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Monday, 8 February 2016

The Lawn Cafe by Eco World @ Eco Terraces, Paya Terubong, Penang.

Inspired by a famous Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's Handwritten Past/ 手写的从前 (a song), the design of The Lawn Cafe is similar to the glass cafe shown in the song's MV. Similar projects were launched by Eco World a couple months back in JB and KL (The Parque Cafe/ Palladium Cafe). As the industry-leading developer launches its 12.7 acres project- Eco Terraces at Paya Terubong this evening, The Lawn Cafe was introduced to the public either. The aforementioned cafe sits at the lawn area of Eco Terraces (behind the Sales Gallery); it adopts the glass-house design with transparent glasses that allow natural lights to flood in the snug little space. The entire space is a wonderland by itself, surrounded by charming elements such as bouquets of flowers, guitar, bicycles etc; perfectly suitable for hipsters to generate Instagram-perfect photos. Visit the cafe in the evening to enjoy the breeze and with a cup of Joe, it is indeed a smashing way to end the day.

Many Thanks to Eco World for extending the invitation.

The cafe has limited seats and it was packed to the brim on our visit. Do not expect an extensive menu from such a snug cafe but a some Sandwiches/ Pasta dishes. Nevertheless, if you are in the mood of grabbing a cup of freshly brewed Coffee, it is a great place to enjoy both the breath-taking scene and coffee. The Lawn Cafe will not be permanently there, it is only a temporary project (depending on the responses/ similar to Palladium Cafe and Parque Cafe); so if you intend to visit the place, please make sure you do so as soon as possible (The Lawn Cafe is open to public).

Dark Chocolate Latte (Rm 14.80)

Summer Fizz (Rm 12.90)

There's a series of interactive activities that the entire family can partake (including children-friendly games) with a bubble-machine constantly churning out bubbles to thrill visitors and adds a touch of fantasy to the wonderland.

Behind The Lawn Cafe is an empty ground beautifully covered with greens. One of the highlights of the event was to have Malaysia's famous stand up comedian- Mr. Harith Iskander to perform a 30-minute talk show. It was most entertaining and full with surprises. Watch out Eco World Penang's Facebook Page for future events and updates.

Additional Information:

Pork-Free

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: PT 2509, Jalan Paya Terubong, 11060, Paya Terubong, Penang.

Business Hours: 10 am to 8 pm. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 604- 827 5522

Eco World Penang Facebook Page

Bon-Ga Korean BBQ @ M Mall 020, Penang Times Square.

More option for fans of Korean food this Chinese New Year as the well-established brand Bon-Ga has just swung open its doors to the public.... in M Mall 020, Penang Times Square. Frequent travelers to Kuala Lumpur should not be new to the name, the brand is known to serve Korean classics. The exterior of the restaurant appears to be sombre and windowless; who would have thought that the place serves good Barbecue items? The menu is extensive with illustrated dishes, ranging from the popularHotpot stews to appetizers and noodle-fishes; of course, a good selection of barbecue cuts as well. Price tags are hefty but they commensurate with generous portion. Service was a little slow, probably due to first week jitters but the staff could be more well-trained and informed about the products (most are foreign labors that could barely understand English).

BBQ Marinated Chicken (Rm 32)

Bon-Ga Stone Grill BBQ (Pork Belly and Pork Shoulder/ Rm 43 per pax, minimum order of 2 pax)

For meat eaters, go for their signature Stone Grill BBQ series, with a minimum order of 2 pax (Rm 43/ pax). We were excited to see the two thick slabs of meat being placed right in front of us. The server assisted us in the grilling process, along with condiments such as Egg, Pumpkin, Eryngii Mushrooms, Onions and Kim Chi. The cuts were bountiful, even it was meant for 2; we thought the generous portion could easily feed 4 small eaters. The lightly-marinated meats were juicy and succulent; eat them sans they turn into a rough piece of over-cooked meat. There was a basket of crunchy greens to go with the meats either.

If Pork is too monotonous for you, go for another round on Chicken. The poultry was generously cut, marinated and cooked. Grilling was not necessary as the meats were cooked before serving to our table. Serving portion was big and some cuts were just nicely cooked through (some may define them as under-cooked), thus, the juicy-meaty texture. The dips however, were disappointing- the ssamjang was a tad too salty to our liking.

Pat-Bingsu Injeolmi (Rm 18.50)

Do not leave Bon-Ga without trying their Bingsu, the perfect remedy after a scorching hot grilling session. Bon-Ga's had a fine an soft texture, it melts in the mouth in a glimpse of an eye. We had Injeolmi, a type of high quality Tteok... otherwise known as sweet Korean glutinous rice cake; covered in Soya Bean Powder. Sweetness was expertly controlled, with a mellow milky after taste. It may be a little monotonous for one to finish entirely so sharing the frozen treat with a friend or two would be a wiser thing to do.

Complimentary Ban-Chan (No Refill/ Refill is chargeable at Rm 1.50 per Ban-Chan)

Ratings:

Taste: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Service: 6.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Price: 7/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)

Parking: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Ambiance: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Non-Halal

Service Charge: Yes 10%

Government Tax: No

Additional Information:

Address: 79-G-15 & 16, Ground Floor, M Mall 020, Times Square Penang, Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150, Georgetown, Penang.

Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 604- 296 9682

Pony Tale De Cafe @ sPICE Canopy, Relau, Penang.

One would need to pay a little more attention when driving past the newly refurbished sPICE and the newly added shop houses in the vicinity- sPICE Canopy; located right next to the flashy and visually appealing sales gallery of SP Setia, Pony Tale De Cafe is potentially overshadowed and less-attractive to the eye. The aforementioned cafe is the second member to the F&B scene at sPICE Canopy... after Waffle Factory. As opposed from the seemingly-fantasizing name, the cafe offers a sturdy Western Menu with some personal touches. The setting is cool, though I'd prefer it to be a drinking place in lieu of a cafe; the tables were too small for group-dining and would be more comfortable for a casual drink. The two-floor cafe has a high-ceiling, wooden flooring and a huge pillar covered in timber... exuding a cozy, relaxing vibe. On the food... none of our orders really disappoint, though some would need some refinement.

One of their signature dishes- Seafood Pumpkin Pot (Rm 28.80) comes in a hefty price tag but a few diners could share the monstrous dish. Seafood Marinara Penne all stuffed in a baked Pumpkin, the dish can be extremely filling and a glut for one to eat it entirely on his/ her own. The pasta was carefully cooked with chewy-end but the Marinara sauce was a little flat and one-dimensional to our liking. The Pumpkin Squash on the other hand, was nicely baked to the right texture- not too soft nor too hard to the bite. The dish may be visually appealing but not quite the case (unfortunately) to the palate.

Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti (Rm 21.80)

Grilled Baharat Chicken (Rm 17.80) may sound like an ordinarily unexciting piece of Grilled Chicken that one would normally associate with but the outcome was surprisingly pleasing. Not only that the dish was beautifully presented but the Chicken was expertly done as well. It was carefully marinated with a sweet-savory sauce and perfectly charred; served atop of Spinach and fresh Shitake Mushrooms. The Chicken was toothsome, absolutely succulent and most tender; most importantly... very wallet-friendly.

Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti met our expectations: al-dente, well-spiced and reasonably seasoned to our liking. The Prawns were fresh and succulent, our only complaint was the portion... which we thought could be larger.

Save your tummy some space if you are a huge fan of sweet Crepes. We had their Applenana Cinnamon Crepe (Rm 12.80), glazed Cinnamon-infused Apple sandwiched in a paper thin Crepe, topped with fresh Mangoes and Strawberries; served with a big dollop of whipped Cream. There was also a half-melted scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. The Crepe was expertly done to the right thickness and the filling was toothsome (though a tad sweet) but we did not quite enjoy the sweet treat, thanks to the hefty whipped Cream. They should have served it aside instead of spreading it on top of the Crepe.