We’re familiar with Singapore being touted as a food paradise. We think that nothing comes close due to our fusion-cuisines from the melting pot of various ethnics and cultures. Interestingly, what many of us don’t know is that Penang’s food culture is actually very much like ours too! Penang has a similar mix of the Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnics, which gives rise to signature dishes that are often inspired or tinged with flavors across cultures.
Hands up, those of you who have tried at least one Penang dish before, and have fallen absolutely in love with it. I’m expecting plenty of hands, because really, how do you not love their rich and savory flavors?
Last Friday, we were hosted by the kind folks at Traders Hotel to try out their Penang buffet that will be available at Cafebiz from 13 Sep to the 31st of October! It presents a wholesome menu of well-known Penang dishes prepared by Golden Sands Resort guest chefs Lim Thow Shong and Ridzuan Bin Mat – who were flown down specially to prepare the dishes. Expect to indulge in Assam Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Loh Bak and the like! Apart from its Penang dishes, the usual select of International Cuisines remain as well.
P.S: Get ready to feel hungry.
See those pineapple bits as well? Yum. Not everyone will like this variant though because its very different from Singapore Laksa. Guess it’s up to your personal preference!
Left: Assam Prawn. This reminded me of the Assam Prawns my grandparents used cook for our weekly large family dinners, so I really liked it. Moreover, the prawns were juicy and fleshy! Again, the tamarind taste of assam was striking.
Right: Jiu Hu Eng Chai (Cuttlefish Salad with Water Convolvulus) – blanched cuttlefish tossed with prawn paste, topped with sesame seeds and grounded peanuts. Some people found this light and pleasant, but I don’t usually eat cuttlefish so yup.
It got slightly jelat for me after a while because the coconut milk was too sweet, but I still loved it nevertheless!
Fresh ocean catches include the Boston Lobster, Clams, Prawns and the likes. Otherwise known as the ‘totally-makes-the-buffet-worth-it-counter” to many of my friends
There was also a section on more Western food, as well as Japanese cuisine that I did not manage to take pictures of. The salmon sashimi was refilled pretty quickly from what I saw, so props to them for always keeping sight of wherever needed to be topped up with more food!
It wasn’t mind-blowingly spectacular, but I can safely say that there’s definitely something for everyone 🙂 Bread and butter pudding, check. Nonya kuehs, check. Chiffon swiss rolls, check. Thick chocolate cakes, check.
Marshmallow-thread sticks for the chocolate fondue, and wait, is that cream puffs I see? A first I’ve seen for fondues, actually. And that’s lemon meringue!
To say that this buffet had a spanking wide variety would be an understatement.
I like Penang food although I’m not a huge, insane fan. This buffet would be one that would be super worth it though – the Penang dishes were really tasty, and you still have your usual selection of international cuisine.
And you know you can always count on the Assam Laksa to reinvigorate your taste buds for the night, hee. I know I keep rambling on about it but oh, I just found out that it was ranked by CNN as 7th in its list of the world’s top 50 most delicious foods! I’m not alone. Trust me, it was good!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tradershotelsingapore
Hotel Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/corporate/golden-circle/about/news/traders-hotel-singapore-presents-penangs-hot-favourites-penang-food/
Address: 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249716
Dinner Price: $58++ (Adult) from Mon-Wed, $63++ (Adult) from Thu-Sun
Disclosure: Media Invitation
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