Waco’s Malaysia Food, Foto & Fun

After having a nice hiking this Monday (25-Aug-2008), I took a bath and quickly went out to cure my empty stomach. Thinking of it had been a long time since I tried Red Chopstick Restaurant at i-Avenue, Penang, I planned to try it again that night.

In my opinion, previously the food is just okay. This time, the restaurant decoration seems improved. Also, the restaurant seems “diversetify” itself to even more cuisines. I even saw pasta in the menu even though it looks like Chinese restaurant. Anyway, after flipping through the thick menu, I ordered rice wine chicken claypot set meal (RM9.90), otak-otak poh piah (RM6.00), and cendol with atap chee (RM4.90).

Red Chopstick Restaurant Trademark

Cendol with Atap Chee

砂煲米酒鸡 Claypot Rice Wine Chicken

Otak-Otak Poh Piah

The cendol came first. The ice, however, is not properly shaved as it became an ice ball and I have to use spoon to “dig” it… if versus with the one at Thai Station, I still prefer the later one. For the rich wine claypot, unfortunately it tastes like chicken cooked with sweet ginger soup. I am expecting it to have little wine+spicy taste but it is too sweet. For the otak-otak poh piah, even though the skin is well fried, the otak-otak, including the fish, was tasteless. Perhaps the chef should make it juicier.

As a whole, even though the menu items had been increased, Red Chopstick should focus on identifying their specialties, and improving them from the feedback of customers.

As mentioned in my previous post, I had my lunch at Gurney Driver during my birthday… alone. It is Mr. Pot at Gurney Drive. When I arrived there at 3PM, there are quite a number of customers there, with some of them bring a laptop surfing net and some of them meeting friends… talking business.

Sandwich Cordon Bleu

Mocha Banana Smoothie

After flipping through the menu I ordered one Sandwich Cordon Bleu (RM 12.50++) and one Mocha+Banana+Hazelnut+Vanila Smoothie (RM9.80++). The Cordon Bleu is just an average chicken Cordon Bleu stuffed with cheese and ham.

However, judging on the fact that this restaurant is 24 hours restaurant, it is expected the price to be slightly expensive. The menu comes with other local cuisine as well as variety of toasts good for breakfast. It should be a place for friends to hang out and chit chat.

Gurney Drive (Tunnel)

Gurney Drive (Skinny Birds)

Gurney Drive (Low Tide)

After leaving the restaurant, I took some photos on ugly beach of Gurney Drive. When I was small, my parents used to bring me here for food, especially chestnut. The food is sold along the Gurney Drive but now is no longer available.

Last Friday (22/08/2008), again, I was not sure where to venture for lunch. Thinking of buying a sandal * as my existing one already worn off, plus I can’t find an affordable one nearby, I decided to go to Prangin Mall and look for the item and at the mean time enjoy my lunch there. After walking around, I found a restaurant called Thai Station. Walked in there at 12PM sharp and I am the first customer… to “operate” >:)

Thai Station (View from Dining Table)

Cendol

Thai Fried Tang Hoon (Seafood)

Stuffed BBQ Squid

After flipping menu few times looking for specialties and trying to avoid spicy stuff (most of them are), I ordered one Thai Fried Tang Hoon (RM 11.90++) after confirming with the waitress that it is not spicy and is one of the new specialties (not yet appear in the thick menu, just a leaflet). It has two favorites - Seafood or Chicken, and I chosen Seafood. Thinking of having a snack, I ordered BBQ Squid served with Thai sauce (RM 9.90++). Also, I ordered a cendol - my favourite.

The cendol is very good even though the price is at slightly expensive side (RM 3.50). I can get a bigger one at roadside stall in Sungai Petani at RM1.20… but since this is a shopping mall’s restaurant, so It is ok. The Thai Fried Tang Hoon is very yummy. Prawns are big and there are overall 4 of them if not wrong. It is fragrant also since it was fried with mixture of vegetables.

The food tastes so good that I almost finished it before the last dish comes. Luckily I performed an emergency break and continue with my cendol. Finally, here comes the BBQ Squid. I was surprised that the squids (overall 4 of them if not wrong) are actually stuffed with meat (chicken/pork) and prawn chunk, which made my stomach full after finishing all of them.

After paying the bill, I finally got a sandal at RM39.90 in one of the shoe retail shops…. far cheaper than those branded sandals (e.g. Hush Puppy, Croc, Camel Active, etc). I can’t imagine one buying a sandal for RM1xx, while sandals can easily stolen in this city.

As a whole, you should try Thai Station if you love spicy food. I will definitely try it again in future.

* It appears that “sandal” and “slipper” can be used interchangably. Initially, “slipper” refers to light indoor footwear. Since nowaday those footwears can be worn both indoor and outdoor, “sandal” and “slipper” are actually refer to the same thing in some countries, whereas “flip-flop” refers to the sandal with Y-shape strap.

Yacht at Tanjung City Marina

Yacht at Tanjung City Marina

Yacht at Tanjung City Marina

Yacht at Tanjung City Marina

We had a few yachts parked around. Some are from local rich people whereas most of them are foreigners. Majority of them are retirees or those prefer to enjoy life. Malaysians are not enjoying life in general. Even after retirement, they even continue working or having headache in getting more money. At the time they realized that they need a vacation, usually it is too late (E.g. having health issue, children had their babies and need to take care, etc). Going back to marina, I am quite surprised that the parking fee is about Rm2.50 per day, which is somehow cheaper than bloodsucking parking fee at certain shopping complex in Penang.

Town View from Tanjung City Marina

Nice Dining Set at Hai Nam Town

Delicious Food at Hai Nam Town

Fruit Dessert

Finally, we had our nice late lunch at Hai Nam Town Restaurant at Tanjung City Marina. It was a very nice lunch with Captain Suyod and the food is delicious.

For more pictures, please visit here.

Tanjung City Marina (Front View)

Tanjung City Marina (Berth View)

Tanjung City Marina (Landmark)

Tanjung City Marina (QEII Pub)

On 2-August-2008, my school mates and I visited Tanjung City Marina next to Penang ferry terminal to interview the captain there. This is my first interview with VIP whereas all the while I was interviewed by employers. This is a course project given by lecturer to study international marketing strategy for a particular company. We arrived at 11am. The marina is the marina built nearest to the city in Malaysia. The captain (Capt Md Suyod) is a very nice guy and hereby I would like to thank him again.

Ferry Terminal Next to Tanjung City Marina

A Ferry Docking at Terminal

A Ferry Departing from Terminal

Tourist Cruise Jetty

Even though the view is very nice with ferry terminal around, it actually creates a problem to Tanjung City Marina as well, the wave created by ferry when arriving at terminal makes the berth rocking. Also, the pub nearly also can be noisy until 3am. These two issues make those sleeping inside their yacht unable to sleep well. I felt dizzy when taking photo on the berth. There is also a leisure cruise jetty on the left of the marina, in which tourists travel from/to Langkawi most of the time.

Rubbish at Tanjung City Marina (1)

Rubbish at Tanjung City Marina (2)

Rubbish at Tanjung City Marina (3)

Rubbish at Tanjung City Marina (4)

Another issue is the rubbish issue. Definitely a bad image for foreign visitors. There is nothing marina can do about it except educating people not to litter. There are contractors cleaning the water surface every week but rubbish will keep floating in if the source is not controlled.

More story to come tomorrow!

Ecco Cafe (1)

Ecco Cafe (2)

Ecco Cafe (3)

Ecco Cafe (4)

Two weeks ago (5-Aug-2008 to be exact), my friend and I visited Ecco Cafe. It is a small coffee shop located at Chulia Street. We drove one round before we were found the shop. The shop has an “old” look which make you feel like eating in a coffee shop back in 80’s. We were 2nd customer in that afternoon. We ordered Chicken Pot Pie, Lemon-infused Chicken, Banana Pizza with Cheese, Grape Lassi, and Banana Lassi.

Lassi (Grape and Banana)

Chicken Pot Pie

Lemon-Infused Chicken

Banana Pie with Cheese

It took quite some time for the food to arrive, and eventually we have to take away banana pizza due to time constraint. My friend said Chicken Pot Pie is nice. It is a chicken “pie” in a cup, with creamy soup. Lemon-Infused Chicken is a home-made chicken breast served with lemon slices, pasta, breads, olives, and vegetables. Both are under Chef Specialty menu and taste good.

There is something special about this restaurant. The food are all hand-made (perhaps that’s the reason why it takes longer to prepare). You can feel it on banana pizza, which is crispy and not thick at all. You also won’t feel heavy seasoning taste on the food. It is just…. original. I will definitely visit the restaurant again in future.

Those living in Malaysia and owning a car sure knew that RON97 fuel price had increased to RM2.70 last month. Even though yesterday PM announced that the price is dropped to RM2.55 (down 15 cents) starting today, it is still at expensive side. For food stores out there, it is common to see their price increase as well. I remember once Fillet O’Fish in McDonald is selling at RM4.00. Now, you can only enjoy it at RM4.00 in McSaver menu.]

Clam Chowder Soup

Salmon and Mushroom Pasta

Swensen Cool Temptation

It is not my first time visiting Swensen’s at Queensbay Mall, Penang. Last Thursday, I visited them again after about a year. The menu is changed and there are more choice nowaday. The management in Queensbay seems changed also. There is 20% discount if you present student card (from any school I believe) when ordering…. ala carte only. Fxxx! I noticed that the price is kind of expensive. Anyway, I ordered set lunch, which is RM20.90++ and by adding RM2.00, you can add a soft drink or ice lemon tea. The set lunch comes with clam chowder soup and one single scoop ice cream. I order salmon and mushroom pasta and it tastes just okay. I hope it comes with oyster instead of mushroom.

When I returned to my office, I found a brochure forwarded by my colleague more than one year ago. It is regarding Swensen’s Promotion, and the set lunch that time is only RM16.90 including softdrink. It even has 10% discount for Jusco Card members. The later is no longer available now. Defintely, you can’t get this price nowaday.

As a whole, Swensen’s should make its price competitive with other retail chain, such as Baskin Robbin and Haagen-Dazs. An advantage for Swensen’s is that it provide western food as well. If it is able to create more specialty on its western food, and create new marketing strategy on ice-cream business (such a opening an icre-cream counter outside of the restaurant or somewhere else), I see no reason why Swensen is unable to compete with Secret Recipe, Breeks, Baskin Robbin, Haagen-Dazs, etc.

Last Wednesday is my birthday. First of all, I applied annual leave for this special day as I don’t wanna torture my soul in fxxxing office and face with human-rejected manager.

The day begun with a jog at Air Itam Dam. It was a nice place to jog with cool air and beautiful scenary. As usual, I jogged for 2 rounds which is about 40 minutes. I will write another post on Air Itam Dam if got time. After jogging, I had my breakfast at a Dim Sum shop at Sungai Ara.

In the afternoon, I went out for lunch quite late (about 2pm) and after searching around, I finally took my lunch at Mr. Pot, Gurney Drive. The meal is just okay.

As you can see, it was a lonely birthday. In fact I am rushing with a school project. One of my friends did call me for a movie but unfortunately due to the project I am unable to make it. I even had a class at night that day. Hereby I would like to thank to one of the classmates, who gave me two slices of cake — the only present I received during the day. The cakes are in my stomach after reaching home.

Cakes

Cakes - Box View

Tips on Eating Fruits

I found an interesting article this Sunday. It is regarding eating fruits with empty stomach, which is recommended as our stomach is able to absorb nutrition more effectively in that way. If you eat bread before consuming fruit, the juice will mixed with the bread in stomach. When stomach finished processing bread, the juice already “mutated”. It is also okay to take orange with empty stomach even though it is acidic (as when it reaches our stomach, it becomes alkaline). Also, it is better to consume whole fruit instead of just its juice as the fruit contains fibers.

The article is in Chinese but feel free to read it.

While attending Management Graduate Dinner last week, there was a brochure r given and inside there is a page of “Award Recipients”. Surprisingly there is a award given by a Penang MNC and is called “Gold Award”. According to a press release by the respective MNC, the Gold Award was introduced in year 2007, aims to reward outstanding final-year engineering graduates from local universities who have excelled in both academic and extra curricular activities. If you read the snapshot you will find few wrongfully things did by the company:

1. The first one is the so called Gold Award should be given to engineering students, whereas this recipient holds a Bachelor of Management (Hons) degree!!

2. Secondly, being active in both academic and curriculum fields, and major in Human Resource Management, this guy only been offerred as Manufacturing Supervisor!! WTF? Come on! You deserve more than that! Either this guy received 5-digits salary as production supervisor, or he is simply a dumb axx fooled by the fxxxing MNC.