Chee Cheong Fun @ Seow Fong Lye, Macalister Lane

This is going to be a quick post before I go off for dinner. Dinner is chicken rice today!!! The only downside to it? I cooked too less chicken so each of us only has 3 pieces of tiny chicken so I fried 4 eggs to compensate:S Seems like buying one whole chicken isn't worth it after all because the chicken is so skinny. Next time I'm just gonna continue buying chicken parts. Hmph.

Taking us back to Penang! Yes, food post on Penang has not ended because we tried out so many food and I haven't been the most diligent lately in blogging LOL Maybe it's because my trip to Penang is just for relax and makan so food blogging is just a plus.

Chee Cheong Fun @ Seow Fong Lye

Macalister Lane

This is the Chee Cheong Fun push cart that you should be looking for

And this is the coffee shop that the push cart is at. 

Chee Cheong Fun is opened for breakfast as early as 8am if I've not mistaken and it goes on till about noon when she runs out of chee cheong fun to sell. So it would be great if you're able to drag yourself out of bed in the morning and head over for some yummy breakfast before it gets sold out!

I was craving for chee cheong fun even before my Penang trip so I googled for it in Penang since I was going there anyway. Just google "Penang Chee Cheong Fun" and lots of reviews pointed me to this particular one!

What's so special you ask?

THIS.

Very smooth and soft chee cheong fun topped with some sesame oil, sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with THICK prawn paste, sweet sauce and chili sauce!!!

My God! This is to die for! She was very generous with her prawn paste and the prawn paste was very very extremely thick and concentrated! No scrooge on prawn paste there! You should see her drizzle the thick sticky prawn paste on your plate, I bet your jaw will drop wide open!

It was just a very simple dish. No fancy fillings in the chee cheong fun like some shops offer (e.g. prawns) but culinary skills seriously lies in simplicity. 

Give it all a nice stir. Can smell the prawn paste smell, crazy good!!

Price?

• 2 strips of chee cheong fun, RM2
• 3 strips of chee cheong fun  RM3

I had the 2 strips at first and obviously it wasn't enough but we had to rush back for our bus to KL. So I packed 3 more strips back home!! The lady was very nice to separate the sauces for me. She somehow knew that I travelling back home LOL

I regretted only buying 3 strips back because it wasn't enough :(

Btw, I had the take- away chee cheong fun the next day and it was still very tasty and fresh. What sorcery is this? :O

Take- away Macalister Lane chee cheong fun

Breakfast with my sis who felt that 2 strips was enough for her because "noodles" fill her yummy up fast LOL

Nasi Kandar Beratur & Restoran KSB Cahaya (Abu), Penang

It's a wonderful Saturday morning despite me being woken up by the loud drilling noise next door. Neighbours must be doing some renovation. Wondering when can I get a place of my own?

Anyway, I was suppose to write about China House before I write this post if it were to be chronological but China House has (present tense, because my sis's friend who is in Penang now experienced the same thing) such bad service i.e. waiter/ waitresses were impatient, rude and syok sendiri, I somehow feel demotivated to write about their mediocre food.

So I decided to skip China House, God knows why people are so crazy about that shop, and write about this instead!

Restoran Nasi Kandar Beratur

Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

This is the famous Nasi Kandar Beratur at night, situated right next to the mosque

This stall opens only after 10pm. 

I repeat, ONLY after 10pm because before that there is also another Nasi Kandar owner selling at the the same venue. The first time I was there, about a year back I accidentally bought the wrong nasi kandar thinking why all the hype when Pelita back in KL tasted better. Good thing I got suspicious of the long queue and found out that the Nasi Kandar Beratur has yet opened! fml, LOL.

After China House (yucks!), at baout 9.40pm we headed to Nasi Kandar beratur. At that time there was already a line formed but the line wasn't monstrous yet so it was okay. I'm couting about 10 people before my turn?

Queuing for Nasi Kandar Beratur at 9.40pm

Waited and waited and waited. Finally at around 10pm, the before 10 Nasi Kandar stall shut down and made way for the Nasi Kandar Beratur. I felt a little bad for the before 10 nasi kandar because he must feel shitty about his business. Even before he shuts, probably about 9pm people where already queuing outside his shop but only for someother people's food not his:S

It took the Nasi Kandar Beratur guys so long to set their stall up. All their food has been cooked somewhere else and then pushed in a cart to the venue. Just that they had to wash the stall, yes as in use water and all. Then, they had to arrange their dishes properly. When they finally turned on the lights everyone perked up quickly!

HAHAHAHA thinking back, felt like we were so deperate for his rice.

Finally, lights up! And the Nasi Kandar Beratur business begins!

This was soon to be my turn. I look like a hungry monster with fat thighs here. I'm sure it's just the wrong angle:X

Stuffing my head in the corner to tell the guy what I wanted. 

Somehow I always feel very rushed when I order my food at Nasi Kandar beratur because subconsiously I know that the line, by now a monstrous line, is behind me and that I should not hog the line. I think most people feel the same way as I did and that is why they will ask their son/ daughter/ dad/ relative to go check out what dishes do they have before it reaches their turn.

Waited for nearly half an hour to 45 minutes for dinner!

Sorry, this is the only picture I've got. 

The thing is I didn't care about how the food looks when I unwrapped it back in the hotel because I was soooooo hungry! I ordered rice, fried chicken (thigh) and beef with kari campur kuah banyak gravy, RM10. CHEAP!

Chicken

One big piece of chicken thigh, nicely seasoned and deep fried. So crispy despite it bathing in kuah campur. I'm amazed! Must get Double fried chicken next time round.

Beef

Two large chunks of tender beef. Not need chew till dentures come off! It's so tender and flavourful as if they slow cooked their beef.

Naomi was initially having windy stomach due to our crazy eating time in Penang. It was hard to tell what was breakfast, lunch or dinner there because our mouths were just nomming non stop at odd hours throughout the day and her tummy must have been shocked to some extend LOL So she decided not to buy Nasi Kandar Beratur.

I warned her time after time that she would regret that decision! But she didn't head my advice. Once we were back in the hotel I gave her some fried chicken and she was sold! Out of the blue, her stomach wasn't windy anymore, lmao. Taking pity on her, I gave her half of my dinner.

Till now, she craves the Nasi Kandar Beratur so we're planning for a trip back when our finances allow :P

Me with the biker mural

So, since I shared my dinner I wasn't full. Decided to have supper. Actually supper in Penang is a must especially when you live right across a night hawker street. Regardless, I was very grateful to be recommended supper at this shop instead of the hawker.

Note: I had to haul the sleepy head out for supper because her post- Langkawi syndrome was starting to show LOL

Restoran KSB Cahaya (aka Abu Mamak)

Macalister Lane 


Abu. That's what Penang people call it I think.

Currently, they have moved to Macalister Lane from I'm- not- too- sure- where but I think this is their temporary place because they might want to move back to their old location. So as of November 2014 this is where they are.

I was told that this shop's food is a hit and miss kinda shop. Some people loves the food here but then some other people would have tummyache and diarrhea thanks to the food here. Nevertheless, they do have a large variety of Roti to choose from! Think Murni at SS2, similar concept.

Menu board

Ugh. I forgot what they call this. Something like Roti Bakar Kahwin and Power I think?

Roti Kahwin because it the butter kaya toast comes in a pair like married couple. Power refers to the half boiled eggs. Quite amusing names I must say, but fun to know! This set cost about RM5 if I have not mistaken. Our bills were counted in aggregate so I'm only guessing the bill breakdown. 

I totally forgot the name of this Roti but according to Naomi, this is Roti USA. Should be around RM5.

Roti USA is buttered toast topped with fried egg, sausage, cheese and another egg, drizzled with chili sauce. Actually, this is similar to having a big breakfast, just that they stacked each ingrediant on top of each onther rather than it being plated separately. 

I think this is Roti Hong Kong. About RM4- 5 maybe?

It's practically roti telur with sliced sausages inside topped with a dollop of mayo. Nothing special though. Even if they have a large variety of roti, most of the ingredients are repeated. 

This is Milo + Tea. I think they called it "TehLo". It's not on the menu but if you are their regulars you would know.

I enjoyed the kaya on the toast even if I was told that it was just cheap kaya. Cheap kaya also taste so good in Penang?!! Where can!!! Really. I enjoyed the kaya so much because it tasted so lemak-ish (coconut milk). The roti was nothing really special though and a bit pricey. 

I still enjoyed supper though! And no tummyache after:D

Hameed Pata Mee Sotong + Pisang Goreng + Ais Kacang Swatow Lane (New World Park)

Didn't realised that I havent been blogging for quite some time, since early December actually. Been busy shopping for Christmas! Since my Penang trip is now a stale post, I might quickly breeze through HAHA Okay, so one of the places that I would recommend people would be the Pata Mee Sotong!

Hameed Pata Mee Sotong

Padang Kota Lama Foodcourt

Pata Mee Sotong stall

This place is accessible by the free Penang shuttle bus. You would have to look out for #18 Bus Stop (Padang Kota Lama). Right behind the bus stop you will be able to see this cheap and quite dirty looking food court LOL Yes, that's where Pata Mee Sotong is at!

Don't worry, it may look dark and a little dirty from the outside but the stall itself is rather clean. Had the mee sotong there for countless times and haven't had an incident of diarrhea so it's tested and proven!

Pata Mee Sotong, RM5 (small)

This is what your delicious seafood- sweet noodles will look like! It's basically fried noodles with squid. I love the dish because the noodles is moist and the squids are sweet! Love the taste of mush, starchy taste from the potatoes that they include in the dish. YUMS!

Being a host to the tourist

Also, a must have for me when I'm having my Pata Mee Sotong is a coconut shake from the stall next to Hameed's Pata Mee Sotong! It's a good combination because the Mee Sotong can be spicy. If you prefer mild tasting noodles, it's best if you inform them when placing order. Anyway, spicy is good!

Jalil Special Ice Kacang

Padang Kota Lama Foodcourt

Coconut shake stall

Coconut shake, RM2.50 (I think)

Ice- cream toppings!

I don't remember ordering special so I'm assuming that the normal coconut shake comes with ice- cream as topping! Unlike the ones that you find in Melaka (Klebang or Batu Berendam) where additional charges apply if you want ice- cream on top.

After lunch, I was so fortunate to sample the yummy Pisang Goreng!! I've heard of this rather famous pisang goreng that is situated near the general hospital if I've not mistaken.

Pisang Goreng 

Nearby General Hospital

I don't think the stall has a name but here is a picture of the Pisang Goreng stall

A bag full of RM4 worth of bananas

Sweet bananas, sliced thinly, battered nicely for crunch!

I'm really in love with those bananas because they were so sweet!!! Unlike the bananas that we usually find in KL- the plain tasting and a little kelat tasting:S Back here in JB, we usually dip our bananas in sambal kicap because it's a great dip and it's also because our bananas aren't too sweet.

But the pisang goreng I sampled in Penang is so good that you could eat it on it's own! It would be a sin to mask the sweet crunchy bananas with any dips at all! 

So after lunch and after snacks, it was dessert time!!! 

Ais Kacang Swatow Lane

New World Park

Ais Kacang stall

Ais kacang without fruits, add on ice- cream RM4 (I think)

This suppose to be the must eat ais kacang in Penang. The stall used to be at Swatow Lane (hence the name) but the hawkers there have been moved to the current New World Park foodcourt. I was a little reluctant to write about this ais kacang because I thought that it tasted horrible. Way below average in taste :(

Anyway, I'm writing this so that people visiting Penang can just skipped this "must have". The ais kacang was sad looking when it came to us.

Usually, shaved ice will be nice and tall when it comes in a bowl, colourful with syrup drizzles and what what not! It should feel like you are about to eat a unicorn LOL

But this Swatow Lane ais kacang was almost flat when it came:S

Ais kacang with fruits, add on ice- cream RM4.50 (I think)

If you really have to have Swatow Lane Ais Kacang, please have the one without fruits because the one with fruits tasted even worse. Weird fruits that shouldn't be there like papaya tainted the ais kacang taste. Oh man!

Concluding my post: 3 out of 4 foods were super yummy! Quite expected since it's Penang.

Stay tuned for more Penang food post and many more procrastinated food blogs. Teehee.

Myeong Dong Topokki, Sunway Pyramid

It's Christmas real soon and I'm super duper excited!!! Been missing Christmas for two consecutive years but this year I'll be home for Christmas! Talking about Christmas, I have this urge to see snow like real cold snow. Not sure if I can manage the cold but if I had a Christmas wish, I'm hopping for snow:D

So I was thinking where is the closest country which is can go to which snows? Then I thought of Korea! Well, it's not thaaaat close but it's close enough! Plus, Korea is in my to-go list! Only if I'm not saving up for US:(

Anyway, when Reb was up in KL the other day we brought her to this new Korean food store to have her favourite Topokki!

Myeong Dong Topokki

Asian Avenue, Sunway Pyramid

Myeong Dong Topokki store

This korean shop has a subway theme! So it's like you're rushing to catch the next train but you're hungry so you drop by this small stalls at the subway to grab a snack! I'd love to go to Korea and then grab a real Korean snack from those small authentic stalls.

Value Set meals

Menu

They have not too much of variety on the menu but I think it's sufficient because it's supposed to be a gra and go snack shop anyway. They offer value set meals if you want something heavier. We just had lunch the other day so Reb ordered their signature dish Topokki to snack on as post- lunch.

See those bubble talk boards stuck on the glass window?

They are detachable for to take selfie! How do I know? That's because I saw the row of poloroid pictures hung there, people were posing with those bubble talk. Okayyy, so I assumed that we could pull it off for a picture. So what? LOL

Pull that off for Reb, but I stuck it back of course HAHA

I think this is some sort of fermented rice drink. Reb loves it like mad! I think about RM3

This Paldo drink taste very much like our barley drink so I'm okay with it. But I've tried real homemade authentic fermented rice drink and OMG it gave my brain a shock! I couldn't process what I was drinking because it tasted so foreign on my Malaysian tongue, lol.

Topokki, original RM4.50

Reb chose the original Topokki instead of the super spicy one and thank God she did! The original version already tasted SPICYYYY. Tongue was on fire when I had a few bites. Topokki isn't my favourite snack because to me the rice taste so uncooked and too chewy.

I love the fishcakes that they serve together with the topokki though! If one day I go to Korea, I'll eat up all the fishcakes from stalls by the side of the road! LOL Also, I love the fact that they have us half an egg! Never knew egg was included in this dish.

Spicy rice cakes!

Actually to think of it, it taste very much like the one that Reb cooked before. So I suppose it's good because if it taste similar to homecooked food then it's healthy? :P

Yes, I pulled out one more bubble talk. So? LOLOL

70's Ice Ball, Armenian Street Penang

The problem with not writing about your trip immediately after you return home is that there's this possibility of you getting all lazy and the enthusiasm to write and share about the interesting places or food diminishes greatly.

Been rather caught up with journal reading which means that the laptop screen is taking a toll on my eyes. Good news! My sis brought up the unused monitor from back home so I've a bigger screen now!

Last month, my sis and I decided to have a vacation in Penang! Penang has become a must go place for me at least once a year so if you haven't heard of the BEST drink to cool you down under the scorching heat of the island and the BEST fried oyster read this. 

Armenian Street, Georgetown

Penang

Sis with the famous kids on bicycle mural

I've been to Penang for the fourth time now and whenever I'm there I'm never interested in wall arts or in fact any artsy stuff because all my focus would be on food. Each and every moment on the island I'll be thinking about what food should I have next? 

But this time round, my sis wanted very much to check out the famous wall paintings and I obliged since there wasn't much to do after eating anyway.

If you are into artsy stuff head over to Armenian Street!

Here you can find lots of wall paintings and really pretty artsy shops like this

Love the patch work blankets, rattan chairs and cloth anyaman stools! I bet they aren't cheap so I didn't bother to check the price. I would love to have the patchwork blanket for Christmas though!! 

Talking about blankets, my sis always complains that my blanket is too thin to be acknowledge as a 'blanket'. My argument... Malaysian weather what! LOL

Outside the artsy shop they had this DIY road pointers. Thought they look nice as camwhore props :P

And they grow plants out of old shoes!!

And we walked and walked and walked till she took lots of pictures with all nice and the.... not too nice wall paintings/ artsy stuff.

Not so nice artsy stuff:X

For me, a person who is not interested in wall paintings, I am attracted to Armenian street because of...

70's Ice Ball, Armenian Street!!!

70's ice ball stall outside the shop

Last time during my mum and dad's days, this was their snack! I think they didn't had the money to indulge in cafe (which I think they would consider a luxury only affordable by Westerners) like what we are doing these days i.e. cakes, macaroons, tea etc. 

So they had ice balls!

I've always been a big fan of ais kacang aka ABC so I was tremendously excited when I saw this! I mean, I've seen people posting pictures of them and the ice ball in Penang but I totally forgot about it (hence, not in my food list) but was pleasantly surprised when I stumble upon this shop nonetheless! 

Seller filling up two bowls full with shaved ice. Then she topped one bowl on top of the other. Removed the top bowl, compact and rotated the ice shavings into a ball!

There were many flavours available on the menu and the best part is that we can have two flavours!! Also, if you like you can request for asam boi (extra charge I think).

I suggested syrup because it's old school. Syrup would be the exact flavour that they used to have on ice balls during my mum and dad's days!!! 

Of course, back in those days they also put milk and chocolate on the ice balls. Dad said he would always ask for more chocolate but the seller would be a scrooge because chocolate was expensive those days (Now also expensive what, lolol).

For the second flavour, sis chose Sarsi!

Sarsi on the ball

Plenty of syrup on the ball!!!

Tada! 70's ice ball!

The seller told us that we are suppose to just suck the syrup from the ice ball and not munch on the ice so that's what I was doing. 

Then came this group of older people who were also very excited about the ice ball. Probably the last time they had it was when they were 5 or 6. So you can guess their age lol Anyway, the uncle was chomping down on his ice like a machineeeee! Eating ice ball like a boss!

His wife was funny though. She asked if they should all sanitized their hands before buying the ice ball and the husband got irritated and said , No need la!! HAHAHHHA The ice ball is served on a plastic tray though :P

Us with the 70's ice ball!!

Ice ball cost RM3 each! 

For the fun of it, and in the heat of the moment, I bought the ice ball withought thinking twice. But now that I've tried it and took lots of picture with it, I don't think I'll be spending RM3 on ice balls in the near future. It's just ice. And syrup. And all the hype of something we can't find these days, of course. 

Whenever I go to historical places or like have olden days food, I wonder what was I in my past life (if it does exist at all, JUST a silly thought la :S). You know like the Chinese TV series Scarlet Heart, there were times when they were doing the same thing (like walking at the palace) in different times?

So it felt like Déjà vu while I ate the ice ball:X

Okay, enough of this nonsense I'm cooking honey chicken today! Till the next post, bye.