1st Year Birthday Bash with Mad Sally

Head down to Weissbrau, Straits Quay, Penang next weekend on the 25th & 26th November 2011 for the Bistro and Bar's 1st year anniversary bash....and what a bash it will be. Along with the who's who, you will be partying the night away with one of Malaysia's premier resident band from KL......Mad Sally, specially brought in to make what will be a great anniversary party.......truly awesome!

If you are not familiar with the KL party scene, Mad Sally has made an impressive debut recently as one of the top local Malaysian band to perform in some of the top Bistros & Bars in the capital city including Weissbrau in KL Pavilion. As a matter of fact, Mad Sally is as local as anyone could have guessed. they (the group members) as a bunch of "Mat Sallehs" who have made Malaysia their scene. They are Charlie Matrix (lead vocalist), Sam Flynn (Bass), Dick Bradley (Keyboard), Dangerous Darman (Guitar) and Malek Village (Drums). When you hear them sing, I am sure you will be pokered faced and leaving you wanting to get the party started.

Mad Sally is in the midst of recording their debut album of their own original materials but until then, you can sample their hi-energy cover renditions of great tunes by great bands and pop singers from the 1960s till present hits at Weissbrau, Straits Quay, Penang next weekend. You won't be disappointed.

To celebrate the 1st anniversary, Weissbrau will be serving free snack buffet and offering beer promotion of 1-litre of Calsberg and imported draught beer at only RM45++ and RM60++ respectively. Weissbrau customers are even allowed to keep the limited edition 1-litre beer glass (while stock last). And best of all, Weissbrau will be offering prizes for lucky customers but you have go there to find out what the lucky prizes will be.

So make a date to be at Weissbrau, Straits Quay on the 25th & 26th November 2011. Make it a dinner date, get the best seat in the house (err...Bistro or Bar) and continue to party away the night young with Mad Sally and make it your very own Novemberfest!

Zi Zai Restaurant

My Ratings: 4 Stars
Cuisine: Chinese

Location: 1239-G, Ground Floor, Jalan Paya Terubong, Penang
RM15-40 per pax
Non Halal
Contact: +604 8265173 (Chef Tan Hock Chai)
Open Daily except Tues 4:00pm - 10:30pm
GPS N05.387212 E100.274013

In ancient times, Poon Choi is a dish for the common men in China. Throwing in whatever scraps of meat and vegetables into a bigpot and cooking it to make a common meal. However, in today's times, Poon Choi is no longer a haphazard concoction to meat and vegetables but a well balanced and well thought out top choice ingredients to make the most delicious and perhaps a nutritious feast of a dish. And you don't have wait till the festive season to have the dish

Zi Zai Restaurant serves one of the best Poon Choi in Penang with its choice of top quality and scrumptious seafood, pork cuts, vegetables, duck and chicken and the crown jewel, top grade New Zealand abalone. Zi Zai's Poon Choi is made up of 13 ingredients; Chinese cabbage, Chinese mushrooms, Broccoli, Braised pork belly in fermented bean curd, Yam, Yam bean, Sea cucumbers, Fish Maws, Roasted duck, Chicken, Deep friend snapper fillets, Home-made deep fried Hock Chew fish balls (with mince meat fillings), Sweet flesh prawns and abalone. The best way to eat Poon Chooi is the eat the food from top to bottom layer by layer. Each layer has its own distinctive taste and aroma and must each layer before moving to the next layer. This is because the chef has planned out how each of the ingredients can be enjoyed, from the light to the strong taste

Zi Zai's Poon Choi needs a day before pre-order via phone call. This is because the Abalone and Pork belly needs a day's preparation to give the dish a distinctive taste that's a cut above. Combined the above ingredients and you will get a Poon Choi that is not only visually appetising but also full of flavours. Zi Zai'sPoon Choi comes in two sizes, RM258 nett for a serving for 5-6 people and a bigger sized serving for 10-11 persons at RM400 nett. A value for money considering the choice and quality of ingredients. Chef Tan only wants his diners to enjoy best food without the high price.

I also had the opportunity to taste Za Zai other dishes. I found that the bean spout salted fish is simply delicious. The sprouts are plum and cooked just right and Chef Tan has even gone to extend to remove the sprout root and husks which only shows Chef Tan's commitment to better food. I also enjoyed the lala shells cooked in sambal. Irresistible! The belacan chicken is also one of my favourite
Starting December 2011, Zi Zai is offering Express Meals at only RM4.50 (rice and your choice of seafood and meat and a portion of vegetables). The Express Meals are available daily from 10:00am - 7:00pm except Tuesdays (closed)

Overall, I found the restaurant is casual (no frills), has ample parking and the food is tasty and its price affordable but I am impressed by Chef Tan's dedication to serve his customers only the best.

Taipei 101

My Ratings: 3 Stars
Cuisine: Taiwanese and Japanese

Location: 35G Pesiaran Bayan Indah, 11600 Bayan Lepas, Penang (opp. HSBC/Queensbay Mall)
Non Halal
RM10-19 per person
Contact: +604 4641339

Taipei 101 Penang has been around for more than a year but now it is back in 2011 with a new menu that will suit everyone's taste of Taiwanese food and snacks found in famous Taiwan night markets. For those who crave for Japanese cuisine, Taipei 101 also has a variety of bento items and gyozas for the whole family.

We tasted 11 food items and 2 drinks from the menu and pictured below. They were:-

Pop-corn Chicken (RM5.00)
Roasted Lemon Chicken with Noddle (RM9.90)
Roasted Lemon Chicken with Mee Suah (RM9.90)
Braised Pork Trotter cooked in claypot (RM12.90 per set)
Spicy Pork Ribs cooked in claypot (RM11:50 per set)
Ginger Duck Claypot Rice (RM11.50)
Honey Sauced topped Fried Cod Bento (RM17.50)
Fried Mushroom (RM4.50)
Fried Dumpling (RM5.00)
Sweet Potato with Plum Powder (RM4.80)
Seaweed Potato Chips (RM5.00)
Winter Melon Lemon Tea (RM3.90)
Ice Blended Green Bean (RM4'90)

Overall, the food has strong, full bodied flavours and my pick of the day would be Spicy Pork Ribs, Ginger Duck, Braised Pork Trotter and the Honey Sauced Fried Cod Bento. Taiwan's favourite snack dish would be the sweet potatoes in plum powder. I find the Ice Blended Green Bean most refreshing on a hot day and of course healthy too! The prices are reasonable and value for money, especially for the set meals. The portions are sufficient to satisfy any hungry man or woman too. For example, the spicy pork ribs claypot set meal is served complete with spicy tofu, omelette and rice for only RM11.50 plus 5% discount if you hold a Taipei 101 member card. This definitely make Taipei 101 a good alternative food haunt to the surrounding restaurants and food court foods of the nearby mall that will not bust your wallet.

Menu choice is extensive which allows diners to try new dishes with every visit or to take away or have your meals delivered to your doorsteps. Yes, Taipei 101 has free delivery service (until 7:00pm) which covers from e-Gate to Bayan Lepas, Sungai Dua, Bukit Jambul to Inti College for orders > RM25. Move over McD, Pizza Hut, Dominos delivery, here comes Taipei 101 delivery service.

There are ample parking in the area or you can park inside the nearby mall multi-storey parking and just walk across. Opens Mon - Thurs: 11:00am - 3:00pm and then 5:30pm - 10:00pm. But on weekends starting on Friday, the operating hours are from 11:00am - 10:0pm. Cash term only.