Lively Vietnamese Buffet @ Nada Lama, Equatorial Hotel Penang

I was fortunate enough to be invited to review Nada Lama's Lively Vietnamese Buffet today at Equatorial Hotel Penang. This buffet is available for a very limited time from 18-24 August 2015.

Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its lively, fresh flavors and also its very creatively crafted cuisines that not only look appetizing but is also very healthy. They feature many fresh ingredients in their cuisine and also make use of striking colors to make the food appetizing.

At the Lively Vietnamese Buffet, Nada Lama have invited Chef Tran Kim Hoang Trong and his team to showcase some of their best culinary creations which features from the authentic to the modern take of it. Over the course of the week, they will be rotating the menu to feature a wide variety of dishes, so visiting on a different day would bring something different to the menu.

The buffet is priced at RM148 Nett per adult and RM74 Nett per child. Dinner starts from 6.30pm-10.00pm for the duration of this promotion.

Do continue to check out my simple review of this buffet! Comments are always welcomed.

Located on the lower ground floor of Equatorial Hotel, what used to be the Coffee Garden is now called Nada Lama!

 Featuring a new look and modern design providing diners with a very comfortable and relaxing dining experience

Tasting of Eastin Hotel Penang - Wonderful Indonesia Lunch Theme Buffet

After the tummy filling month of Ramdhan, its now moving to August and Eastin Hotel Penang is starting their theme of Wonderful Indonesia. As we are neighbouring countries, there is alot of similarities to our local Malay food and many of our local favorites are actually Indonesian of origin!

The Wonderful Indonesia Lunch Buffet is available on weekdays for the whole month of August and starts from 12 noon till 2.30pm. The buffet is priced at RM66 nett per adult and RM33 nett per child. As a bonus, senior citizens get a 50% discount!

Do check out my photos and thoughts on some of the dishes highlighted. Hope you enjoy the buffet

We start of with the Nasi Goreng Ikan which has nice texture to the fried rice. The addition of fish in the fried rice is a nice change but I would have gave it more stars if it was salted fish instead :) But then that might not be Indonesian. During the buffet white rice is also available.

 The Beef Rendang Jawa gives of an aromatic aroma before one bites into those chunky pieces of meat. The rendang is slow cooked and the meat was very tender. Definitely should go for 2nd helping for beef lovers. (I did not try this as I do not take beef but my buddy gave the 2 thumbs up when trying this)

Sheraton Hotel Dongguan, Guangzhou, China

Sheraton Hotel in Dongguan is a very popular hotel which is frequented or should I say preferred by the westerners or better known as Ang Moh. Located at the major road in Town, this is a full 5 Star hotel which definitely meets the typical standard of a Sheraton property.

Being an SPG member, its always a pleasure when you get to stay in the SPG floor or get an upgrade (though Im not always that lucky). I guess I do have to thank my previous employer for being able to provide a safe and comfortable accommodation each time we have to travel. So far so good with my experience here.

So on with the rooms. As can be seen in the photos below, its pretty much how its portrayed in the brochures. Its clean and comfortable and there is no dank smell in the room. One of the things I notice with an international chain hotel is that if you ask for a non smoking room, you will get a non smoking room whereas local China hotels really depend on your luck.

Chiak Penang @ Eastin Hotel Penang

Hehe, I guess some of the readers here would know that after a hiatus of 9 months, Im now back in Penang. Taiwan was a enjoyable experience and I guess there is still alot of writing about that place for me to complete. Still have not share alot of yummilicious places but hope I will soon.

But in terms of flavor and variety, I have to say it still can't beat Malaysia. No doubt there is alot of great and high end food, but if you are looking for a rendang or nasi lemak, good luck there in Taiwan.

So this May and June 2015, Eastin is bringing you a Chiak Penang fiesta as their theme where they will have a bunch of yummy local dishes to savour your taste buds. From local appetizers such as various kerabu and gado-gado to fruit rojak, main courses from western, asian and local flavors to various desserts, this buffet lunch will appeal to many with its great value for money pricing.

Available every weekday from noon to 2.30pm, and priced at RM66 nett per adult and RM33 nett per child, this buffet is really worth it. There is also a senior citizen discount of 50% so if you are retired but like to enjoy a buffet, this is bang for the buck. There is also an ongoing promotion for Citibank credit card holders where there is a buy 1 free 1 campaign. Also if you own a Maybank or Citibank credit card you are also entitled to a 15% discount for their buffet dinner. So head on over to try this buffet. You can check out the photos for some of the highlights. 

With a colorful theme, its only fitting that the food is served on colorful platters :)

Ramadan Buffet and Peranakan Cuisine at Eastin Hotel Penang

For the month of Ramadan which is from 29 June - 27 July  2014, Eastin Hotel's Swez Brasserie is having their highly anticipated Ramadan Buffet Dinner and it is an event or should I say feast which many will not want to miss!

As usual, Chef Bakri and Chef Fauzi will be bringing lots of traditional flavors to the table and some with a modern twist. One of the items which will be making headlines will be their whole roasted lamb (whole lamb will be available once there is over 50 pax for the buffet else it will be a roasted leg of lamb). The succulent lamb which is roasted daily will be irresistible.

Now, the buffet is starts daily from 6.30pm till 10.00pm and priced at a very affordable RM88++ (adult) and RM44++ (child). Those using Bank Islam credit/debit card are entitled to a 15% discount while Citibank and Maybank card users can enjoy a Pay for 5 and the 6th dine for free!

As for lunch, they will be having a Peranakan Cuisine theme and thus one can savor different flavors for both lunch and dinner! How awesome is that right? The lunch buffet is priced at RM50++ (adult) and RM25++ (child).

So do check out some of the highlights below.

The chef proudly presenting their creations!

Ramadan Buffet at Sarkies of E&O Hotel

Well, its that beautiful time again of the year where our Muslim friends will be celebrating the month of Ramadan and what better way to enjoy the breaking of fast at E&O Hotel for the exquisite buffet at the renowned Sarkies!
From 28 June 2014 till Hari Raya, one will be able to enjoy their buffet spread which encompass some local delicacies specially prepared to celebrate the occasion.
Among the highlights would be their wide selection of Ulam Ulaman, Pasembur, Bergedil and Acar Rampai which you can serve with a selection of mouth watering dressings which includes sambal belacan, budu, tempoyak, cincalok, salted egg and fish, pickled fruits and an assortment of crackers! Then for soup lovers, there is Sup Ekor which is ox tail soup and this is one soup not to be missed.
For mains, one can sample their tomato rice, Daging Masak Kicap, Kari Kambing with potatoes (This is an item not to be missed), Ayam Goreng Berempah (its better than the fried fast food chicken), Telur Dadar, Ikan Panggang (we can't missed grilled fish can we) and many more! They even serve a mean Bubur Lambuk (porridge).
And finally to satisfy the sweet tooth, there will be an assortment of Malay Kuih, Bubur Kacang, Buah Kurma (dates), a variety of fried items such as Pisang Goreng and a wide choice of local fruits!
The buffet is priced as below

Jamuan Buka Puasa
28 June – 27 July 2014 (7pm – 10.30pm)
Sundays – Tuesdays RM96++ (adult) RM48++ (child)
Wednesdays – Saturdays RM110++ (adult) RM65++ (child)

‘Salam Aidilfitri’ Hi-Tea
Monday & Tuesday 28 & 29 July 2014 12 noon – 2.30pm RM78++ (adult) RM39++ (child)

‘Salam Aidilfitri’ Buffet Dinner
Monday & Tuesday 28 & 29 July 2014 7pm – 10.30pm RM110++ (adult) RM65++ (child)

Some of the yummies on my plate :)

Tantalising Daily Themed Dinner Buffet at G Cafe ~ G Hotel Penang

Starting this April, G Cafe which is located on the Ground Floor of G Hotel, are having daily themed Dinner Buffets and diners can look forward to some amazing deals as well a yummilicious delights. For each night of the week (Monday to Saturdays), the G Cafe transforms its ambiance to that of the theme for the night and diners will not just get to enjoy their great food but feel it as well.

As one walks into the G Cafe, on this occasion when I visited, it was a Friday (Seafood Feast BBQ), I was immediately taken aback by the very colorful display of food and the decorations as it was just stunning! The careful selection of colors and many well placed fish nets and seashells add further to highlight the theme for the evening.

The dinner buffet starts from 6.30pm till 10.00pm and its priced at RM108++ per person. Children 12 years and below eat for free while senior citizens get a 50% discount! This themed buffet will commence from April till June 2014. One can call G Cafe at 604-2380000 or email food.beverage@ghotel.com.my for reservations.

Below is what one can expect daily :

Monday : Mongolian Barbeque (Added Bonus, Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promo)

Tuesday : French Bistro

Wednesday : Oriental Delights

Thursday : Flavour's from the Mediterranean

Friday : Seafood Feast BBQ

Saturday : Steak & Lobster BBQ

For this blog entry, I will focus on the Friday menu, and hopefully I will get to share more about the other promotions soon as well. From what I heard, each buffet is a feast waiting to be indulge in. So try it out after reading this. 

As one enters G Cafe, a classy display greets you

Pirate Seafood Night @ Eastin Hotel Penang 2014

I can't imagine a better way to start 2014 than to splurge on a buffet dinner! And what a way for Eastin Penang to kick it off by bringing their Pirate Seafood Night on every Saturday for the year (subject to changes). Now I have been to many buffets touting to have great seafood and all but either the food is lacking or it comes at a high price.

I'm glad to say that this promotion at Eastion Hotel Penang is probably one I would say is the best seafood buffet deal I have had thus far in Penang. No kidding! Now, barring that the serve something spectacularly special on this launch night, but if they keep it up, I'm sure they will win many fans over with their very good spread of seafood choices as well as a very decent price.

Now below is the pricing for this buffet :

Every Saturday 6.30pm-10.00pm

Price : RM80++ - Adults, RM48++ - Child

Does that deal look enticing? Well, if I were a diner, thinking to splurge RM80++ on a meal I would surely think twice, unless of course I know what to expect. I guess thats why I blog about these things, so patrons to these outlets can have a rough knowledge what sort of deal they will get.

So here goes!

This is the cold seafood spread on ice. This is probably the focus area where you should target first as some of the items here are limited

Are you able to spot some of the goodies?

Herbs & Spices Flavors @ Eastin Hotel Penang for November 2013

For the month of November, Eastin Hotel Penang is having its Herbs & Spices theme for their buffet spread and they strive to bring dishes that has been infused with lots of these herbs and spices. These are flavor additive that has been used for centuries and since its also Deepavali month, there are of course some influence of Indian flavors as well.

This time round, we have Chef Buvanes and Khalil leading the menu and they try to bring a new twist to some tried and tested recipes. So do read on to see what I think of the menu for November. 

Its also good to note that the pricing is still the same as stated below. Best part is Maybank, Standard Chartered, OCBC, CIMB and Citibank credit card members are entitled to a 15% discount as well for the dinner menu! So check it out.

Lunch: Monday-Friday (12-2.30pm)

RM48++ Adult, RM24++ Child

Hi Tea: Saturday-Sunday (12-3.00pm)

RM55++ Adult, RM28++ Child

Semi Buffet Dinner: Sunday-Thursday (6.30pm-10.00pm)

From RM48++

So to start of, we have some Appetizers and Soup

First we have the Achari Paneer which is a homemade cheese which I initially thought was tofu. It has a very soft texture and really almost like tofu but just that the flavor has a more milky taste to it. The use of the spices to cook it makes this an interesting item on the menu. One thing I learnt was that compared to tofu, this cheese does not break down when cooked in a wok and thus it still retains its chunky form.

Next there is the Deep Fried Pakoras which to be is one of the best items of the day! The Pakoras were so crunchy and flavorful that you just had to have more of it. Topping it with fried curry leaves helps to give it the added oomph to the taste but again, try to control the intake of fried items :)

Breakfast at Sarkies, Family Weekend Getaway at E&O Hotel Penang

Most people would go to Sarkies for their ever popular lunch and dinner buffets but how many actually go there for breakfast? Well, on the weekend while we were staying there, having our breakfast at Sarkies was probably the most reasonable thing to do (well we could also have breakfast at Planter's Lounge but we had dinner there the night before).

Well, we were at Sarkies about 8am and surprisingly, there were many people already enjoying their breakfast. Well, the spread as always was pretty luxurious and definitely maintains the Sarkies tradition. There were many items that would whet ones appetite, and even their Char Kuey Teow counter was already opened! Some of the more surprising twist was that there was alot of local influence in this breakfast and there was Nasi Lemak and even Roti Canai. I'm sure this is great especially for the tourist visiting Malaysia as they will get to sample some of our local breakfast too. Check out the pictures!

Muffins of assorted variety

 Lots of fresh breads and pastries

Mooncake & International Cuisine Promotion ~ Eastin Hotel Penang September 2013

Its coming into the 8th Month in the Chinese Calendar and as most will know, this is the time where the Mooncake or Mid Autumn Festival is celebrated! This year, it will be on 19th September 2013 and Eastin Hotel Penang in conjunction with their KL peers, have decided to bring in their signature mooncakes for Penangites to savour. To keep things simple, they have prepared only 6 flavors and frankly to me, this is more than enough. Main point is keep it simple and keep the quality high.

The flavors are Red Bean, Jasmine Cheesy Citrus, Low Sugar White Lotus, Precious Black Wolfberry Lotus Paste, Pure Lotus Double Yolk and Supreme Mixed Nuts which range in price from RM17 to RM20 each. The mooncakes are already available and one can call to make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment (+604-6121128 Swez Brasserie)

At the same time from September onwards, Swez Brasserie will be having an International Cuisine theme for their buffet and this features a more global tastes with dishes inspired from Germany, Japan, Mexico and even Thailand. There are a variety of great Appetizers, Main courses and Desserts to choose from and I'm sure diners will find something to their liking. Do check them out!

 6 Flavors of Mooncake!

The mooncakes have a thin crust layer and lots of  filling! The fact that its not very sweet makes it even more delectable! This is the Red Bean and Double Yolk version.

Flavors of Malaysia at Eastin Hotel Penang ~ August 2013 Promotion

Right after Hari Raya and their Ramadan themed buffet, Eastin Hotel Penang is surely not resting as they have now prepared the Flavors of Malaysia theme for their August promotion at the Swez Brasserie! This series of buffet strives to highlight some of the culinary delights that is somehow so deeply rooted in us that is almost like comfort food for the soul. The buffet encompasses some good variety of favors and it covers the food from appetizers, main courses and even Malaysian styled desserts.

Thus, one will find Penang Famous Pasembur, Kerabu Mee Hoon and even Sup Ekor for appetizers, followed by Ayam Percik, Kambing Masala, Rendang Tok Kelantan, Nasi Hujan Panas and Johor Laksa for mains, and finally there is the delectable Bubur Cha Cha and Ais Kacang for desserts!

Do catch this great chance to sample some of Malaysia's culinary delights all at one place for the month of August. Its also priced reasonably from RM48++ for adults and half price for children. 

Hmm, some spoon samples?

Checking out the desserts first

Eastin Hotel Penang, Buka Puasa Dinner ~ Sharing is Caring

Its now the month of Ramadan and I guess for everyone, its a time to reflect and also of course for those foodies, its like a month long of food paradise with all those Ramadan Bazaars hawking some of those delectable once in a year food items.

On the 12 of July 2013, I was thankful and very happy to be invited to join Eastin Hotel Penang for their Buka Puasa Dinner Celebrations. Now, there is your typical dinners but what sets this dinner apart is that the staff of Eastin Hotel Penang took their time, and put in alot of effort to share it with the less fortunate! I enjoy food reviews, but I just love it when it has added meaning to it. This year, Eastin Hotel Penang is celebrating it with the orphanage childrens from Rumah Jagaan Nasyiatul Aisyah all the way from Balik Pulau. Its one thing to invite someone, but when the team at Eastin planned, arranged and even sacrificed their time for this, my hats of to them! I really had a good time, and I sure these less fortunate felt all the love on this very night!

Frankly, I so happy to be writing about this that in some ways, I felt that the food was secondary for the night. When someone is happy and feeling joyous, the sharing environment you are in, everything just taste nicer doesn't it. I'm sure it was like sugar coating for those children, and I can feel their excitement in the air! Ah bliss! I do hope to see Eastin Hotel Penang continuing this very honourable tradition and just before I forget, the staff actually also made a very handsome donation in kind as well as presented goodie bags to the kids! Well done I say again (not sure how many times I repeated this!). This is exactly why I have my blog named as such, TheLifeIsGood when you have the right company.

So, back to the Ramadan Buffet spread. At RM85++ and running the entire month of Ramadan, this buffet to me is a steal. Its probably one of the most authentic of Ramadan Buffets available and I was really surprised to see the number of items being served. From the many unique curry dishes (there was ostrich and rabbit meat) and some very traditional rice with herbs which was just wonderfully flavored. 

Then there is the whole roasted lamb, grilled fish with sambal and their signature, Gearbox Soup! Besides these specials, they did not skimp on other items and had fresh oysters, pasembur and even their signature smoked duck breast! I mean, with so much to choose from, the list goes on. Thus scroll through this post and get your saliva drooling. Cheers!

Candy for the young and old. Well its for the chocolate fondue

Sarkies ~ Carvery Night, E&O Hotel Penang

Sarkies at E&O Hotel Penang is one of the most popular dining place that is well known for its scrumptious buffets. I was lucky enough to be able to sample their weekly themed dinners which is the Carvery Night which is held every Thurday for RM110++ (Adult) and RM48++ (Child). The great thing about the Carvery Night is that it features a whole roasted lamb right over the piping hot BBQ pitt and its served on the spot and carved!

This is a meat lovers heaven as besides the roast lamb, they also feature many more assortment of meats that are slow roasted in the oven to perfection. Talking about meat, the Carvery Night also features the chef showing off their Tandoori cooking skills by having an assortment of Tandoori items, namely chicken, prawns and vegetables! Its really refreshing to get a mix rather than just having the typical Tandoori Chicken alone.

Now besides these extras, Sarkies definitely do not disappoint and continues to serve their ever popular buffet menu each and every day! You will be able to have a much better view of whats on offer from my pictures and I believe this is one of my longest picture post as there is just so much food variety to sample. Frankly, I failed to try every item on the night, not to mention the many cakes and desserts.

Best news, Sarkies is now having a special promotion, just print the voucher below and be entitled to a 30% discount! Yes, its that simple and must not be missed. So what are you waiting for, call the number for reservations!

Highlight of the Carvery Night, whole roasted lamb!

Swez Brasserie Buffet Lunch at Eastin Hotel Penang

It happened that there was a training session which was held at Eastin Hotel Penang today and lunch was held at the Swez Brasserie. I understood from fellow bloggers that they were having a Vietnamese themed menu and I guess I was pretty lucky to get to try it first hand. Now, this is the first time that I have actually ate at Eastin Hotel and prior to this, has always been with the feedback that the spread was not up to par. But I guess that is why I was truly surprised that the food that I got to eat today was very satisfying. For RM48++ for lunch, I feel that its good value for money and I also understand Maybank cardholders get 15% discount too. With this said, do have a look at some of the photos and feel free to leave a comment. Hope you all give this place a try ya!

The desserts spread! There is a good choice of cakes as well as local nyonya kuih and fruits

The row of fried and cooked dishes all lined up

Uncle Zack by The Beach @ PARKROYAL Hotel Penang

Fancy having a romantic dinner by the beach? Always thought that its only so so food which you can get? Well, I found this place, Uncle Zack by The Beach which is one of the food outlets in PARKROYAL Hotel Penang to be pretty cool. Well, actually to phrase it better, it should be a romantic place. I was there with my wife Apple and I must say, this is probably as close to the beach without getting sand in your feet to have a fantastic dinner with a sunset that will melt any heart away. From this month (March 2012) onwards, I understand that there will be a buffet and BBQ daily on the weekdays here which is pretty neat. The selection for the buffet is a mix of local and western cuisine with a full salad bar and desserts as well. The BBQ is a delight and they even have wagyu beef. So do read or feast your eyes on this place

Enjoying the sunset

Tamarind Brasserie @ PARKROYAL Hotel

I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to have dinner at Tamarind Brasserie which is one of the many F&B outlets located at PARKROYAL Hotel. The Tamarind Brasserie can be said to be the inhouse restaurant which serves customers from breakfast all the way to dinner.

For me, I chose to have dinner and was lucky as February was the last month which they will have buffets here for weekdays. From March onwards, it actually gets better as the buffet will be by the beach at Uncle Zack by The Beach. So this is a recall of this beautiful place.

The very nice logo of Tamarind Brasserie!

There is various sitting locations which one can choose from, indoors, outdoors, by the patio, fully air conditioned, you name it, this place has it.

Sarkies Corner at E&O Hotel

I'm sure many knows about the buffet at E&O Hotel in Penang. Sarkies Corner is famous for serving some very good buffet spread at very affordable pricing (well relative speaking). So its with luck that my company had an appreciation lunch for those who participated in the Young Entrepreneur Program in which we served as advisors to students in setting up their own company and making a business work. 

So on to the food :) At Sarkies Corner, this is the hotels in house dining area. When I went there in late November, Christmas decorations were up and I got to understand that they will move to the new wing of E&O soon with a better and bigger restaurant. Without ado, I leave you with some of the pictures from Sarkies Corner to end 2012.

 

Christmas decorations abound to put you in the mood!

Spice Market Cafe Dinner Buffet!

Was very lucky to have my company dinner at Rasa Sayang Spice Market Cafe! To make it even better, we had the buffet on a Friday evening and thus, it was seafood night. How much luckier could it be right?

So without ado, this is going to be a photofest of pictures about what this buffet has to offer! So read on to see what's in store. Also, for those planning to try out their buffet, I understand that they have some great promotions on offer such as buy 1 free 1 on certain days of the week! Do give them a call to find out and make reservations!

Christmas is already in the air here!

Little Cottage 2 - Just a simple buffet

I'm sure most foodies in Penang would have heard of Little Cottage before and so happened I was invited for dinner hosted by my wife's friend at Little Cottage 2. This is at the old Waterfall Restaurant and this place is slightly bigger than the premise at Jalan Burma. The nice thing about this place is that they serve buffets on the weekend and they even does special bookings like what I had on this evening. The place was reserved and they have a buffet spread which I find a decent value for money. So for those looking for a nice meal at a good price, check out this place.

Their card so you can have the contacts and hours :)

Some decorations, makes it look like a old cottage :p

Wall deco which are just lovely