Black Kettle

Special thanks to Black Kettle for extending this food review invitation.

Black Kettle revised its food menu this month. Responding to customers' feedback over the years, the new menu retains signature dishes that regulars have come to know and love. Meanwhile, the menu also introduces several newly crafted dishes that have not been served before. Although Black Kettle brands itself as a French café, its menu covers a wide range of cuisines from around the world.

Restored from a historic building, the premises of Black Kettle is huge indeed. The spacious dining area is divided into pâtisserie, café and bistro sections. A lightwell in the middle allows sunlight to illuminate the restaurant interior.

Creamy Mushroom (RM18.00) is a classic Spanish starter. The stew combines the goodness of shiitake, abalone and button mushrooms, making it the perfect choice for mushroom lovers. Creamy Mushroom is also cooked with tarragon butter, cream and smoked paprika for a hint of peppery taste.

Bread & Curry (RM22.00) is another interesting appetizer. The curry is prepared from lentil and Indian spices, much to the pleasure of my taste buds. The vegetarian stew contains potatoes and carrots too.

Bread & Curry comes with a basket of toasted sourdough bread, which is baked in Black Kettle's in-house bakery. The bread's chewy texture complements the curry very well. I cannot recommend this dish highly enough.

The Lamb Shank (RM49.00) is sous-vide cooked for 18 hours until the meat becomes delightfully soft. Complementing the Australian lamb is flavorful cardamom sauce. Side items include mashed potatoes, lotus root chips and green peas.

"Peri peri" is the Swahili name for bird's eye chili. Hailing from Eastern Africa, this chili is notorious for its extreme pungency. Indeed, Black Kettle's Peri Peri Chicken (RM24.00) produces a burning sensation on the tongue. You have been warned!

As for seafood lovers, Mahi-Mahi (RM26.00) is a popular choice among regulars. The fish is known for its firm texture. The grilled fillet is flavored with Chinese-style pesto, whose herbal aroma helps to suppress the fish's earthy flavor. Mahi-Mahi comes with mashed potatoes and refreshing mango salsa.

Baby Octopus & Angel Hair Pasta (RM30.00) employs a novel idea in terms of food presentation. Al dente spaghetti (or capellini if customers prefer) is served with a creamy broth infused with coconut and lemongrass. The broth is truly satisfying to the last drop. Freshly blended sambal (chili paste) is prepared as the condiment.

Dessert-wise, Dutch Apple Pie (RM14.00) remains the crowd favorite. The pie has a sugary crust that virtually melts in the mouth. The pastry is filled with soft apples, sultana raisins and cinnamon. The dessert comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you have an affinity for peanut butter, the Peanut Butter Shake (RM12.00) should appeal to your palate. The shake is quite filling despite the small serving size.

Black Kettle serves Dimattina Coffee from Melbourne, the coffee capital of Australia. The medium-dark roast, Gusto Oro, is a blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Indian and Papua New Guinean beans. The cup of Cappuccino (RM10.00) has a smooth consistency and is satisfying as the espresso-based drink trickles down my throat.

Black Kettle is renowned for its handmade breads. Having developed its own levain culture, the in-house bakery specializes in sourdough breads. In addition to artisan bread, Black Kettle also sells various cakes by the slice.

Freshness is key in Black Kettle. This is why the restaurant brings in fresh produce every morning. In addition, the kitchen prepares all sauces from scratch. Last but not least, the food in Black Kettle is entirely pork-free.

Name: Black Kettle
Address: 105, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-251-9270
Business hours: 9:00am-11:30pm (Sunday-Thursday), 9:00am-12:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: http://www.blackkettle.com.my
Coordinates: 5.41539 N, 100.33977 E
Directions: Black Kettle is located at the intersection of Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai) and Chulia Street Ghaut (Gat Lebuh Chulia). Street parking is available along both streets.

Farquhar Mansion

Special thanks to Farquhar Mansion for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Farquhar Mansion is a fine dining restaurant near Eastern & Oriental Hotel. The upscale, two-storey building was restored from a colonial-era mansion. While the ground floor is where most diners are seated, the upper level is exclusively reserved for members only.

Farquhar Mansion specializes in contemporary French cuisine. Today's visit is to review the latest rendition of the Ultimate Chef's Tasting Menu. While waiting for the meal to begin, diners are served multigrain bread rolls with aromatic truffle butter.

The amuse-bouche is presented over a bed of roasted coffee beans. The first of the 2-piece appetizer is Bonito Arancini. The deep-fried rice ball is filled with skipjack tuna, eel and mozzarella cheese. Next to it is a Potato Soufflé that contains pickled cucumber and dill. The crispy croquette is garnished with paprika aioli and microgreens.

Aubergine Oreo consists of garlic cream cheese sandwiched between pieces of eggplant and prune chutney. This delicacy is meant to be dipped in ten don shooter. The latter's foamy consistency is achieved through the use of an espuma.

The next dish, Tropicana, is centered on sweet mango custard. Serving as companions are pecan nuts, ginger crisp, glazed Roma tomato, dried pineapple and grated coconut soil. The overall sweetness is quite pleasant to the palate.

Chicken Roulade is rolled with mushrooms and nuts, and then served with thick, savory fungi purée. The roulade's outer layer consists of jelly-like skin. Two succulent morels are served on the side. Popcorn is also present but I feel that it is disconnected from the rest of this dish.

Duo Foie Gras is an exquisite French delicacy. The goose liver must be seared gently in order to preserve its delicate texture. It is served with a slice of charred brioche and Granny Smith apple sauce. The buttery flavor of foie gras makes it gratifying indeed.

Taking a detour to the marine kingdom, the Ocean represents a seafood ensemble of grouper, abalone, clam and sea cucumber. The plating also incorporates slices of white radish and ginger jam.

Angus Beef Loin is cooked to medium rare, which is the ideal doneness for premium beef. The steak is served au jus and with black garlic aioli. On the side is a tartlet filled with slow-cooked beef cheeks. Also featured is a crispy slab of homemade tofu.

Moving on to the dessert, the Chestnut Mousse is presented over a bed of almond crumble. However, I am more fascinated by the presence of miniature coffee pearls. Also present are brown bread and vanilla sauce.

The 8-course Ultimate Chef's Tasting Menu is priced at RM278.00++. The menu may be revised as the season progresses in order to take advantage of the freshest produce. To cater vegetarians, Farquhar Mansion also offers the Chef's Tasting Vegetarian Menu for RM178.00++.

Name: Farquhar Mansion Fine Dining & Lounge
Address: 33, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 019-528-8933
Business hours: 12:00pm-1:00am
Website: http://www.farquharmansion.com
Coordinates: 5.42309 N, 100.33472 E
Directions: Driving eastward along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, follow the road as it curves left to Lebuh Farquhar. Mission Place is located on the right. Farquhar Mansion is the main building in the compound. There are parking spaces within its compound.

Le Périgord

Special thanks to Le Périgord for extending this food review invitation.

Le Périgord is a French restaurant along Burmah Road (Jalan Burma). The eatery is named after a former province of France, which is renowned for its truffles, wines and foie gras.

Although Le Périgord presents a semi-fine dining atmosphere, the restaurant also suitable for family dining. Red brick walls that surround the dining hall gives the place a rather rustic appearance.

Le Périgord primarily serves classic French cuisine. Each dish is meticulously crafted with an element of human touch. This is why the kitchen refuses to dabble in modern cooking techniques in the likes of sous-vide.

Kurobuta Steak (RM58.00) is perhaps the most impressive dish during this visit. The pork chop uses Black Berkshire pig, a special breed of swine prized for its tender flesh. The combination of lean and fatty flesh makes the pork succulent indeed. This exquisite dish is served with mango sauce, caramelized apples, mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables.

The next dish is Le Périgord Signature Lamb Rack (RM88.00). The frenched lamb ribs are flavored with red wine sauce and lamb jus. Served alongside is a mouthwatering piece of portobello mushroom. Also included are mashed potatoes infused with truffle oil.

Duck Confit (RM78.00), also known as "confit de canard", is considered one of the finest dishes in French cuisine. Dry-aged duck thigh is poached in its own fat for several hours until the flesh becomes meltingly tender. The delicacy is then flavored with a special concoction of orange sauce. Vegetables and oven roasted potatoes are provided on the side.

Pasta lovers with an affinity for spiciness may consider having the Seafood Aglio-Olio (RM35.00). Sautéed in olive oil, al dente spaghetti is seasoned with garlic and chili flakes. This simple yet satisfying pasta dish comes with green-lipped mussels, shrimps and clams.

Chicken & Mushroom Linguine (RM35.00) is another recommended choice. Unlike the previous dish, the pasta is served with a creamy sauce made from fresh cream. Contributing to savoriness are bite-size chicken breast and portobello mushrooms.

Besides serving walk-in customers, Le Périgord can also cater for private events such as birthday parties. Covering the area of two shops, the place can easily accommodate more than 100 people at a time. From time to time, Le Périgord also conducts cooking classes to share culinary secrets with the public.

Name: Le Périgord
Address: 253G-1-7, Jalan Burma, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 012-919-9885
Business hours: 11:30am-3:00pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm (Tuesday-Friday), 10:30am-3:00pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm (Saturday-Sunday), closed on Mondays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/leperigordpulautikus
Coordinates: 5.42825 N, 100.31436 E
Directions: Drive along Burmah Road (Jalan Burma) from Pulau Tikus direction. After the junction with Codrington Highway (Lebuhraya Codrington), turn right as you see Burmahtel. Le Périgord is located at the end of this row of shops (Wisma Soon). It is exactly opposite of Petron gas station. Street parking is available along this service road.

The View

Special thanks to Hotel Equatorial Penang for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Hotel Equatorial Penang is a prestigious resort next to the 18-hole Penang Golf Club. This 5-star hotel welcomes arriving guests with its spacious concourse that rises to the height of nearly 10 floors. Vines hang gracefully from the upper floors, while an artificial stream flows within the hotel's expansive grounds.

Hotel Equatorial has 5 eateries in total. Located right above Golden Phoenix, The View serves French cuisine in a fine dining setting. Smart casual attire is expected.

As the restaurant's name rightly implies, The View provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding areas. The scenery is particularly mesmerizing with the setting sun casting from the back.

This evening, The View is hosting the Flametree Margaret River Wine Dinner in collaboration with Évian, Badoit and The Wine Shop. This 5-course meal takes diners on a gastronomical journey while savoring several wine labels from Flametree.

Flametree is a renowned winery in Margaret River, Australia. Located on the west coast of the continent, Margaret River is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on three sides. The region's temperate Mediterranean climate produces some of the finest wines in the country.

While waiting for dinner to be served, diners may help themselves to a basket of bread rolls to keep the appetite up. Salted butter is provided.

The first course is Sesame Crusted Hamachi. Also known as yellowtail, the fish is served raw à la sashimi. The sesame-coated crust gives the fillet a scrumptious touch of crispiness. The fish is served with tomato salsa, spicy-sweet plum sauce and microgreens. The paired wine is Flametree Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon 2017, which carries a burst of nectarine sweetness with hints of fresh herbs.

The next course, Pan-Seared Foie Gras, is cooked to absolute perfection. The buttery goose liver virtually melts upon contact with my tongue. I also appreciate the use of Melba toast, baby spinach, grape relish and fig infusion for the plating. This evening's foie gras is meant to go with Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2015. The wine's fruity flavors shrouds a touch of salinity - a hallmark of Margaret River's unique soil.

Seafood Cappuccino Provençale Olive Oil is a lovely soup that combines rich flavors of seafood with olive oil and truffle. Its light and foamy consistency is the result of an espuma. The soup is served in a coffee cup alongside a grissino (breadstick).

The subsequent dish is Oven-Roasted Australian Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin. Flavored with port wine emulsion, the steak rests on a bed of crispy potato noodles. Baby-cut carrot and microgreens serve as icing on the cake. I feel that the beef is on the dry side; medium doneness might have been a better choice. Assigned to this dish is a red wine, Flametree Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2015.

On the other hand, the Pistachio Nut Crusted Young New Zealand Rack Of Lamb is substantially juicier. The tangy grain mustard sauce also does a great job in accentuating the succulent flavors of lamb. Served on the side are roasted honey pumpkin and sautéed wild mushrooms. Another red wine, Flametree S.R.S. Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, is paired with this delectable lamb dish.

Cheese holds a special place in my heart, so I am thrilled to sample the exquisite Cheese Platter. Today's cheese selections are Gouda, blue cheese and cheddar. Accompanying the cheeses are Fuji apple compote, fig, apricot, pecan, almond and walnut.

As for the dessert, Ice Cream Bon Bon consists of vanilla ice cream with white chocolate coating. Dry ice vapors present a mystifying illusion. Also included is an assortment of butter cookies and pralines. These sweet treats are paired with a dessert wine, Flametree Botrytis Sémillon 2017. The wine is fermented from grapes that have been deliberately infected by a fungus called noble rot, resulting in more concentrated sweetness.

Last but not least, a cup of coffee concludes the dinner on a high note.

The View serves à la carte dishes on normal days, but course meals like the one this evening can be arranged upon request. It is important to note that pork is absent from the food menu. Vegetarian options are available too.

Name: The View
Address: Hotel Equatorial Penang, 1, Jalan Bukit Jambul, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-632-7000
Business hours: 6:30pm-10:00pm
Website: https://penang.equatorial.com/dining/the-view
Coordinates: 5.33736 N, 100.28512 E
Directions: Hotel Equatorial Penang is located near the intersection of Persiaran Bukit Jambul and Lebuh Bukit Jambul. Jalan Bukit Jambul is a small offshoot from Persiaran Bukit Jambul near this intersection. The View is located at the same level as the main lobby. The hotel provides multilevel parking for RM10.00 per entry.