The All New Sigi's Bar and Grill By The Beach

My rating: 4 Stars

Cuisine: Western

Location: Golden Sand Hotel, Batu Ferringhi, Penang (tel: +604 8861852)

Halal

RM90 -120 per person

I never thought I see the reopening of Sigi's by the beach. It closed down many years ago for a makeover which today is the results of the makeover. Many memories there. I dated my wife there before we were married and many happy hours drinking beer al-fresco with buddies.
Now the new Sigi's is more chic, contemporary and has a Mediterranean feel to it. Most importantly it is now more enclosed for a more comfortable dining away from the mozzies. Recently officially open on 10th March but I had the opportunity to dine prior to the grand opening so a very quiet relaxing meal.

Sigi's spared no expense to make the dining experience worthwhile. Service is excellent, professional, warm and friendly. Nice gimmick by putting a battery powered table light to create the ambience of romance and exclusivity.

The menu range is extensive but finally we narrowed down to a few which we think is great food. We ordered a traditional Australian sirloin, lamb shank cooked till tender, pan-fried cod, seafood spaghetti and salt & pepper calamari.

We were not disappointed. The presentation is great. The food is well prepared and cooked to perfection. My favorite is the pan fried cod (RM65) with crushed new potatoes and topped with fennel and caper salad and sprinkled with crushed pistachios. Kudos to Chef Brock

Overall, our dining experience has been pleasant. Good ambience and offers both a relax dining and comfortable dining experience. However, price is a little high and don't forget to add service and government tax and it is not fine dining

Business Hours : 10am – 1am

Breakfast on weekends and public holidays from 8am to 11.30am

Lunch : 12 noon – 3pm

Pool Snacks Menu : 3pm – 6pm
Dinner : 6.30pm – 10.30pm

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Congee@New Lane

My Ratings: 4 Stars

Cuisine: Chinese/Street Hawker Fare

Location: Junction of New Lane & McAllister Road, Penang

Non-Halal

Price: RM4 - 5 per person

One evening, I decided to haunt a street famed for its street foods sold by the tens of hawkers who have been plying their trade since since I could remember. It has been years since I ate there. So there so some unfamiliarity of the food available their. Also that evening, my appetite wasn't at its best. So I was looking for something less filling and easy to go down.

I scouted the stalls from my plastic stool and I kinda like what I saw. I saw poh piah and a congee stall side by side. But I wasn't really sure what to have. So I ordered two. I was confident I could finish both.

But the setup of the congee stall really attracted my attention. All those pork inerts and meat hanging on the same push cart. Stomach lining, Char Siew (Marinated BBQ pork), intestines (deep fried till crisp and dark golden colour, more intestines (cooked) and some other parts or meat which I do not even know such existed.

At first look, the mass of meat and inerts hangings do not really stimulate ones appetite, especially I am trying very hard to eat more vegetables (be a vegetarian). But then the memories of soothing congee brings me back to a time and place I was really comfortable.....home and home cooked congee.

Congee on its own is so simple. Often taken when the weather is hot (and it is really hot nowadays) and when one is sick. The silky sooth consistency really helps the food goes down the throat. Add those deep fried inerts and char siew and a pinch of white pepper powder and freshly chopped shallots (spring onions) plus a dash of sesame oil is a must.......make the whole dining experience heavenly

But what had changed from the golden olden days is the price. I remember not paying more than RM0.80 for a bowl to now a minimum of RM4.00 to satisfy the desire for congee

A must try if you are not afraid of this bizarre food of port inerts and a fan of this Hong Kong styled congee.

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