semi-buffet concept was good, except there was very little starters to choose from, a bit of salad and the cold turkey (geddit?!!!) was practically non-existent esp as you know what Penangites are like: grab everything first. So by the time we got to it there were just scraps of meat torn from various cavities. I think they must have just roasted ONE turkey for 50 people.

As for the main courses, my steak was OK if a bit tasteless (as was the lamb according to No2 Son); but my husband thought his was pretty tough - in fact, he reckoned it to horsemeat. Which was probably a bit of an insult to the horse really. Another thought his chicken was good.

Dessert was just as pathetic: there was a bit of chocolate cake, Christmas pudding and ice kacang. For approx RM40-50 pp depending on the starter you chose, I thought it was ridiculously expensive and not worth the money.

BOXING DAY was spent at a friend's garden party which was stunning - she'd gone to elaborate lengths to decorate everything, and the place looked like a fairy tale scene; it was all there, including even mulled wine, and she'd got Hardwicke House in to cater, and a band to sing although that was eventually appropriated by the crowd and disappeared into Karaoke land. Unfortunately it started to drizzle slightly a bit later on in the evening.

Another party the next night, and the next, and last night yet another... and of course tonight, and tomorrow night which I'm dreading cos of the traffic and crowds. I'm beginning to wish the year end would hurry up! At least my liver is anyway.

Hope you had a great Christmas too, and here's to 2010 and all that it brings.

HO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RED WINE ... or two

IT WAS A TIRING DAY yesterday, because we had a few friends coming round for drinks and nibbles, and I was making all the nibbles myself. One reason is it's quite difficult to find little bite-sized snacks and even if I could they're never in the flavours I want, and they are really also rather expensive especially if you want say 20-30 of everything.

I believe if you're standing around with one drink in your hand the other should just reach out, grab a nibble, and just pop it into your mouth without having to bite into it as it may crumble to bits, and of course which means bits of pastry or food everywhere and of course all over your lipstick-coated mouth. On top of that if it's just that bit too big and you shove the whole thing into your mouth you end up rather inelegantly mumbling and trying to chew it in a lady-like manner urmmhh ... urmmhhh ... especially if someone talks to you just as you've got a mouthful of the stuff.

One reason is of course they are SO labout intensive, as I found out to my cost, starting with the cheese and bacon puffs, which took practically all day cos they really tiny. I even made my own mini mince pies, although, as I was explaining to a friend who was oohing and aahing over them, I made the pastry, spooned the ready-made Matthesons mince into them then baked them. "That's what I mean by made them," she said. Not many people make their own mince nowadays, although I found the bottled one very sweet.

Anyway another thing I did was to make an edible centrepiece - I bought a few pieces of florists' sponge, stuck them all together in the rough shape of a Christmas tree, then covered everything in foil. Then I proceeded to stick lots of colourful food into it: cocktail sausages, cooked prawns, cherry tomatoes, grapes, salad leaves, cheese squares etc. Unfortunately couldn't find any strawberries as they would have added a brilliant shade of red. However, it was a talking point, and very successful and quite different.

As for drinks, in England one imbibes mulled wine at this time of year: it's red wine cooked with cinnamon sticks and other spices and sugar, served warm to keep the chilling winds out of our bodies. Delicious but quite strong-tasting redolent with cinnamon. Here in the tropics, I went for something different: sangria! Cut up a load of oranges, lemons, apples and even a cucumber, then dumped everything into a large bowl along with a few bottles of red wine and (this is the secret ingredient ...) sunquick orange syrup! With plenty of ice, it's pretty, and delicious, and so wonderful for a warm, balmy Christmas evening. It really got everyone in the mood, because we had a Carol Sing Song after that and everyone joined in. Not too strong, as the wine is diluted, but enough to get rid of inhibitions.

So it was a HO HO HO night last night, and two other reasons for celebrating: hubby and I marked 21 years together as man and wife (as we both totally forgot last year we're trying to make up to each other now!) and also because that was my last day of cooking for 2009. From here on we're out practically every night. WAY TO GO!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

FOR I WAS A JUDGE ...

OK I GIVE IN. Yes, I finally had to get a back brace from the chemist to support my still-aching back, at the advice of a friend who also suffers from a similar problem, and it has helped a bit. Especially as it's been another busy weekend, starting with an sms from old mate Audee Cheah, Chairman of the Chefs Association of Malaysia Pg Chapter, asking me to stand in as a judge at the bridal fair at the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society. The fair, themed "A Shanghai Love Story", was organised by Focal Concepts, headed by Susan Chyntanna Lim. That's her in the sexy cheong sam there with State Exco for Health and Welfare, Caring Society, and Environment YB Phee Boon Poh who launched the 2-day event.

It sounded quite fun and I'm always willing to give anything a go, especially when it involves alcohol - I'd like to make it very clear that it's all in the name of duty, k? - as it was a Bartender's Competition.

UNFORTUNATELY ... or fortunately, depending on which way you look at it, there were only 6 entrants. As the 3 judges had to taste each resulting cocktail, you can imagine if there's been 20 competitors we may have been rolling about by the end. As it was, one of the fellow judges 'fessed up to "not being much of a drinker" (? judging at a bartender's competition?) and went on to prove it by turning red almost immediately after sipping (SIPPING) the first couple of drinks. As the very short competition wore on, you could have used him as a lighthouse at Muka Head, his face was glowing so much.

There was much dancing and throwing about of bottles, although much ended up on the floor (hate to think of the state of that place - it's funny to think of a Moral Uplifting Society reeking of booze!), and dancing to some very loud music. One thing I noticed was although most started by swishing the bottles about, most forg0t to continue moving when they were pouring the drinks or decorating the glasses. That, as far as I was concerned, lost them points. I don't have the facts in front of me but the winner came out with a quite palatable mix made of primarily Bailey's, that creamy liqueur, combined with sweet Amaretto. It stood out because most of the others made theirs with vodka and fruit. He took away a RM700 prize.

The next day was just as interesting - apart from the packed annual Charity Food Fair which was held outside under huge canopies, it was the "Wedding Cake Decoration" Competition, and there were just five entries for this, but the winner was the only one who bore the theme in mind: Shanghai, and his phoenix and dragon were quite impressive. He too walked away with a RM700 prize.

My hats off to the competitors who were all game to give it a try. It's good to give things like this a go as it gives experience and exposure, and well done to Focal Concepts for giving them a chance.

SKOL, SKAL

ANOTHER GROUP TO CELEBRATE YEAR END and to which I was invited was SKAL International Penang Chapter. The "elite" society of people associated with the travel and tourism industry held their do at Golden Sands Resort in Batu Ferringhi, celebrating yet another year of promoting Penang.

At the same time they inaugurated their Young Skal(ers), as it is important to be propogating a new generation of members as the old ones move on or die ... literally, as the case was, because Chairman Eddie Low, very sadly, passed away recently due to complications after a major operation. It was moving that Vice President Lawrence Koay paid tribute to him during the evening, starting with a one-minute silence, and after that a short powerpoint presentation about Eddie and all he had done for the Penang tourism industry. It was obviously a very poignant and sad moment for his widow who was there with their son.

Their new Executive Sous Chef John Brockman dished up some of his specialities: a delicious mushroom soup (and those who know me know that I'm not really that keen on this fungus) redolent with the scent of truffle oil drizzled over it; his Prawns wrapped in Katalfi, crispy on the outside and moist and tasty on the inside, followed by, in my case, salmon, finishing off with an excellent Lemon Tart.

How to lose weight if this carries on?!! And this is only the BEGINNING of the season!! Let's see now .. between now and New Year's Day we only have two nights off ... that shows you how much payback I'm going to have to do at the gym. However, that's next year ... eat, drink and be merry and all that eh.

There was a nice little raffle-draw after dinner and guess what, yours truly came away with a 3-day/2-night stay at the Executive Suite of the g Hotel courtesy of course of Marco Battistotti, the suave, soft-spoken GM, who was actually my host for the evening. Quite a few people won something or other, including Bruno Cristol, GM of Sands, pictured here with his Australian wife Angela and Marco showing off their prize.

The evening ended with everyone getting a present from under the tree (it was basically a swap - everyone WENT with one so got one in return).

All in all, a very pleasant evening. Thanks for inviting me, Marco.

MY FAVOURITE THINGS ...

or noodles as the case may be, because if there's one noodle dish I love, it's HOKKIEN MEE - and I'm not talking about the fried noodles with sauce (although I'm fond of it too, especially the way it's made in KL - dark and greasy ... mmmm ... here in Penang it's a bit too "weak" for me). But we really excel in this prawn-based soup noodle dish, so every opportunity I get I will try and indulge in it although of course people say it's not really a very healthy dish, laden as it is with lard and prawn otak.

However, cholesterol, salt and grease notwithstanding, it is still my favourite hawker food, as I love the hot soup too. One place in Penang that is very famous for it is the self-styled "SUPER HOKKIEN MEE" at the 1-Corner Cafe in Jalan Bawasah, where the demand is so high that as soon as you stand near the stall, without even looking at you, the response is, "To boi dan ah" (there's a long wait). And if you dare to ask, "How long?" like I did yesterday at about 10.20am, his response was, "Chab it diam lai bin" which means, "Till at least 11 something".

OK, as I had a bit of time, I thought I'd do it. I've heard about this place for so long that I was determined to try it. Quite full, but not packed out. And there are other stalls who were all busy too. So whilst I waited, I ordered a "Chee Cheong Fun" but it was disappointing: it looked attractive and seemed quite "saucy" but in fact was a bit bland and there wasn't actually enough to cover it when you mixed it all up. And as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am rather saucy.

However the wait wasn't as long as all that - as I had an appointment at 11 round the corner (to do my nails, if you MUST know) I rang them up to tell them I might be a bit late, anticipating a long wait. I was served my bowl at 10.40am. I may be wrong, but I got the feeling that they were deliberately helping to perpetuate the myth about the long queue for their "super" Hokkien Mee, because actually the place wasn't that crowded. Granted there were lots of orders for takeaways - people buying bags of the stuff - and also after my bowl came there were others who were turned away, disappointed, because they were running out. "Bo liao".

SO was it worth the wait? Well first impressions were good. Piping hot, lots of soup (they didn't stint on that) and it looked like the real McCoy, and anyway I was hungry. When you tuck into it, there's a LOT of mee, and actually quite a few pieces of pork and prawns. Almost full marks presentation-wise except there was probably TOO generous a portion of noodles in it. However the soup, although quite thick and tasty, was VERY salty. Why don't people realise that TASTY does not equate SALTY.

Overall, I'd say it was about average, on par with almost any other HKM stall in Penang. And the eu chang (onion fritters - compulsory!) was clearly not home made, which does make a significant difference to the end taste. At least for aficionados ... ah hem.

Overall, I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10 - definitely not full marks, and certainly nowhere near justifying the long wait (even just the 20 mins let alone, apparently, sometimes 1.5 HOURS!!!), price (RM3.50) and the, shall we say, slight attitude of the stallholder (although his wife - I think - at least smiled when she brought me my change).

Certainly it doesn't compare favourably to the Tnt Hokkien Mee shop in Lorong Selamat, which I wrote about for Star Sunday Metro a few months back. There it is brought to you fast and is available all day long. The place was started a year ago by Hokkien Mee Seller Tang Chooi Kee, 63, and run by daughter Katherine and son-in-law Terence (hence the name). Tang has been making and selling this perennial favourite for the past 40+ years.

Definitely worth paying a visit to, as it's in a clean and spacious restored heritage house. Condiments like chilli sauce, pork scratchings and even eu chang are a table to which you help yourself - so you can pile on as much as you want! They’ve also got Hokkien Mee with a difference: "Claypot Special”:with extras: rice, fresh large prawns, fish balls, hard-boiled egg, intestines and other ingredients. They are open from 8.30am to 5pm or when sold out.

Of course if all else fails my all-time favourite stall is Ah Choo who sells near the Tg Bungah Market. At least she's friendly, (except sometimes at weekends and during public holidays when demand is so fierce she can get a bit short but that's quite understandable - the different combinations people want: no this, want that, a bit of this a lot of that etc etc etc - she is remarkably good at remembering orders really). Hers is, as they say, simply the best.

OH POOR ME ... !!!

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! OOOOOOOHHHHH!!! URRRGGHHHHHH!!!!!

That, and others of similar ilk, were the sorts of sounds I've been making for the past few days, especially during the weekend, which was one of the most horrible I've had for a while.

It started on Thursday last week when I had to undergo root canal treatment for one of my molars. If there are any kids out there reading this, please PLEASE, I beg of you, take good care of your teeth, because the last thing you want to be treated for is this. It is an awful procedure and no matter how good the dentist is (and Dr Ng of Lam Wah Ee was definitely very good cos I didn't feel a thing) it is an undignified and unpleasant experience to go through. I sat on the chair at 2.15pm and got off at ten to four.

It was OK at first, and even after the anaesthetic wore off I was able to go out and meet some friends for dinner that evening. The problems started the next day - I woke up with the most splitting headache ever - reaction to the strong painkillers I'd been injected with. I was nauseous and sick yet couldn't eat a thing! It got a bit better as the day wore on, and I thought, "Nothing to it."

Then on Friday night I stood up to get off the sofa and something gave in my back. I could feel it go, and although I managed to hobble to the stairs, collapsed and there was nothing I could do about it. Luckily my hulking 18-year old No2 son was at hand (just outside in fact where he was entertaining a group of his friends) and helped me to bed, although this required a few stops on the way.

By the time I got there I was practically in tears, had broken out in a cold sweat and felt faint with pain and despair. It was really quite awful. The helplessness and frustration is difficult to imagine until you're in it ... It was a nerve thing, an old injury I'd had since I had my boys, but never before had it incapacitated me so completely.

Once I was flat on my back it was OK but helpless - I couldn't even sit up, let alone walk, and (although this may be too much information for some people) took nearly 15 mins to get to the loo - my husband had to literally drag me along to the bathroom with me lying on my back on a sheet.

The next day I hobbled to visit our Canadian chiropractor Steve Karner in e-gate near Tesco, who did relieve it to a certain extent, with some manipulation. But he did say it would have healed by itself if left for a few days. It's definitely on the mend now, and I can drive, and have been up and about but it still takes me a few minutes to straighten up when I stand up from a sitting position. Was even able to put up the Christmas tree on Sunday (blue and silver theme this year) but it was more as "Director of Operations" - the men did all the work whilst I sat and told them what to do! I should do THIS more often ...

However, overall, if this physical ill-health is a sign of things to come, shoot me first someone PLEASE!!!

Merry Christmas, everyone ... !!!

It's DEFINITELY the season to be jolly ...

... as more and more start to celebrate the countdown. One such is a group of unsung heroes, the people who work very hard behind the scenes, literally, but don't really take nor are given much credit for it. I'm talking about the chefs, the people to whom you can't say, "Don't sweat it!" because they really do. It's a tough life in the kitchens, and they, especially the sous chefs, act like the conductor of an orchestra, keeping everything running smoothly, orders going out hot and on time. It's like working in a desert except it's about 1/1000th the size and there's grease and stuff under your feet so if you're not careful you're quite liable to slip and have a vat of hot oil over you .. that's if you haven't been pierced by a sharp skewer or knife already.So the more I've come to work with these professionals of the culinary world, the more respect I have for them. But they probably come under fire the most as what we see is only the end result, and if the taste isn't what we expect or the presentation isn't as pretty as it should be, we complain! I know I do. But then it's my job ... !!

HOWEVER these people also find time to PARTY, and last night the Chefs Association of Malaysia, Penang Chapter, had their annual Christmas Bash at the Grand Ballroom of the g Hotel in Gurney Drive.

They really put a LOTTTTT of effort into it, and it showed. The camaraderie and organisational skills of these people leave many other associations behind - they really do it extremely well. It must be as a result of their training; after all, this must be child's play to running a hectic kitchen! Last night was no exception. The event started with a mock casino when every guest was given "CAM Dollars" to play at various tables which had been set up with croupiers behind (some pretty professional I might add - signs of a misspent youth?!!). From the shouts and cheers of excitement and triumph coming from some of the tables, it must have been a lot of fun!

This year's theme was "CUISINE ROYALE" (a take on James Bond's Casino Royale of course) and the chefs all dressed up in bow ties and the women "to kill". The ballroom was splendidly done up in black and red - looked fantastic. After that, when everyone was sat down, the dinner proper started with Chris Gan MCing (he's been doing this for them for years). Guest of Honour was CM but he couldn't make it so sent a representative. Not sure if the dancers were female members of CAM (there are very few) but they were very professional and looked gorgeous. In between the buffet dinner, various awards and trophies were handed out, all pretty well-deserved. The raffle was a triumph: there must have been dozens of prizes.

Mention must go to g Hotel who delivered the goodies: ie the food. With 400 people to cater for, all professionals in the industry, it must have been quite a daunting task. However, they did it. The food was hot, plentiful and quite tasty.

Hats off to the organising committee, who did a fantastic job, and to AUDEE CHEAH Chairman of CAM Pg, and Peter Chan who plans everything with such aplomb. Well done guys, and thank you for inviting me. Here's to 2010.

YUMMY YUMMY PARKROYAL

WITH CHRISTMAS JUST ROUND THE CORNER, restaurants everywhere are gearing up to prepare everyone for D-Day: or rather X Day in this case. One is an old favourite: the Parkroyal Penang, where they are going to show everyone how it's done.

They've got a host of set meals and buffets to keep everyone in the family happy but get this: most of it comes with FREE FLOW house wine, beer or soft drinks! AI YO! No consideration whatsoever for my poor liver .. and it's only the beginning of the season!! Of course, I can hear you say, some people should be MATURE and RESPONSIBLE for their OWN liver!

On Christmas Eve for example, the open-air Tamarind Brasserie Coffee House has a Buffet Dinner on offer for RM250++, and Tiffins, their fine-dining restaurant is offering a Set Dinner for RM308++ - there's turkey (surprise, surprise), beef or lamb, with some delicious-sounding sauces which have either been reduced or wined or something.

But on Christmas Day, there's a Buffet Lunch for RM68++ at the Tamarind Brasserie, and Carvery Buffet Dinner for RM138++, although on Boxing Day it's a Seafood Buffet.

If you're at a loose end of New Year's Eve, then there's another Buffet Dinner for RM300++ which will also include entertainment in the ballroom, or a romantic Set Dinner at Tiffins for RM408++. As though that's not enough to eat, on New Year's Day there are yet more buffets available. At the end of the festive season, your liver will be BEGGING you to stop or it will rebel! I know mine will be, for sure!!

Desserts, I'm sure, will include lots of festive mince pies - theirs is really quite delicious, fruity and rich and sweet ... goes beautifully with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or thick cream - christmas puddings and yule logs. Mmmm ...

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!!

YES, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT ALL YEAR, and it's finally here - December, the yuletide season of mulled wine and mince pies; Christmas trees and parties, food and drink ... and more food, and more drink ... my poor liver. And don't even talk about cholesterol levels!

AND OF COURSE it kicks off, as it has done for the past few years, with the E&O Hotel's annual Christmas Tree Lighting bash, and last night they really outdid themselves. The ceiling-high tree (and the foyer has a VERY high ceiling) was splendidly done up in white and blue, and there were not just a band but also a pianist (the highly-respected musician Philip Yeoh) to accompany the singers, female employees who were all dressed up in white and did very well with their renditions of the ageless carols to which all joined in. They also laid on some great acts including a very talented violinist who seemed to be only about 10 (step aside, Vanessa Mae) and singer Nancy Yeoh, mother of the aforementioned Philip.

The invitation said "6pm" but by the time we got there (at about 6.10) it was already quite packed - the awful freak storm which hit George Town then continued on throughout the whole island didn't seem to have affected attendance at all! Anyone who was anyone was there - and I think some 500 people had been invited!

The countdown was led by GM Michael Saxon, and everyone really got into the spirit of things - if not exactly spirits then wines, as they really did flow, although not literally, and there was plenty of finger food going round - even by the time we left and I had already imbibed quite a few (hiccup) it was still all coming round!

Great evening, E&O, and I look forward to the next one!