Fresh

Special thanks to Thistle Port Dickson Resort for extending this food review invitation.

Located at Level 1 of Thistle Port Dickson Resort is Fresh, the all-day dining restaurant of the hotel. The eatery serves a range of local and Western dishes to appeal to its cosmopolitan clientele.

Fresh's à la carte menu features several Minangkabau delicacies that reflect the unique cuisine of Negeri Sembilan. These dishes are specially curated by F&B Manager Azlin and Chef Helmy.

Nasi Kukus Wak-Wak Berlada Bersama Terung Pipit is one such dish. Wak-wak, also known as white-breasted waterhen, is commonly found in local marshes. The bird is marinated with flavorful spices like turmeric, and then braised to golden perfection.

The poultry dish is served with steamed rice, terung pipit (turkey berries), jantung pisang (banana blossoms) and steamed fish. During the MAH Negeri Sembilan Food Festival earlier this year, Thistle's recipe received special endorsement from the state's Menteri Besar.

Should you prefer red meat, Nasi Kukus Salai Bersama Cendawan Kukur is the recommended choice. The buffalo meat is marinated, smoked and cut into thin slices. The meat is then cooked with santan (coconut milk), cendawan kukur (splitgill mushrooms) and a special blend of spices.

Nine shoots rendang and steamed rice are served on the side. The former is a savory blend of nine ingredients such as pucuk ubi (cassava shoots) and pucuk paku (fiddleheads).

Bubur Kampiun is a popular dessert from Minangkabau cookbooks. The dessert is primarily made of rice flour, coconut milk and gula melaka (palm sugar). Also present are kolak pisang (banana compote), buah candil (glutinous rice nuggets) and pulut hitam (black glutinous rice).

Bubur Kampiun has a gentle sweetness but not overpowering. I like how the texture of each ingredient contributes to the overall enjoyment of this chilled dessert. If you enjoy Bubur Kampiun, it is occasionally made available in the Dim Sum Semi-Buffet Lunch.

Besides Minangkabau cuisine, Fresh's menu also covers mainstream dishes such as noodles, burgers, pizzas and pastas. In addition, the restaurant serves Cita Rasa Gerai Buffet Dinner every Friday and Saturday.

Name: Fresh
Address: Thistle Port Dickson Resort, KM16, Jalan Pantai, Teluk Kemang, 71050 Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Contact: 06-648-2907
Business hours: 6:30am-11:00pm
Website: https://www.thistle.com.my/portdickson/restaurants/fresh
Coordinates: 2.43015 N, 101.85867 E
Directions: Thistle is approximately 16 kilometers south of Port Dickson town center. Turn right as soon as you see the resort's signboard and follow the winding road to the hotel lobby. Fresh is located at Level 1. The resort provides complimentary parking.

Table Talk

Special thanks to Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur for extending this food review invitation.

Having been to Dorsett Grand Subang on several occasions, we are pleased to visit its sister property, Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur. The 4-star hotel has an all-day dining outlet called Table Talk at Level Mezzanine. Taking helm in the kitchen is Executive Chef Ahmad, who previously served at Dorsett Kuala Lumpur.

For the upcoming Ramadan season, Table Talk is serving Rasa-Rasa Briyani set meals for dine-in, take-away and delivery. There are three choices for the main curry dish: chicken, beef and lamb. The lamb version is my personal favorite. The mutton is delightful tender and blends remarkably well with spices.

Hailing from Batu Pahat, Chef Ahmad puts his hometown's spin into the briyani recipe. The mouth-watering dish uses long-grain basmati rice that does not feel surfeiting. This makes briyani the ideal companion to all types of curry.

Each set meal is served with acar rampai (pickled vegetables), dalca sayur (vegetable stew), telur rebus (hard-boiled eggs), papadom (crackers), buah kurma (palm dates), kuih Melayu (Malay kuih), bubur kacang hijau (mung bean soup), honeydew pudding and fruits cocktail.

Finally, cleanse your palate with a refreshing glass of air bandung selasih. Made of evaporated milk and rose syrup, the pink-colored beverage contains basil seeds that resemble frog eggs!

Rasa-Rasa Briyani set meals are available from 13 April 2021 to 10 May 2021. The chicken version is priced at RM68.00 net, while the beef and lamb versions are priced at RM88.00 net. The serving size is just right for 2 persons. To place an order, please contact Dorsett Hartamas by phone (+60) 3-6209 8888 or by email reservation.hartamas@dorsetthotels.com.

Name: Table Talk
Address: Dorsett Hartamas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-6209-8888
Business hours: 6:30am-10:30am, 11:00am-3:00pm
Website: https://www.dorsetthotels.com/en/dorsett-hartamas-kuala-lumpur/dining/all-day-dining-restaurant.html
Coordinates: 3.16291 N, 101.65546 E
Directions: Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur is situated across the street from Hartamas Shopping Centre. Table Talk is located at Level Mezzanine. There are parking spaces at the basement levels.

Irama

Special thanks to Irama for extending this food review invitation.

Today is the grand opening of Irama at Penang Street (Lebuh Penang) in George Town. Located on Level 2 of the Chinese Chamber Of Commerce, the restaurant occupies the former premises of The Chambers.

Irama has a rustic-looking dining hall with a wooden ceiling. Floral tablecloths on each dining table gives the restaurant a special charm. Al fresco dining is possible at the eatery's outdoor section.

Customers are welcomed by a large mural near the main entrance. The portrait depicts a Malay lady in traditional baju kebaya. The mural was painted by MāMa, who took 3 days to complete the artwork. MāMa is a local artist who also created a mural at Cubopark.

Irama is under the same management as Lagenda Cafe. Like its sister restaurant, Irama specializes in classic Malay cuisine. For today's preview event, the restaurant serves a selection of signature dishes from the actual menu.

Our meal commences with a platter of appetizers. Ayam Pandan is a tasty dish of marinated chicken wrapped in banana leaf. Next, Pulut Kelapa is glutinous rice steamed with a coating of coconut butter. Meanwhile, Kerang Rendang is essentially cockles cooked with coconut milk and spices.

Chicken Percik is a poultry dish from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Marinated chicken basted with sweet-and-spicy coconut gravy. Extra gravy is provided in a bowl.

The next dish is Smoked Duck Massaman Curry. The curry contains pea-sized eggplants called terung pipit. The eggplants have a mild bitter aftertaste. The dish is garnished with daun pegaga (Asiatic pennywort leaves).

Kerabu Kacang Botol Kerang is an appetizing salad that contains cockles, winged beans, bean sprouts, ginger torch, coconut butter and chili peppers. The spicy salad is laced with lime juice.

Pais Barramundi uses sea bass, which is known locally as ikan siakap. Sea bass has a firm texture that is particularly suitable for this dish. The fish is seasoned with grated coconut and spices, and then grilled in banana leaf for a nice aroma.

Condiments play an essential role in Malay cuisine. From the left, the condiments this evening are Air Asam Kerisik (tamarind sauce with coconut butter), Sambal Hijau Petai (green chili paste with stink beans) and Raitar (cucumber slices with yogurt).

As for desserts, Bubur Sumsum is a creamy custard sweetened with gula melaka (palm sugar). The word "sumsum" means bone marrow in Malay. In reality, this dessert does not contain any marrow. The dessert's name refers to its soft and creamy consistency.

Kuih Koleh Kacang is a soft cake topped with tahi minyak. Tahi minyak is prepared by cooking coconut milk until coconut oil is released. The salty topping gives the dessert a unique taste.

All in all, Irama excels in serving authentic Malay cuisine. The restaurant uses premium ingredients and does not cut corners when it comes to food preparation. If you are looking for an exquisite Malay dining experience, I cannot recommend Irama highly enough.

Name: Irama
Address: 2, Lebuh Light, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 012-914-0908
Business hours: 11:00am-1:00am
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Irama-Dining-102378764470663
Coordinates: 5.42001 N, 100.34183 E
Directions: From Jubilee Clock Tower, travel along Light Street (Lebuh Light) with the Penang State Assembly Building (Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri) on the left and Fort Cornwallis (Kota Cornwallis) on the right. After Hong Leong Bank on the left, the next block is Penang Chinese Chamber Of Commerce Building. Irama is located at Level 2 of this block. Street parking is available along Penang Street (Lebuh Penang) and King Street (Lebuh King).

Lagenda Cafe

This article is part of my Ramadan 2019 compilation.

Special thanks to Lagenda Cafe for extending this food review invitation.

Lagenda House & Cafe is a hotel-cum-restaurant at Campbell Street (Lebuh Campbell). The boutique hotel occupies the upper floor of the building, while the restaurant downstairs, Lagenda Cafe, is open to the public. Lagenda Cafe serves Asian dishes with special emphasis on Malay and Indonesian cuisines.

The dining area is decorated with photos of the late P. Ramlee (1929-1973), one of most prominent Malaysian artists of all time. Born in Penang, P. Ramlee left a profound impact on the local filming and music industries. Oldies from the 1950s and 1960s fill the restaurant's ambience with a nostalgic charm.

In conjunction with the upcoming Ramadan season, Lagenda Cafe is serving the Ramadan Special (RM75.90). The meal comprises of multiple food items, covering appetizers, main dishes and desserts. Given the large portion, the Ramadan Special is clearly meant for two persons.

Starting with ulam-ulaman, there are raw vegetables like cucumber, kacang botol (winged beans) and daun pudina (mint leaves). Condiments to go with ulam-ulaman are air asam (tamarind sauce), sambal oelek (spicy paste) and acar jelatah (pickled cucumber, carrots and shallots). In addition, light crackers help to keep the appetite up.

The meat platter is every carnivore's dream. Barbecued items are daging bakar (grilled beef), kambing bakar (grilled lamb), ayam bakar (grilled chicken) and sate ayam (chicken satay). The kambing bakar is particularly tasty; I love the amazing marinade that makes the mutton so succulent. Telur masin (salted egg) and kuah kacang (peanut sauce) are included too.

Other food items are served on a congkak board. Masak lemak tempeh is a dish of creamy curry with fermented soybeans. Pengat pisang is a sweet dessert that contains bananas and sweet potatoes. Meanwhile, kerabu mangga is a salad composed of shredded unripe mango and onions.

Sup serai (lemongrass soup) is a popular type of soup in Malay cuisine. Next, ikan bilis sambal petai tantalizes the taste buds with spicy and savory flavors. As for something sweet, bread & butter pudding is best enjoyed with vanilla sauce.

Moving on to desserts, pandan panna cotta and cocoa jelly are interesting puddings that delight my palate. As for something spicy, kerabu tembikai presents a unique marriage between watermelon and cili padi (bird's eye chili).

The Ramadan Special comes with two servings of rice: nasi kunyit and nasi kerabu. The rice dishes are dyed by turmeric and bunga telang (butterfly-pea flowers) respectively. Fried shallots on top serve to enhance the rice's aroma.

Buah kurma (palm dates) are traditionally eaten first when breaking fast. This is because their sweetness gives one an immediate boost of energy. Other fruits provided are pitaya (dragon fruit), watermelon and pineapple.

After a satisfying meal, it is wise to have a refreshing drink in order to cleanse the palate. Shown here is a glass of Pineapple Mint Juice (RM12.00). Drinks are not included in the Ramadan Special.

Name: Lagenda Cafe
Address: 43, Lebuh Campbell, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-261-2293
Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cafelagenda
Coordinates: 5.41724 N, 100.33499 E
Directions: Driving along the one-way Campbell Street (Lebuh Campbell), Lagenda Cafe is located on the right between the junctions with Rope Walk (Jalan Pintal Tali) and Carnarvon Street (Lebuh Carnarvon). Limited street parking is available along these roads.

PGC Garden Terrace

Special thanks to Penang Golf Club for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Penang Golf Club (PGC) is the only 18-hole golf course on Penang Island. The country club is located at Bukit Jambul, right next to Hotel Equatorial Penang.

The main restaurant inside Penang Golf Club is Sakurajima Japanese & Chinese Restaurant. The restaurant is open to the public. Parking is free of charge too. In addition, PGC members get 15% discount off the total bill.

Every day from 11:30am to 8:30pm (except on Sundays), Penang Golf Club serves nasi kandar at the PGC Garden Terrace. Located just outside Sakurajima, this outdoor location is covered with artificial turf.

Popular nasi kandar dishes here are kambing kurma (mutton curry, RM7.50), ayam kari (chicken curry, RM7.00), ayam goreng rempah (spicy fried chicken, RM6.00), hati ayam (chicken liver, RM1.00), sambal udang (spicy prawns, RM8.00), sotong kari (squid curry, RM6.80) and kepala ikan (fish head, RM5.50).

The drinks menu is pretty varied too. For instance, White Coffee Cendol Cincau Gula Melaka (RM7.00) and 3-Layer Milk Tea With Gula Melaka (RM6.00) are popular choices. As for desserts, go for Ice Kacang With Ice Cream (RM8.00). Ice cream flavors are vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

Overall, the food at PGC Garden Terrace is reasonably priced compared to nasi kandar stalls elsewhere. Meanwhile, customers who prefer air conditioning can enjoy their meals in the comfort of Sakurajima at no extra charge.

Name: PGC Garden Terrace
Address: Penang Golf Club, Jalan Bukit Jambul, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-644-2255
Business hours: 11:30am-8:30pm, closed on Sundays
Website: http://www.penanggolfclub.com.my
Coordinates: 5.33607 N, 100.28374 E
Directions: Penang Golf Club (PGC) 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. PGC Garden Terrace is located inside the country club. Admission and parking are free of charge.