The Family Style Dining . Italiannies

Sometimes it's quite hard to figure where should I dine for my dinner if don't want to go for Penang local style, sometimes you will have other craving after so many local food, at least it happens on me. Some restaurants are too fine to dine (I'm okay with this on special occasion), some cafes do not serve main course that can fulfill me for dinner; when I come to this contradiction, the best choice will fall on restaurants in shopping mall, we get to eat after some shopping spree although I didn't get anything that day.

I once tried Italiannies at Kuala Lumpur few years back where I merely have any impress now, but I still remember they served large portion with reasonable price, we do not know on the first time and we ordered a lot till we can't even finish, I will not did the same on my next try lol. Lucky us now Italiannies open in Gurney Paragon Mall, you need not travel to Kuala Lumpur for this next time.

Some shots on the interior. There were not much diners when we went inside where we can have more selective where to get our seat, sofa seats always make me surrender. If you want to have some sip only, not that proper meal, you might consider the outdoor seats.

Like usual Italian restaurant, they will served the complimentary bread once you place your order, together with the mixture of vinegar and olive oil for dipping purpose. Too bad they didn't refill for us once we finished that 4 pieces of bread, most of the places wouldn't refill I guess except Via Pre. Quite regret to order the bottomless Orange Fruit Juice (RM9.50), it's actually from Tropicana Twister unless you order their Fresh Fruit Juice; moreover I can actually get their wine if I add few more tokens. 

Clams - Fra Diavolo . RM28.90

Wanted to try their starter also other that the main course, but it seems like the starters listed in their menu is quite heavy; either fried, meat or cheese, we go for the Mussels/Clams In A Pot session and I like clams more. They have 2 signature under this session, Fra Diavolo and Creme Fraiche, at first we went for the latter but they said it's not available that time so ended up we have Fra Diavolo. They served the clams simmered in a tomato chili broth, squeeze some lemon in this pot and the broth become tastier with the bit of sourness. Garlic bread were served together with this pot of clams, just dip them in the broth and let them tickle your taste-buds. 

Seafood Risotto . RM36.90

The portion of their pasta really shocked me on the first time, I was so glad to find out that risotto is available in their menu (2 choices - mushrooms or seafood). You have no idea how much I love risotto, it's rice you know, it's not the normal rice we eat at home but the Arborio rice which contain higher amylopectin starch content, means it will make the rice chewy and creamy, best for risotto! A medley of seafood (mussels, clams, prawns and squids) sauteed in white wine topped on the Arborio rice which up-front simmered in mussels and clams broth, you will have mouthful taste even you only eat their rice without any seafood.

We didn't thought much before order the food, we only realized we have too much of clams when they served the dishes, quite guilty on this lol. I surely will come here again, for their food and of course their service is quite good as well. 

Location

Lot 1-31, Level 1, Gurney Paragon Mall, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang.

Business Hours

11am till midnight (Daily)

Contact Number

04-2289761

Website

www.italiannies.com.my

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I'm really torturing myself posting the risotto's photo.

Laid-back . The Alley

Woke up early in the morning and I just realize I didn't have any post up for this week, it's like a norm for me to have at least one post weekly, hope I can persist this and share new thing to my readers. When I said my sister has become my partner in crime hunting new cafe, this round, my mum joined us as she simply feel to have some sweet tooth to cure her dessert addiction.

It's easily to know a newly open cafe from social network where you can see people starting to post delicious food and great ambient to dine-in; it caught my eyes with no failure everytimes. It's pretty hard to choose a cafe out of a long list (my sister actually list down a number of cafes she feel to go, and some of it I never been before either), we decided to go The Alley where the parking is a total pain at Stewart Lane. The Alley is actually located next to the Goddess of Mercy Temple, if you couldn't find the metal signboard of the cafe, try to look for Kedai Gaharu Keat Seang, it's former name of this shop.

My first thought when I open the entrance door, wah the cafe is quite small huh until I saw a sign written they have more space behind, with sofa chair! We picked our seat there since there was no on occupied yet and we will have total freedom to talk and take photos. But it's just next to their washroom if you don't mind, you may need to move your chair a bit so that they will have a small path for people who go to washroom. Other than this, you can start to have your selfie with wooden signboard provided or doodle on the wall. 

It's not the end after your have your seat settle, you need to get your order place at their counter. It's quite easy to decide what to try, only 2 snacks were available that day as their refrigerator was spoiled a week back and they couldn't have cake done on time. 

They have a small range of Malaysian-designed Pestle & Mortar tees and shorts; it's quite good you can have shopping done in a cafe. 

Caramel Latte (RM11) . Choc Mint Frappe (RM13)

I'm back to coffee now, not really unless I got someone to share with me. Have no idea why I had caramel latte, I think the rest contain more caffeine compare with this one and I couldn't have cold beverages. The caramel latte surprise me with not-that-sweet nor not-that-bitter, up to my liking, I can really finish it by my own. I once heard a good latte art wouldn't change it's design/pattern when you drink it, I try to sip here and there and I still have the heart shape until I finished it off. As for the chocolate mint frappe, I didn't try it but my sister and mum seem to like it as the mint really chilling during this hot weather. 

Churros with Dip . RM9 (for big one)

They will ask you what you prefer for the dip, you can choose two and we had salted caramel and nutella, for my sister whatever dip with nutella is a heaven, it's too sweet for me. Have my first try on churros and it's quite good (I haven't try churros from other cafes, so let's say it's the best until I found another), taste like English You Tiao. Googled it and it's a fried doughnut serve as a snack / breakfast which usually dipped in hot chocolate by Spanish. It's quite good to eat like this without any dip, my thought. 

Cronut . RM8

This is the highlight of the day, cronut is actually a cross between croissant and doughnut, it is drenched generously with the topping of your choice (we went for chocolate). They serve this up with a thumb size of fried doughnut placed under the cronut, looks like an art piece where we have number of photos before eat. My mum sit there and show the when-only-I-can-eat-those-face, she was so relief when we finally keep our camera / phone away from the table. It's really good because I have more bites on it eventho it drench with a lot of chocolate; crispy outside but fluffy inside and it's served warm upon ordering. Must try!

Well well, I have my selfie up for this post as I really like these photos, looks good isn't it? Laugh. We had a lot of fun with their wooden signboard and one of it is: fatdieme or fattybombom; frankly you need to say goodbye with your waist line if you come over to have their churros and cronut, heavenly good! 

Location

5, Stewart Lane, 10200 Georgetown, Penang.

Business Hours

12pm - 12am (Daily)

Contact Number

04-2613879

Facebook

The Alley, 5 Stewart Lane

Email

thealleypenang@gmail.com

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#prayforMH370

3D Amazing Real-Life Stunning Arts . Penang Paragon Mall

Still remember I posted the Made In Penang Interactive Museum where they have quite a number of 3D paintings? Now, Penang have another 3D Art Exhibition located at Paragon Mall and there are more than 40 life-sized 3D paintings being displayed. 

It's actually located at Level 3, St. Jo's Gurney Paragon Mall, you can get your entrance pass from the booth before enter the exhibition. The entrance fee is slightly higher than the Made In Penang Interactive Museum as it's actually a fund raising for handicapped organised by EDEN. Set your mind right, and pay more for the charity; after-all I spend around 2 hours to finish posing with all the paintings. Act fast because the event is last until 16-Mar-14, you still have 2 more weeks to go! 

Yoohoo~ the entrance for 3D Art Exhibition, have a photo session the Disneyland characters before going inside. Same advice to you: do not go there during peak hours if you want to take nice photos with the paintings; lucky us to go there during weekday and it seems like there are not much visitors during our visit, so there's no awkward moment during photo session. 

Didn't show much paintings here, left some surprise for you to discover yourselves. I got myself sweating non-stop while taking the photo with paintings, some paintings require you to lay down and pose, although it's quite weird but the effect is damn good! The most popular painting would be the angel's wing (my thought), all of us wish to be an angel and wish to get the good shot with that painting. 

Go to pay a visit now before it's too late and enjoy yourselves! 

Location

Level 3, St. Jo's, Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Operating Hours

10am - 10pm (Until 16-Mar-14)

Entrance Fee

Adult : RM20

Children/Student : RM15

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Going to trip with family soon, although it's just a normal place where people use to go. But I like.

Korean Cafe Gil . Ivory Plaza

Now most of my friends and colleagues have a rage on the Korean drama - You Who Come From the Star, even male colleague also ask around where can he get the drama from. On this moment, I seem to be wanted as I'm one of the source for this drama (my sister is the main source, I'm just a co-source, laugh). Something I suffer from Korean drama and TV shows is when they show the eating scene, gosh, the food really luring my tastebuds to the max and it always make me crave for Korean food for no time. 

Try to hunt new Korean restaurant (other than the one I always go) within Penang is quite challenging as here do not have much variety like KL. Lucky me came across a food blog and discover a new Korean cafe with the name Gil that located at Ivory Plaza. 

Oh yeah, most of the Korean restaurant served pork as they provided BBQ service; since here do not have BBQ service, the owner change a little bit on their menu and make it halal! You can see lots of USM students come here lepak after their class. That's their handmade menu which wrapped in fabric, it's quite surprising that they actually serve variety of food, so many to choose from! The highlight over here is they do not charge 16% extra for service charge and government tax, it's just great.

I don't really recognize Korean pop stars if I didn't watch Running Man, the TV show really help them a lot to be more famous and gain more fans. Gil is a cozy cafe which make me feel like home and they have only limited seating, make sure you come earlier if you come in a group. Those polaroid photos always remind me that my baby 7s is rotten in home, I should bring back its life. 

Date Tea (left) and Plum Tea (right) . RM5.50

Heart their handmade coaster that served together with cold drink, those tea are just normal, they have hot beverage as well. 

Ddukbokgi . RM8.50

We ordered those food that can be seen in most of the dramas, the first one would be ddukbokgi - spicy rice cake, here they cook the rice cake with fishbar and vegetables. I'm quite regard on the taste of ddukbokgi whenever I go as I had the best ddukbokgi during univiersity life which cook by friend's mum. I started to forget the taste, but in Gil I think I get the taste back, it's quite similar with the one I had, but I think it will be better if they can make it spicier. I want to go Korea for their original ddukbkgi!! 

Dolsot Bibimbap . RM9.50

Next would be their dolsot bibimbap. I know about bibimbap during secondary school when I watched Full House; where Song Hye-Kyo pour all the dishes and rice (left over from last night) into a rice bowl and mixed with chili paste, seeing her eating the self-make bibimbap with a big spoon really make me drool. Chili paste is a soul in this dish as you can have different vegetables/meats in bibimbap but the taste would be based on the the chili paste. After-all, their chilli paste is not spicy enough, you can pour as many as you like (chili paste bottle is given together with this dish).

Gimchi Jjigyeo . RM9.50

Lastly would be Kimchi Soup! My all time favorite, love the way they served gimchi jjigyeo here as they serve the pot of pan just like what you can see from dramas. So Korean isn't it? For their kimchi soup, you can choose to have it with chicken or tuna, I chose the formal one. The soup is up to my liking, you can finish it all because there is no MSG added in their food. Something I should mention over here, their kimchi that come with every main course is awesome, it's not too sour or spicy, I can just finish them all without putting them into the soup. LOL. 

Location

2-1-1, Ivory Plaza Halaman Bukit Gambir, 11700 Penang.

Business Hours

11.30am - 10pm, Closed on Sunday

Contact Number

014-9074123

Facebook

Korean Cafe Gil

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I started to get back my enthusiasm towards craft.

Moustache Houze . Penang

Here comes another cafe we visited on the same day after we we had a nice bagel over here; was actually went to RedBox before came here lah. It's another cafe that I didn't visit right after their opening few months back with the same reason as the previous one; I always passed by this area and mumbled to myself that I'll definitely pay a visit some day. I stepped in the cafe right before this visit, but then it was so crowded that I couldn't manage to get myself a seat. Lesson learnt: not to visit new cafes during weekends. 

Moustache has become a popular prop when it comes to take photograph with pals, and I think this is why the owner will open a cafe call Moustache Houze and they provide a lot of props with moustache shape for you to take your selfie with friends. 

It was quite empty during the time we visited the cafe, only 1-2 tables were occupied; once we seated, more and more people came in for dessert or tea, I always have a thought that I can bring customers to shops/restaurants whenever I was there, laugh! The cafe is divided into three floors, if you like to have your own private time with your friends, you may consider the 1st floor where you can occupy one room for your group if you spend more than RM80, each room with different moustache painting. Or you can just go to 2nd floor for guesthouse liked seating which provide bean bag! If you just come here for a stop, simply want to taste their coffee, or come in small group, then ground floor will be more appropriate for you. 

Chocolate Ice Cubed with Milk . RM12.90

My sister's choice. She always likes to order signature drinks in the cafe, so before reached the cafe, she actually did some homework and she know what to order in a blink of eyes. Other than chocolate ice cubed, they also have espresso ice cubed, depend on your liking. If you don't like these, you can choose to have fruit ice cubed with soda that can chill you out during a broiling day. The milk served is hot and once you pour it into the cup then you will have chocolate milk for your beverage. 

Iced Minty Cocoberry . RM10.90 (roughly)

I spent quite some time to decide what to drink, keep asking the barista which beverage should I have and he intro me the seasonal drink, only applicable during Christmas period. The name actually sound pretty, it's actually a mixture of espresso, mint and some berries flavor. The taste end up quite weird (maybe I started to get hangover due to the caffeine), not to my liking btw; for people who love espresso that much, you may try it.

Caramel Almond Crepe Cake . RM10.90

Luckily they are selling crepe cake, if not I won't share with my sister. Whenever I hang out with my sister and parents, they will happily share the cakes while I'm sitting there chewing other snacks by my own. Can't help, I don't really like sponge cakes unless the sweetness is up to my liking, I'm hard to please I know. This caramel almond crepe cake is quite normal, maybe I always prefer vanilla french crepe cake more, original rocks!

Location

No. 24, Lebuh Campbell, 10100 Georgetown, Penang.

Business Hours

12pm - 12am (Daily)

Contact Number

04-2622228

Facebook

Moustache Houze

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I'm only choosy on sweet-tooth.