Cake Time Penang & Butterworth

Penangites love inventive ideas especially when it comes to food and beverages. Food trucks are not unusual overseas as it is widely accepted and in fact the most convenient way of getting food. You don't have to worry about making reservations or even not having any seats. 

So, when homemade cakes are sold in food trucks, Penangites went bonkers. I heard so many good reviews about Cake Time Penang and now they have crossed over to mainland Penang, Cake Time Butterworth, we now get to eat cakes at designated time and place almost everyday on each side of Penang. The cakes are not available on Mondays so do follow Cake Time Penang or Butterworth Facebook page to get their latest updates on their business location all over Penang. They are always on the move everyday. 

On their inaugural first day on mainland Penang, they parked and sold their homemade cakes beside new Chaw Choon Dim Sum Restaurant along Jalan Ong Yi How. I was very excited to be one of the first few early birds to "pong chan" them. It was not even 10am.

 A variety of cakes, spoilt for choices. However, they are famous for their cotton cheesecake which didn't cross my mind at that point.  

 Cakes of the day - opera (left) and dark brownie (right). Dark Brownie was salty to my liking so I didn't enjoy it very much. Opera, on the other hand, was very nice. Cake is very soft to touch and not sweet at all. The coffee taste is strong in this cake. 

I should have taken photo of the other side of the card. LOL. Anyway, each truck has numbers and each truck has different contact numbers to the person in charge. So, on the mainland side, 2 trucks numbered 3 and 4 are based in mainland and will rotate in locations. Each truck serves and sells different flavours of cake from one another. Well only different in a few flavours of the day.

Few weeks after my first visit to the truck at Butterworth, today I finally get to try more cakes at their location in Taman Sri Rambai in Bukit Mertajam. Apparently they stationed here every Wednesday mornings. To celebrate the durian season, they have durian cheese cake for a limited period of time. Trust me, it is worth the purchase but you must bear durian breath for a good few hours.  

Flavours of the day. Savoury and sweet. You name it. 

You will be surprised to know that chicken floss and cake do work very well. Highly recommended.  

I'll try the Parmesan Cheese Cake next time. 

Their Japanese Cotton Cheesecake is really light and subtle to taste.  

 Durian Cheese Cake. Tasted exactly like durian dodol. I am serious. 

Favourite.  Chicken Floss cake. 

And, a very unique and cake, Vanilla Milky Cranberry. 

Best part of all, it is only RM10 a tub. You can purchase as many as you like or even pre-order them if you know their location in advance so that you need not queue to buy cakes when you arrive. 

You can also read more about Cake Time Penang in Chinese here. 

The Cinnamon, Hotel Penaga @ Hutton Lane, Penang

Yours truly celebrated her birthday early of this month together with my sister. Our birthdays are just a day apart from each other so annually, it is a double celebration. Unlike previous years, we used to celebrate it on the day of our birthdays but now that our lifestyle has changed, we celebrate them in advance instead.

My family and I enjoy dining in places least visited or yet to be popularised by foodies. So, we chose The Cinnamon Restaurant and Tanglung Bar at Hotel Penaga at Hutton Lane, Georgetown. The service was top notch and my compliments goes to the Chef as well for serving a thoughtful 5 course meals to us. It was about RM55 per person. Not bad, actually.

Bread and dippings. 

Appetizer of the day as recommended by the Chef

Appetizer of choice - deep fried squid #atas

Nutmeg sorbet before the main course, works like mouth cleansing

Lamb as my main

Sirloin steak for my sister

Japanese curry risotto for my dad. Forgot to take photo of my mom's dinner.

Paddlepop ice cream with fruits! 

It was really quiet at the restaurant with ours being the other two tables that night. But with the pool view just beside the restaurant, it was a pleasant dinner and the music was in tune with the celebratory mood. Thanks for the food that we are blessed with and here's to many more years to come! 

The Cinnamon Restaurant

Hotel Penaga,
Jalan Hutton,
10050 Georgetown, Penang
Tel: 04-261 1891

Website here. 

Yella Fork @ Chow Thye Road, Penang

Yella!

Finally, an opportunity to check this place out with my fellow girl friends (and her spouse). Yella Fork is an Aussie-Asian fusion cafe set up by a fellow junior from school. He was in Melbourne, Australia for four year before settling in Penang and open up this forking place for fellow forkers in Penang. 

So, knowing the owner, this cafe attracted a lot of us from school. Classes from 1999, 2001, 2004 all came to show our support for Julian Ooi (the owner / the chef / the brain behind the menu / da boss) and his food! So, if you like fusion food as much as we do, why not drop by for lunch or dinner? The background music and song choices were good and without students, rest assured you can hear and speak without any problems. The level of noise is almost none. 

We visited Yella Fork yesterday and we came in 3 batches making us a group of 7. Located at Chow Thye Road (with an easier access from Tavoy Road or Service Road off Burmah Road, use Waze if you are unsure) and with neigbours like Monkeycup, Basement 6, That Little Wine Bar, Isaribi Tei, Jempul Tree etc, this area is packed with foodies especially during lunch hour in the weekdays and it is not as busy over the weekends. So, parking is a breeze if you drop by on Saturday afternoon. But, be sure to make a reservation before you go if you are coming in a group of more than 5 pax. 

The exterior and interior of Yella Fork

(L-R, clockwise from top) Presto soup, Roasted Crispy Pork Belly, Rasta Beefsta, BBQ Ribbing, Forking Kai, off the menu penne pasta with pesto, off the menu Rui Fang's spicy fix, nachos, rose latte and their signature dish right in the middle of the photo is Pie in the Sky!

The price of their meals are akin to those in Route 9 at Bishop Street whereby with an upgrade of RM7, you can get an appetizer of the day, soup of the day and a canned drink. If you wish to change the drinks, no problem. Just top up a few more ringgit for the drinks of your choice. So this was the flexible set meal whereby you can pick your own main course and just top it up with RM7 for a full 3 course meal. They have another set menu with fixed 4 main courses. At RM20, it comes with a soup of the day and a canned drink. With an extra RM3, you get your drink of your choice. So, this place is pocket and wallet friendly. The portion of food is huge and it is filling.

(L-R) Affogato Apple, Banana Fruuze, Poached Pear with ice cream and their dessert of the day menu

Their dessert is to die for especially the Affogato Apple. I am not a fan of coffee but I must say the warm cinnamon apple slices did compliment the coffee and ice cream very well. The coffee taste was just on the right dose and does not overkill the whole taste of the dessert. The chocolate chips in them did wonders too, giving it a bit of a crunch. A very nice ensemble of desserts and the poached pear is soft and not mushy. It was a clever idea to freeze the banana with some ice too! 

Overall dining experience with Yella Fork is good and we do look forward to their new menu in two weeks time. They have unique names for their food and the taste is different depending on how adventurous your taste palette is. Nonetheless it is the best rendezvous for schoolmate from CBW. I hope you guys will also have the same thoughts as us and have a friendly meal at Yella Fork.

Yella Fork
Address: 27A, Jalan Chow Thye, Georgetown Penang, Malaysia
Mobile: 011-1256 8528
Opening hours: 11:30 - 22:00 (with afternoon rest between the hours of 3pm to 5pm)
Facebook page
Parking: In front of the cafe or its surrounding. Limited. Be early to avoid disappointment.

The Cruises Steak House, Aeon Jusco Alma

FINALLY! I don't have to cross the bridge to the island to dine here now that they have opened a branch on the mainland. 

Enough said. I am sure you guys have dined at The Cruises before, make it the one at The One or Light Street. Food's good and ambience is slightly dark. Love the blue mocktail shot served at the end of meal. 

Aeon Jusco Mall, Alma Bukit Mertajam

Clock's Cafe, Penang

When I googled this cafe, there are not much search results other than their Facebook page. I guess it is still relatively new and on the mainland, it didn't capture much cafe surfers to this part of town yet.

But, the location is strategic as it is at Sunway Perdana which is the newest part of Sunway Business Centre in Seberang Jaya where it hosted Sunway Carnival Mall. To assist fellow readers, if you know where Kim Hee or Hock Moon Restaurants are, Sunway Perdana is just opposite them. There are five blocks of new triple storey shop offices and the Clock's Cafe is on the third block together with Nasi Kandar Al-Nur, Madam Wong's Steamboat, PTPTN and Prudential offices. 

I went there for lunch as my office is just a block away and didn't get to take much photos due to the one hour lunch limit. My colleague and I ordered the set lunch of Clock's Chicken Chop and it was decent. The chicken chop were crispy enough and the gravy was served separately. So, you won't get to devour a plate of mushy soaked chicken. That is very considerate of them and not all cafes do that; not even restaurants.

Price wise mid range and they have some props from a local movie, 同学会 or the Gathering. So, this cafe is popular with students. It is also friendly to customers who are alone and it is peaceful during off peak hours. It also caters to gatherings and birthdays too. Just call to book! 

Clock's Cafe

No. 51 Jalan Todak 6,
Kompleks Sunway Perdana
13700 Prai, Pulau Pinang
Phone 04-383 8498
Email info.fncmarketing@gmail.com

Opening times: Daily between 10:00 - 00:00

Just Food Foodcourt, Gurney Paragon

Gurney Paragon gives a posh ambience and welcoming feel once you enter its premise. The ground floor gives the impression that things ain't gonna be cheap in here. But, you are wrong. As you escalate further upwards of this mall, you will realise that there are many affordable brands to shop around. You can also dine inexpensively, too. 

No one would have thought that the food court is a good place to start with if you are undecided on where to eat. Well, try it out. It offers local, western and eastern cuisines and all under one roof. You can have some Lebanese food or Korean even Thai or local hawker food. 

You can have some kebab with chicken or some rice. 

Or an economy priced set lunch at RM10.90 at Bee Won, Korean food stall. 

with some Teochew Chendul from Penang Road just a stone's throw away. 

Best not to compare the price charged here than those you can get from outside. Besides, for the price, you get decent place to eat with some cooling air conditioning. It's canny!

Just Food @ Gurney Paragon 
(163D-L5-08 - 13 & 20 - 23),
10250 George Town,
Pulau Pinang,

Calefe Hauz Gastro Cafe

For a 1950s feel and ambience, this is a very decent cafe. Food and drink are excellent. Price of its food and beverages are low to mid range.

Parking tip: 
Park at the top of Lebuh Victoria which joins up to Gat Jalan Prangin. It is not far to walk from there.

Ribena yogurt drink - RM12 

 Mushroom soup - RM10

(the best after Cheers Bierhouse (already gulung tikar) but a bit salty)

 Latte and cappucino - RM8.00 and RM9.00 respectively

The best durian goreng ever!!!!!!!!! Deep fried durian paste served with watermelon, mango, raisins and honeydew salad! the white sauce is its milky dressing.  - RM15.00

Bananalicious! served on pancake and dusted with almond flakes and topped with herb. 

Calefe Hauz Gastro Cafe
51 Gat Jalan Prangin
10300 Penang
Phone 016-494 2886

Talk Talk Wine Bar & Lounge

Talk Talk Wine Bar & Lounge is located in Sungai Dua, Penang right in between Bukit Gambir and Bukit Jambul (I stand to be corrected). When coming from Gelugor, take the right at the traffic lights after USM and go straight. You will then see TESCO Extra on the right and you take the right at the traffic lights until you see the next traffic lights. There is an Indian temple just at that traffic lights on the left, but you must turn right immediately. There are some shophouses on the left and still you drive straight. You will then come to another shopoffices area which is about 4 storeys high and take the left. Talk Talk or "Tok Tok" is just on the right. Have some parking coupons ready as the parking area is coded as red zone (everyday up to 12 midnight). 

This is the first post that I gave the directions first prior to my opinion on this lounge. Anyway, when you enter, the staff will ask whether you prefer to sit and dine at the smoking or non-smoking section. It's a shame to be informed that all the comfy seats with sofas and cushions are at the smoking section, leaving sturdy and wooden furnitures on the non-smoking section. When my friend finally joined me, she was surprised that there was such a division of seating. 

The best part that I enjoyed is that the staffs will not disturb you unless you ask for them. They will not interrupt your conversations by asking whether you need anymore drinks or orders (some tend to do that to customers to hint them that you are occupying the table for too long. hah!) or to clear up the empty glasses and plates. The cake was decent and the drinks were pleasant. Talk Talk caters more to alcoholic beverages and the ambience also tells that it is designed like a pub. Price mid to high range. 

Nonetheless, like its name, it is a good place for meeting friends to catch up or to unwind after a long day at work. 

Talk Talk Wine Bar & Lounge

2-G-3, 2-G-4 & 2-G-5,
Pekaka Square (Bangunan Lip Sin)
Lebuh Pekaka Satu
11700 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 012-781 6689
Email: Toktokcuisinesb@gmail.com

Dolce Dessert Cafe

For a taste of fine desserts and cakes, drop by here. I love the pastries base and in particular their cheese mousse! 

Address:
No. 18, Jalan Kek Chuan,
10400 Georgetown, Penang.
Business Hours: 3pm to 11pm.
Opens daily.