:: Winter Solstice 冬至 ~ Tang Yuen ::

For Chinese tradition, everytime when it's Mid Winter, roughly around December, they will celebrate Winter Solstice. It's a time whereby all the family get together again, and make the Tang Yuen together. It's symbolized family unity. My family are everywhere of the world. So it's quite difficult for them to come back for this season. Well, I managed to make some, to have it with my mum. :)

Overview of Tang Yuen Making

Normally, we don't like it just plain white for our Tang Yuen (Glutinous Rice Ball). But we don't like it for just artificial colouring. So, I did a few colours with natural colour.

As you can see from the picture, I have 5 colours include white. There are Purple, Pink, Orange, White & Blue. Purple colour is from Purple Sweet Potato, Pink is from ripe Mulberry, Blue is from Blue Flower (蓝花), Orange is from Sweet Potato and White is from the flour itself. :)

It's all about your determination. If you would want it colourful, and want it healthy, just spend a little more time to make it natural colours with beautiful effect.
Here is some other suggestions of colours from natural.

Yellow - Japanese Sweet Potato
Red - Beet Root/ Red Dragon Fruit
Green - Pandan Leaves
Grey - Yam
Black - Black Sesame Seeds
Olive Green - Green Tea/ Matcha

See, there are wonderful colours from the natural. You don't need the colourings from the market. Just spend a little time extra to have it. :D

Enjoy. Happy Winter Solstice!

My Colourful Tang Yuen

:: Via Pre ::

As Christmas is just around the corner, I think this place is a great place for Christmas Hangout with friends. I went with my bunch of colleagues.

Overview of Via Pre

Via Pre has a very cozy environment with great food as well. It's a good Italian Restaurant.
I love their Pizza the most. Thin crust with very appetizing toppings. Yumms.

Buffalina (RM 32) 

  Buffalina (tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, parma ham, rucola, parmigiano) - a splendid combination!
The parma ham is real good!

Del Porto Salad (RM 26)

Del Porto Salad ~ a combination of mix salad, rocket salad, smoked salmon, prawns, asparagus, artichokes, tomatoes, lemon & chives dressings, capers and olives. A word to describe ~ fresh.

Gnocchi Allo Speck (RM 29)

Gnocchi Allo Speck ~ Ricotta & Potatoes dumpling in blue cheese sauce with speck. I like this very much. But this dish you cannot finish it all by yourself coz it's too cheesy. =P

Catch of the Day (RM 39)

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio (RM 18)

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio seems a simple dish but it's the most difficult dish to prepare. Look plain but simply delicious. ^^

Tiramisu (RM 16)

Ricotta Cake (RM 16)

How could you say no to dessert in an Italian Restaurant? No matter how full you are, I think you would just share a dessert. Haha... of course I said YES! and Obviously say yes again to a hot latte. :)

Hot Latte (RM 9)

It's a lovely meal at a cozy place. Excellent is the perfect word. :)

Via Pre
5 Weld Quay,
10300 Georgetown
Penang
Tel: 04-262 0560
Business Hour: 10am - 11pm (Daily)

:: Hon Kei Food Corner ::

This place is all about Pork, whether you would like to order a bowl of porridge or vermicelli. The only choice is whether you want the normal which includes the minced meat, brain, intestine, liver & heart; or just the minced meat. Haha... this must be sounded scary to ya. :p

Overview of Hon Kei Food Corner

The owner used to sell his "Bak Moey" or Pork Porridge at a small stall by the roadside. Due to overwhelming response through years, now he own this nice restaurant with proper seats for the customers. Good choice!

Minced Meat Porridge (RM 6.00)

Of course I just ordered the Minced Meat only coz I don't really fancy the rest. But for 'him', he ordered with Brain as well. -_-' (That will be another RM 1.50).

Lots of Meat

Look, it's really got a lot of meat. Real meat. :) It's worth the money you pay.

Hon Kei Food Corner
45 Kampung Malabar,
10100 Georgetown, Penang
Tel：012 - 443 5559 / 016 - 443 9085 （For takeaway orders）
Business Hours：9:00am - 3:00pm & 5:00pm - 12:00am （Closed on Thu）

:: Armenian House Cafe ::

I've noticed this cafe through other ppl's blog few weeks back. But noticed that they just open until 6pm. Well, I finally managed to step in to this cafe on Sunday when I went for a ride with buddies.
It's nice place as it gave you that heritage feel. :)

Overview of Armenian House

As we had a big breakfast and the weather was so hot, we didn't order any food. Just drinks .. I mean coffee.. and yes, ICED. =D

Three Different Types of Coffee

Can you differentiate which is which? =P From left: Hazelnut Latte (RM 13) , Cappuccino (RM 12), Caramel Latte (RM 13). I can say their coffee is just normal. Not a wow factor but overall not bad. I must admit that the ice did a very good job for the weather.

Heritage Feel

 The cafe is nicely decorated. Notice the picture frames at the wall? They are lovely.

Nicely Decorated Wall

Hazelnut Latte (RM 13)

A tempting cup of Hazelnut Latte for a warm day. Satisfying. :)

Armenian House Cafe
35, Lebuh Armenian,
10200 Georgetown Penang
Tel: +6016 486 8309 / +6012 300 8277 / +604 262 8309 
Business Hour:  9am till 6pm

:: Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe ::

As a Korean fans, I'm in love everything about Korean (한글), from the language to the culture to the drama to the places to the food! I love them completely. I will go for all the Korean food available in town, try everything of them. :) 

Not long ago, there is this Korean food cafe opens in Gurney Plaza, Penang. No doubt, I will of course visit this place and immediately I'm in loved. :D 

Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe

We ordered something very special - Beef Rice Burger. This is soooo good! I love the Rice Burger as it was made from Mixed grains with seaweed, compressed it to a bun-like. It's hard to explain how good it was. =P 

Beef Rice Burger (RM 23.90)

Garlic Bulgogi Rice - it's a traditional Korean dish. But it's never a wrong choice. :D 

Garlic Bulgogi Rice (RM 20.90)

In this cafe, they serve all sort of very special drinks. Well, at least with all the special names that we might not know what is it until you really order them.

Milky HwaChe (RM 12.90)

It's a lovely place. I'll definitely come again, and surely will introduce others about this lovely cafe. Look, they are so considerate. "There is a hook under the table to hang your bag"

It's written on the serviette ^^

An incredible experience to dine in this Fusion style Korean Cafe. You should try! ^^ 

Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe
170-G-40 Gurney Plaza, Persiaran Gurney 
10250 Penang
Tel: 04 - 226 4810
Business Hour: 10am till 10pm (Daily) 

:: Victoria Rossa English Tea Room ::

I always love English Afternoon Tea and this place I'm going to share here is listed as one of my favourite spots now. Today is not my first time, and definitely not my last time too. I will sure visit this place very often. Perhaps I will blog on the next time on other type of food or on any updates or new menu of this place. 

An Overview of Victoria Rossa English Tea Room

I love the deco of this place. It's such English style, and it feels like when you are dining here or having a cup of tea, you are dining like the Queen. :) 

The Front Area

Their pastries here like scones, butter cake, orange cake or Hershey's chocolate cake, are really good. I love their scones and orange cake. Yumms... 

Raisin Scone (RM 6)

Of course, cannot resist their flower tea too. Today I had a pot of Victorian's Blend - Tea of Julia (Chamomile with lemongrass). Very mild tea, a good choice for the day. Oh, you need to steep for 8 minutes. (Exactly, wait for the hour glass)

Victorian's Blend - Tea of Julia (RM 12/ pot)

My favourite main at Victoria Rossa is their Shepherd's Pie. Love it. Spiciness from the amountful of blackpepper. =D 

Old Style Shepherd's Pie (RM 19.90)

Their Old English Grilled Chicken wasn't my liking. Too much of thyme herbs. Tasted the herbs, and not the chicken. 

Old English Grilled Chicken (RM 26) 

They do serve special set for Lunch. For the environment, so the pricing considered quite okay.

Special Lunch Menu

Overall, this place is a very beautifully decorated restaurant, with the English twist. It's a perfect place for a peaceful afternoon tea, and also for a good girls' night out. 
They also caters for party as well. 

Victoria Rossa

Victoria Rossa English Tea Room
33, Jalan Irrawady, 10050 Penang 
Tel: 04-226 9128
Business Hour: 11am till 10pm (Close on Tuesday) 

:: Milo Double Chocolate Chip Muffins ::

I looovee baking muffins. :) Really really into muffins - a crazy fan. =P I'm going to share with you my favourite muffin recipe today! Everyone loves this. I love it, he loves it. Little bunny also loves it. =D

Delicious looking Milo Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

Actually muffins are easy to bake and most important thing is they are yummy. Remember, always minus off some sugar level and try substitute plain flour with wholewheat flour. It would be much healthier choice.
 

Look at those chocolate chips sticking out at the side! Yummss.....

Here's the simple recipe. This is an original recipe. You are welcome to decrease the sugar usage. I did. =)

Ingredients:
270g self-rising flour
30g Milo
1 teaspoon baking powder
55g butter
80g sugar
150g milk or semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs, lightly beaten
225ml milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200 deg C. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with paper muffin cups.


2. Mix the flour, Milo and baking powder in a large bowl.


3. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.


4. Stir in sugar and chocolate chips.


5. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture all at once into the dry ingredients. Mix quickly until just blended. Do not over mix.


6. Spoon batter evenly into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 20mins or until golden brown, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.


7. Cool in the pan for 10mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy baking like I do!

<Birdie>

:: The Little Nyonya Cuisine ::

This is not my first time here. I have been here a few times. Love the food they serve here. So, I have decided to pen it down this round. As from the name, you will know this place serves Nyonya Cuisine. If you don't know what is Nyonya about, you could always google it, or can just ask me. :)

An overview of what they have it here

Food over here are a little spicy.. erm okay, not little. Kinda a lot if for those can't even take one tiny bit of spiciness. Have some water by yourself if you can't. :)

Melaka Kapitan Curry Noodles (RM 8.80)

The flavours from the curry is such an Omph...

Tomyam Chicken Rice with Tomyam Soup (RM 10.80)

The chicken is tender, delicious with tomyam taste with it. The soup is not very satisfying though.

Indonesian Prawn Rice (RM 10.80)

Haha... don't ask me why they serve Indonesian rice here in this nyonya cafe here. I have no idea, seriously. But who cares, as the prawns curry is really good. Best to go with sambal.... walalala...

Bee Koh Moy ~ Black Glutinous Dessert (RM 3.80)

Surprisingly, this is good and with little sweet. A great option for those who are sugar-levels- watching eaters and would love to have some dessert after meal. :)

The Little Nyonya Cuisine
170-B1-32B Plaza Gurney
Persiaran Gurney 10250 Penang
Tel: 04-227 0694
Business Hour: 10.00am - 10.00pm (Daily)