iFoodEx 2012

Well, ever since last year's iFoodEx 2011, I decided that this year I will be going again and also to bring my wife and family. Boy was it interesting to see my daughter munching on so many samples, she was a super happy, tired and very full kid on that day! All in all, I think this years exhibition was better than last year with more stalls, but I was surprised that on Sunday afternoon, some stalls already sold out! This is surely good news to those that came and managed to buy items on promotion. I myself bought stuff from Gulong, potato chips, fruit vinegar and others which I can't even recall! Check out some pictures

Blackball was there too!

Squarelet ~ For all your online needs!

Well, I guess I got to know the people over at Squarelet who is a company that helps other companies get online and monetize their business in the Internet world. So I just thought of posting this if for any reason any of you are thinking to start having an online biz BUT always worried or afraid of how it works, then fret no more at Squarelet is here to help you!
Below is an except from their MD ~ Lasker Saw whom you can contact
"The Internet never sleeps. In the world of online business, as someone's night becomes another's day, the cycle continues and business transactions carry on. So why let your business' opening hours limit your profits when you can be earning while you sleep? It is time to wake up and smell the opportunity. It is time to sell online!

Once you open your eCommerce online shop, Squarelet come in to ensures your business is ever ready every second of the day. And night! A growing trend in Malaysia, shoppers are now browsing, searching and shopping online. You can now capture this untapped market and watch your revenue grow day and night. 

If previously you have always feared the complexity of technical requirements (and the high costs that comes with it), fret no more. Squarelet supports you all the way, from hosting and renewals to payment getways to deep IT support. Hey, Squarelet even works with your existing website. You just focus on what really matters - YOUR business. And the best news of all? It all comes with a super simple pricing with unlimited upgrades. 

Go to Squarelet.com now for a quick introduction. If you are looking for the easiest eCommerce solution, you are just one click away."

So don't hesitate and check out their website for more details ya, or if you need, let me know and I can hook you guys up!

Sakae Sushi 1st Avenue Penang

Before I begin writing about this blog posting, I would like to thank Criz, FOODSION & Sakae Sushi for inviting me to this sampling event of some of the items in their new revised menu. I have been to Sakae Sushi many times but this is the first time I have been to their outlet at 1st Avenue Mall in Penang. I guess it must really have been awhile as I just realized that their ordering system has now been upgraded to using Ipad's instead of the old computer! I also got to know that this is one of the fastest ordering system in the world for a food restaurant. Pretty amazing feat no less and for those that like to pinch and zoom on the photos at Sakae's Ipad's, this is something which you can do, albeit not on everypage (yes I tried doing that)

Anyway, I never knew before this review, how much effort the team at Sakae Sushi puts in to ensure we get some of the best ingredients and them also caring about our health welfare. Imagine that they are using fresh Norwegian salmon that is naturally bred and grown as well as adding extra vitamins to the sushi rice to ensure we get a more balance and healthy diet! Kudos to them. Well, I'm not just praising them because they invited me, but its really good to see such a big sushi chain making efforts, at least in small ways to give us better value for money yet at the same time caring about what we consume.

OK, so back to this blog entry. They have actually already launched their new menu and there is over 30 new items included but of course we didn't try each one of them but a select few. So keep reading to find out what I thought about Sakae Sushi ya!

A sneak preview?

The entrance, with the big green frog. Its located at the 4th floor, right across Carrefour.

Taipei 101 Taiwan Cuisine Restaurant at Penang

I guess the mention of Taipei 101, the first thing that comes to mind would be the Taipei 101 tower. But lo and behold, there is actually a restaurant in Penang, right across Queensbay Mall, that as one will guess, serves Taiwanese food! Was lucky enough to get to sample some of their food and I must say, they do have a pretty comprehensive menu with a good variety to choose from. So do read on if you are a fan of Taiwanese Cuisine and I will tell you my thoughts about this place!

I was thinking which photo to use as the cover for this and I guess its non other than their fried sweet potato with plum powder! This is one very nice appetizer that is very well made and affordable!

You can't miss their signboard! Its at the row behind Kapitan. Its at 35G, Persiaran Bayan Indah, Sungai Nibong, 11900 Bayan Lepas Penang. Phone : 604-6421399 Opens daily for lunch and dinner. 

Julie's Biscuit ~ More than just Biscuits!

Well, ever since I was a small kid, I have been munching on these peanut biscuits but never really paid any attention to what or who made these delicious biscuits. Part of the blame I guess is that my mom would be the one buying it but as I was surfing through Facebook recently, I happen to saw that Julie's Biscuit was having a blogging competition.

With that in mind, my wife and I started scouring the house to see what Julie's we have and fact of the matter is, we had non left. We were about to give up until my wife caught eye of theJulie's Biscuit multi purpose container, and her being the creative one, decided to take some pretty shots of it. To be honest, these containers has been with us for such a long time and it is really lasting and really is multi purpose! We happen to have 2 left, one in purple and another in the famous orange for the peanut butter version. 

I can still remember that we would buy easily a few of these not just for the yummilicious biscuits in them but also for the container! My wife uses them for storing her patchwork and crafts utilities whereas another is used as a first aid box with various items in it for those emergency times.

I believe these Julie's Biscuits were one of the first to come out with individual packing which was and still is such a convenience. No longer do we have to worry about the biscuit becoming soggy after awhile and its always fresh. Just open as many as needed and its also great to put in the car or handbag for those times when we just need to munch on something or stuck in a traffic jam. Many times my wife has avoided gastric problems by having one of these convenient packs around!

With that, I'm glad that Julie's still continue to making these and its not just delicious, their containers really do last a long time as well! Cheers!

The multi purpose containers and 2 colors!

 Thats Julie's there!

 And my all time favorite biscuit, the Julie's Peanut Butter Sandwich!

Sun with Moon in Singapore

Those that are familiar with the Japanese eating places in Singapore would have surely heard of Sun with Moon before I'm sure! From what I have read, this one which is at Wheelock Place is the original outlet and I was surprise as when I reach, there was already a small queue forming. Actually before I went, I didn't do any research and just went around trying to find a place to have lunch.

Well, as I entered the place, the first thing is that you will be escorted to your seat which is predetermined when you queue up and reach the kiosk counter. The head waiter will have someone bring you to your table and it would seem that you need to be really early to get a seat if you did not make reservations. The place was very tastefully designed and as my wife would put it, has a very zakka feel. Go google the term up! So I got a place for 1 or 2 and there was 2 person next to me whom I met while queuing. They were regulars and gave me some tips on what to order which was good. So do continue reading about my experience at Sun with Moon!

This is my lunch set! A bento of samplers!

Blanco Court Prawn Mee

I was told that there is a famous Prawn Mee at Beach Street in Singapore and my friend was nice enough to bring me there for breakfast. The shop was 2 shoplots in size so I guess thats pretty big. One needs to go to the counter to order the noodles and there is a choice for normal or extra large prawns. There is also the pork ribs to be ordered as well. I saw a sign CEO's Hawkers Guide and it says this is a Choice place for CEO's. Hahah, I'm sure I'm not a CEO hahah. So do read on about my yummilicious prawn noodles at Blanco Court!

Just look at my bowl with extra large prawns and added pork ribs

Fei Loh Chu Char at Singapore

Had a scrumptious dinner with my 2 cousins in Singapore and we went to Chinatown Peoples Park food complex to have a chu char meal. Interestingly the stall according to my cousins is called Fei Loh or Fatty's stall. No offense but thats what its called locally I guess. I always feel that one can get great delicious food at very very affordable prices in Singapore and once again, this stall proves exactly that. I will share with you, what about SGD 50 can give you and your family a wholesome meal!

Cheers!

To start of. we ordered sauteed large prawns with soy sauce. The prawns were easily XL sizes and  there were about 6 prawns in total. The prawns were very fresh and the cooking method allows the soy sauce to really get absorb into the prawns. This was delicious.

Orchid Live Seafood Restaurant at Singapore

What would be an extraordinary lunch? Well, for those in Singapore, really envy you all as I do not see any similar place like this in Penang which serves lobster porridge for lunch. Yes, you heard me right, that is no ordinary porridge but live fresh lobster porridge! 

When I first heard of it, I thought that it would be those like big prawns but boy was I wrong when I arrived at this place. For your information, this place is located in the outskirts of Sembawang in one of those farmers places. As you reach the place, you will see many aquariums filled to the brim with lobsters. Hardly one will see so many lobsters placed in 1 aquarium and I guess they have so many because its consumed fast! They have both an indoor and outdoor seating place and I was told that they are pack in the evenings! So do read on for those looking for something special for their lunch treat!

Just look at those yummy lobsters! We ordered a portion  for 2 person and each person got 3 lobsters, though in different sizes. Looking at the photos is making me drool now! The meat was so springy and sweet and they purposely remove it from the porridge when its serve to ensure that the lobster do not get overcook!

So many of them all crammed up in there. Only fresh lobsters may apply!

BeerBQ Bistro at Precinct 10 Penang

I guess I could count my lucky stars that I got a chance to join some other food reviewers to attend a food tasting at BeerBQ Bistro located at Precinct 10, Penang. Its located at the same row as SOHO and Nueve and right at the corner, giving it ample seating area outside the bistro as well.

As I entered the bistro, the lighting is soft from the glows of the chandelier and there was a few tables that were already busy digging into their food and beer of course! Good sign. They have both a ground floor and also an upper sitting area which is ideal for those with a group or large family as it is very cosy and private, just nice for a small gathering or function. For beer lovers, they definitely have a good selection of premium beers from stouts to lager to ale! I'm no beer expert but the owner really knows her hops and barley. So what makes this place different than your typical diner joint that serves beer? I'm sure I lost count how many places actually have similar menus so this is what I feel make them a little bit unique. 

As you flip their menu, you will see that they try to pair their food with different beers! Yes, I'm sure you have heard of wine pairing so now in Penang, you have beer pairing! Its not an easy thing to achieve I must say as you really need to understand the many subtle tastes of the different beers with the way the food is cooked. So as I go along in this blog entry, I will be also telling you how it goes with the different beers. As always comments are very welcomed!