Penang Lobak (Five-Spice Roll)
Ingredients:
500g pork/chicken (with a little fat attached)
1 bulb of garlic, diced
1 Bombay onion, diced
1 tbsp chopped spring onion
10 pieces water chestnuts, diced
1 egg
1 large piece bean curd sheet, cut into 14×7 cm each piece
Seasoning:
½ tsp pepper
2-3 tsp five-spice powder (ng heong fun)
1 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp light soya sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp corn flour or sweet potato flour
Dipping sauce:
4-5 tbsp Thai sweet chilli sauce
3 tbsp Tomato ketchup
1 tsp lime juice
2 pieces of peanut candy (optional)
Sugar to taste
Method:
1. Cut the pork or chicken into small strips.
2. Combine meat, water chestnuts, onion, seasoning and egg in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Add spring onion to mixture. Marinate meat for at least 1 hour or preferably several hours in the fridge.
3. Put 1-2 tbsp marinated mixture onto each bean curd skin piece. Form into a long roll. Roll up tightly and twist both the ends.
4. Steam rolls for 5 to 8 minutes. Remove, leave it to cool.
5. In a wok, heat the vegetable oil to 350°F. Fry the rolls until golden brown, about 2 minutes, turning 2 to 3 times. Drain on paper towels.
6. Cut roll into slices and serve with dipping sauce.
Tip: You can keep Lobak in the deep freezer after steaming, deep fry before serving.
Thaipusam in Penang
January 22, 2010 by MFA
Filed under Events and Activities
Date: 29th to 31st January 2010
Thunderous music, singing, dancing and the beating of drums will once again fill Penang this Thaipusam.
Thaipusam is a pilgrimage procession takes place to bring the statue of Lord Muruga, who represents virtue, youth and power, on a silver chariot led by more then 60 Kavadis adorned with peacock feathers from Little India to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple atop the hill of Waterfall Road.
On the day before, old coconuts are smashed along the roads where the procession will pass in order to cleanse the streets for this spiritual journey.
Stand-Up Comedy – Jada Jade
January 22, 2010 by MFA
Filed under Events and Activities
Date: 15th January 2010
Venue: Fuel, Autocity, Juru, Penang. Time: 10pm to 10.45pm
Penang’s leisure lifestyle is best summed up at Autocity which showcases the best of Penang’s entertainment and cuisine. From car racing, to concerts by international superstars, to local delicious cookery, everything in Autocity holds great appeal to visitors of all ages.
This 15th Jan, Autocity will burst into laughter with Singapore comedian, Jada. It’s the perfect extravaganza to spend an evening as your weekend draws to a close.
Ponggal
January 22, 2010 by MFA
Filed under Events and Activities
Date: 14th to 16th January 2010
Venue: Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Butterworth and Waterfall car park (Penang Municipal Park)
Penang overjoys with cultural activities again this January. To kick start the year is the Ponggal Festival celebrating this week in Penang.
Ponggal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. It falls on the first day of the Tamil month which is considered to be an auspicious month.
One of Ponggal ceremony is to boil rice in a decorative new clay pot untill it overflows . It symbolizing overflowing wealth and harvest. And the cooking of the sweetened milk rice, which is later topped with brown sugar, cashew nuts and raisins.
Free Parking for Disabled
GEORGE TOWN (Jan 14, 2010): All registered physically disabled persons in Penang will be allowed free public parking throughout the island in a new ruling, the first of its kind in the country, by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).
The MPPP has decided to issue special purple car-stickers, to be renewed after two years, for disabled individuals who can drive and for guardians of those who cannot.
The ruling, which does not cover the deaf and the blind, took effect today.
Councillor Tan Hun Wooi said those who have already registered with the Social Welfare Department qualify to apply immediately. Those who have not registered yet are encouraged to do so to be eligible.
“We encourage the disabled to apply for these special stickers for their convenience,” he said. The first batch of stickers will be issued by the end of this month, he added.
Tan said this at a press conference at the Caring Society Complex here today.
The MPPP has been receiving calls to increase the number of bays for the disabled, and decided to tackle the problem by going one step further in giving out stickers for free public parking throughout the island.
Of the 11,000-odd parking bays under the MPPP, only 15 are currently reserved for the disabled.
In the meantime, the MPPP will still go ahead with plans to increase the number of disabled bays, so as to give the disabled greater convenience in finding available parking.
Tan also warned the general public not to park their vehicles in places reserved for the disabled.
Society of Disabled Persons Penang president, Teh Lay Kuan, said she was grateful to the local authorities for initiating the new purple-sticker ruling.
According to the Welfare department, there were 15,611 registered disabled people in the state.
“We often find people who are inconsiderate when they park at parking lots meant for the disabled, causing us inconvenience,” she added.
Applications for the stickers can be made at the MPPP’s office on the 15th floor of Komtar here. For details, call 04-2592130.
Ecco Cafe – Italian cuisine
January 14, 2010 by MFA
Filed under Penang Food, Restaurants
Head over to Ecco Cafe, if you are looking for freshly baked pizza and tasty pasta.
Echo Cafe located in Chulia Street and many tourists patronizing this cafe most of the time.
It has a very simple and basic furnishing. This cafe offers relatively a huge range of selection from pasta, baked sandwiches, pizza, salad, snacks and brunch set meals.
Address
Ecco Cafe
402 Chulia Street,
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 04-2623178
Toh Soon Cafe – Roti Bakar & Kopi O
January 14, 2010 by MFA
Filed under Penang Food, Restaurants
Toh Soon is a small side street cafe situated in the folds of Campbell street. This cafe which is run by Mr and Mrs Ooi has always been a hit with the locals all this while, especially their varieties served for breakfast and tea time.
This cafe utilizes charcoal in their daily operations. It is now rare to find the water boiler running on charcoal. Furthermore, the bread is toasted using the same charcoal at the lowest compartment!
Among the choice of bread spread sold here at Toh Soon are the creamy and pungent kaya, butter and peanut butter. There is also the steam bread with a spread of just butter and sugar. All the assorted bread is made at their bakery.
At Toh Soon the menu include the half boiled eggs, steam bread, packets of nasi lemak and their old fashioned charcoal burned roti bakar with a good cup of Kopi-O. The black coffee or Kopi-O here is exceptionally good in term of aroma and taste. Its flavor is totally different compare to other coffee shops. Its gives a buttery flavor with a bitter fragrance yet rich and thick satisfying taste.
Located within the narrow lane between Campbell Street and Jalan Kampung Malabar, this cafe has been operating for almost 50 years. Make a visit to this cafe for a light and simple breakfast. Parking spaces are available on both of these streets.
Address
Toh Soon Cafe
Campbell Street
10100 Penang
Tel : 04-2613754
