HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO ...

YES, IT'S BACK TO THE SAME OLD GRIND because bro-in-law and wife left early yesterday morning back to UK ... via Hong Kong. I hope the weather is behaving itself for them, although the rains should have removed some of the smog which has apparently been quite bad there. Methinks that despite having been there before it will be rather a shock for them, especially after(relatively) quiet, sleepy ole Penang!

They've done a lot in the 2 1/2 weeks here: met many different people, seen lots of different places, and even picked up a few eastern habits - like playing mah jong! The last week we've been teaching them, and they've taken to it like ducks to water, pong'ing like nobody's business! As previously mentioned, we've also EATEN a lot together: hawker food, seafood (which they adore), Chinese food ... in fact all kinds of food. And fruit - they made a special trip back to where we took them the first day they arrived for more DURIAN!

Their last night here they kindly offered to take us out for a slap-up meal, somewhere with plenty of seafood which they adore, enough choice to satisfy everyone in the family: a bit of local, Chinese, Indian, western, aforementioned seafood and of course, it goes without saying, DESSERT which is after all why one bothers to eat a meal in the first place! It also had to be somewhere special and have a bit of the WOW factor when you enter.

We chose to go to the Spice Market Cafe at the Rasa Sayang - it really has everything mentioned above, and they were, I think, quite impressed both with the quality and quantity on offer (there's sis-in-law admiring some of what was available there) If the amount of food they (and everyone else of course) tucked into was anything to go by! It was definitely surrender time after the delish scoop of coffee ice cream.

So A BIENTOT to you two; have a great time in HK, and come back and see us again soon.

FEELING SPICY?

THE SHANGRI-LA'S RASA SAYANG RESORT AND SPA invited a group of journalists and food writers/bloggers to try out their Spice Market Cafe's evening buffet last week, as they've just introduced a revamped offer; instead of the BOGOF offer (Buy One Get One Free) it's now buy TWO and get one free. Still a pretty good offer I think.

Unfortunately I couldn't make the press evening, but they did host me to one a couple of nights ago, and I was really delighted to see that they are now one of the most popular buffets in town - and I'm not just saying this because they invited me. Believe me, I've been known to give them my frank unadulterated opinion about the taste and quality (never quantity, which is always amazing) of the food there, and it's not always been positive, especially when they first started three years ago. However, they are well aware of one thing: my carping has always been with their interests at heart. For that price, BOGOF or not, they MUST give the best. And they ARE really now one of the best in town. Not many other places give you such good quality food.

And giving credit where it's due, they have taken my comments to heart, and I'm delighted to report that the other night was just as good. Their fresh seafood is second to none - stacks of prawns and slipper lobster, literally - and there is a good choice of sashimi, Indian, local, and western, not to mention their "Theatre Kitchen", where you can select whatever is on offer for your delectation and have it wok'ed or fried up in front of you, all washed down with freshly-squeezed juice (although this costs extra).

Their satay is not bad, and the northern Indian curries are quite authentic. Of course their desserts are outstanding, and it's even got a die-hard pudding fan like me beat, there's just so much of it! I'm delighted to be able to be so whole-hearted in my praise for them, and I think they have become one of those places Penangites head for when they want a really special buffet.

The Spice Market Cafe's Buy 2 get one free is available until 17 December at RM104++ per adult (RM52++ per child), 6.30-10.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, so take advantage of this while you can - we are! This is in conjunction with the Feringgi Grill and their poolside Pinang Bar where if you order two mains you'll get a third on the house.