Penang

“The food is generally thought of (even by many proud food nerds in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) to be among the very best in the Straits — and I think you’ll see why. Penang is the kind of place that ruined me for an ordinary life.” — Anthony Bourdain

Ultimate Guide: Penang Street Food

Nicholas Ng
Street Food Penang | Ultimate Guide | Food For Thought

The Pearl of the Orient is definitely filled with many drops of exquisite precious culinary pearls, from the internationally known Asam Laksa, to the Char Kway Teow. The plethora of different street food, and its variations, is splattered all over the island. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of the best tasting quality food you will find in Malaysia, as is a melting pot of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and British influences. We now explore 26 dishes of Penang’s best street food, some common, and others generally not found outside the island of Penang. Continue reading →

Dining Room Winter 2015 by Macalister Mansion

Nicholas Ng
Dining Room Interior | Dining Room 12-15 | Food For Thought

The Dining Room by Macalister Mansion has never failed to impress with their creative menu and use of ingredients from all over the world. A latest fare from the Dining Room by the remarkable Executive Chef Eric Heijkoop is the Winter Degustation Menu, comprising of a unique and modern twist, drawing inspiration from classical Indian and Japanese cuisine. Continue reading →

Hotel Penaga

Nicholas Ng
Inner Court Yard | Hotel Penaga | Food For Thought

Situated on the corner of Hutton Lane and Clarke Street in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown, Penang is a quaint picturesque building that could only be plucked out of a colonial painting. Framed with the red hues from its Chinese influenced colonial history, these row of terraced shop-houses from the late 1940s are a carefully restored project that has been turned into the the heritage and boutique hotel known as Hotel Penaga. Continue reading →

Cheong Fatt Tze by The Blue Mansion

Nicholas Ng
Facade | Cheong Fatt Tze | Food For Thought

The historic building that is the Blue Mansion in Penang is famous for its fengshui architecture and Chinese heritage. As one of the earliest amalgamations of Western design and Eastern heritage, the beautifully restored hotel is one of the most renown in the world. Situated on the second floor of the Blue Mansion is the Cheong Fatt Tze restaurant, a fine dining restaurant serving contemporary Cantonese cuisine. Continue reading →

Macalister Mansion

Nicholas Ng
Driveway - Macalister Mansion - Food For Thought

As you take a drive down Macalister Road in Georgetown, Penang, you will come across a picturesque and stately home in white. At first sight, this manor comes across as a beautiful colonial home that could easily be mistaken for a heritage museum. However, upon a second sight you will realise that you have just peered at Macalister Mansion, a restored boutique hotel with some of the best fine dining you will find in Malaysia, the perfect amalgamation of history and modernity.
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Kebaya Dining Room by Seven Terraces

Nicholas Ng
7 Terraces Entrance - Kebaya House - Food For Thought

While strolling down Stewart Lane, you come across the façade of the beautifully restored Anglo-Chinese Seven Terrace boutique hotel, located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The dining area houses the Kebaya Dining Room, serving some of the best Indochinese and Peranakan fare you can find in Penang, from classics like the wing bean kerabu to the fusion joo hoo char roll, offering an experience which will leave you wanting more. Continue reading →

Dining Room by Macalister Mansion

Nicholas Ng
Facade Day - Macalister Mansion - Food For Thought

As you pull up to the driveway of Macalister Mansion on Macalister Road, you are drawn in by the colonial façade of one of the most gorgeous buildings you will find on the iconic island of Penang. The boutique hotel of Macalister Mansion houses one of the most unique finds you will come across on the island, its Dining Room, a kitchen run by award winning chef Eric Heijkoop. Arguably one of the best fine dining restaurants you will come across in Malaysia, where the attention to detail of the dishes is impeccable both in terms of flavour and visually. Continue reading →

Food Guide: Street Food in Penang

Nicholas Ng
Food Guide Penang Food Title Card

When it comes to best island experiences in the world, there are few that can compare to that of Penang, the pearl of the Orient. The island boasts a complex and rich history due to its pivotal position during the colonial era. This has resulted in Penang becoming a melting pot of multicultural identities from the Chinese, Malay, Indian and European influences. Not only is Penang an unbelievable food haven, its unique position in history has resulted in George Town being named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue reading →

Char Kuey Teow 炒粿條 : Food History of Char Kuey Teow

Nicholas Ng
Char Kuay Teow | Food History | Food For Thought

Malaysia is home to some of the best tasting foods in the world, so much so that Lonely Planet named it food destination of they year for 2015. Amongst the food that was said to be a must try is none other than the local delicacy with its very humble origins, the Char Kway Teow, chau gwai diu (炒粿條) in Cantonese, or bilingually as Fried Kuay Teow. This dish hails from the northern state of Penang, the pearl of the orient, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue reading →

Travel, Wonder and Wanderlust

Nicholas Ng
Mountain | Travel | Food For Thought

We always look forward to travelling yet, when we are clearly asked why we do so, we tend to give superficial answers. Superficial in the sense that we want to get away from our work stress or see the world. These are the most common answers when asked why we travel. But as Alain de Botton puts it in his book The Art of Travel, we don’t seem to ask ourselves the deeper reasons we travel. We say we do it for pleasure, yet know that it takes out of of quite a lot, from money to energy, but yet we do it. It really is a way for us to get away and think while we are away, when we are not in our comfort zones. It is this that gives us a better objective view of our life plans and situation. It is through this we can be better people. Continue reading →