Steamed cup rice, Jalan Danby @ Bukit Mertajam

A small sized image will not do justice to this plate of rice famously known as "Steamed cup rice with minced roasted and barbecued meat". Available only at Jalan Danby in old town Bukit Mertajam. Best served with lightly salted preserved vegetables soup with a generous serving of pickled birds' eye chillies and white pepper powder!

P/S: Dinner only and you have to wait for seats.

Artichoke Cafe, Raja Uda @ Butterworth

My favourite brunch, lunch and dinner (maybe!) cafe in Butterworth to date! After all the hawker food stalls of course.

It is wonderful to know that the cafe scene in Butterworth is expanding and a lot of cafes open up along Jalan Raja Uda and at the heart of Raja Uda where Jalan Ong Yi How is. There is a question of sustainability and often, the restaurant that you've just dined months ago, will be replaced with some other joints already. But, I am glad to know that Artichoke Cafe did really well since its opening last year and I did not regret my visit to this cafe in particular for brunch.

Brunch starts from 930am until 1130am only. After that, they have the lunch menu which I haven't got the chance to try yet. I'll probably do that some other time as I've been having my Saturday brunch with this cafe for the past 2 weeks.

Their crockery are dainty. My friend ordered latte and I had the rose apple tea. Due to its colouring, it wasn't my cup of tea that day. LOL..  

Spinach and mushroom egg benedict. 

Oh, you could also get a bottle of water with as many glasses as you want for free. It is refillable, too.  

This has got to be the best dish ever! Egg Cocotte. 

After having this, I made my own version of it as lunch at work.

The Full Works. 

If you are feeling extremely hungry, this full breakfast is for you!  

Spanish Omelette

Love the chorizo sausage inside! And rocket leaves salad!  

Best of all, you can bring your own card game and play for as long as you want while catching up with your friends. 

Artichoke Cafe
Opening hours: 9am onwards, daily
Facebook page is here.

Cho Dong Jib, Queensbay Mall

I got bored.

Haha.. 

I've been too busy with work since my last post and somehow, I got inspired to write again. 

As a Korean food lover, I'll always find time to check out the new restaurants or shops selling Korean food and this outlet is not an exception. A branch originated from Seoul, South Korea and now located at 5th floor of Queensbay Mall, Cho Dong Jib replaced Taiwan Bull and the restaurant does not look like a typical Korean restaurant in Penang. One, their chairs are made from barrels with cushions on them. The tables are stainless steel with a built it stove in the middle. The water flasks are also stainless steel. So, you don't have to worry about ordering drinks because most Korean restaurants offered RO water for free and unlimited refills. 

A little disappointment with the limited choices of ban chan but it is just trivial. Newly opened outlets are still trying to adjust to the needs and demands of customers and I see this establishment going for the long run with more floor and waiting staffs. Be early, as the restaurant has limited seats. 

Bean paste stew or doenjang jigae with tofu. Bear in mind that their ala-carte dishes are served separately with rice. So, don't forget to order a side of rice to go with your soup dishes. The rice is purple in colour and it is really yummy. 

Next, we also ordered this spicy pork stir fry with rice. The unique part of this dish is that it is served on a saucepan. Yup, a saucepan with handle. I did not manage to get a fuller shot. 

Last but not the least, my order of tteokbukki ramyeon or rice cake ramen in spicy broth. I wished there are more than 4 ricecakes in them. 

Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. Suitable as quick lunch or dinner.

Their Facebook page is here.
Tel: 04-644 9311
Opening hours: 10.30am to 10pm

Chinatown Express (天天) @ Chinatown Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

Sweet and sour pork with egg fried rice - a bomb! 

An affordable place for Chinese food is at the top of Chinatown's gate, facing directly opposite St James Park is Chinatown Express. Although they have changed the staffs or maybe chefs, but the food is still the best. GBP5.80 will get you a main course and an appetizer. 

I totally forgotten about its salt and pepper squid. Don't forget to try their Thai Fried Rice, too. 

The link to the reviews on Chinatown Express in Tripadvisor is here. 

The Butterfly Cabinet @ Heaton Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

It was the first time I had to queue to get into a cafe in Newcastle. In a quiet and upper part of Heaton Road, who would've guess there is a hidden gem for pancakes and breakfast. I've lived in Heaton before when I did my post-graduate studies at Northumbria University. I think I saw this place before but didn't really put it much into consideration that they sell really good food at a considerably affordable price. I left Heaton in 2008 and since then, I rarely visited that part of Newcastle until April this year. 

I met Wira and his girlfriend for brunch. He was my housemate for 2 years during my post-study work days and it was great to see him again. He suggested the Butterfly Cabinet because both of them loved the pancakes so much. It was fluffy and the drink choices were plenty in particular those infused with Elderflower. They picked up with their taxi from Morrisons Byker and just 5 minutes away, we're there! 

Fortunately, not much queue when we arrived. Just maybe 3 parties were before us.

The interior looks good. 

The extensive menu

My drink. I forgot what it was but there's Elderflower in them. Definitely. Their syrups are not for sale though. Wira was disappointed. 

HUGE ASS PANCAKES PORTIONS FOR ONE PERSON! I could only finished 3 pancakes, bacons and sausages. I left the rest for another friend, Al. 

Al's Salmon's Omelette with salads and potato wedges. AGAIN, IT IS SUPER BIG PORTION. 

Lots of paintings on the wall to look at while waiting for your food or to chill down after the big meal. 

Definitely would come back again for breakfast, brunch or lunch! Suitable for children, too.

Theire webpage link is here.

Morrisons' Cafeteria @ Morrisons Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

Back in university days, pocket money were scarce and so when my friends and I do have some money to spare, we like to have a budget meal in Morrisons. Morrisons is one of the supermarket chains in the UK besides Sainsbury's, Tesco's, Waitrose, Co-Op, LIDL, Aldi, ASDA and many more. 

Morrisons' Cafeteria is best for fish and chips. At least in the city or in the local neighbourhood. The Big Breakfast is also good. For the price that you pay, less than GBP8 pounds you get a hefty meal at a humble price. And you get to do groceries shopping too after that.