Invited Review: Viva Dim Sum Delight

My Ratings: 4 Star

Cuisine: Chinese/Dim Sum

Location: Viva Local Food Haven

Lot 303, Jalan Tanjung Tokong 10470

(Beside Penang Chinese Swimming Club)

Non Halal

Tel: 604-8902549

RM15-20 per person

Newest Dim Sum outlet opening on the island (on 10th August). On the outside, it may look like another food court. Well it is but at the back, Viva has managed to set up a full working kitchen to dish out one of the best dim sum on the island

Judging from the dished we reviewed, the dim sum is superior to its competitors, the variety is wide selection, taste more refined and the ingredients is quality. Much more to standard you get in hotel restaurants. In fact the proprietor, Mr David C.M. Loh stressed that the concept of this restaurant is to present diners with quality dim sum made to established restaurants at affordable price that everyone can afford to enjoy

As a matter of fact, the chefs has many years in the restaurant environment in the greater city of Kuala Lumpur and they are proud of fact that they used top grade food ingredients to muster their creations. For example stuffed avocado and custard cream with crispy friend vermicelli noodle - sweet and exotic.

I recommend the dim sum place to anyone who enjoy quality and reasonable price and and a keen taste of true Hong Kong style dim sum. I definitely would like to go there often. Opening hours is 6:00am - 2:00pm daily but I believe they will extend their operating hour to include 6:00pm - 10:00pm for a fix of evening dim sum by the time of this review's publication.

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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