Cariso Delicacies Corner

This is an invited review.

Before hopping to the cycling tour, I wish to inform you all that you may expect the following places/items of interest at Balik Pulau.

Marimman Hindu temple, Muslim mosque and graveyard, Traditional malay healer (bomoh), Kuih Baulu, Homestay village, Coconut, Hokkien Mee and Lo Bak, Cooling face powder, Nipah Palmyra drink (Air Nira), Batik, Laksa Janggus, Stepping Stone Centre, Shrimp paste (belacan), Pulau Betong Fishing Villave, Pantai Pasir Panjang, Traditional Malay house, Paddy fields. During the journey back, you may visit Organic Fruit & Vegetable farm and Goat farm.

If you are exploring merely the Balik Pulau town which is approximately in walkable 1km’s distance , then you may wish to cover the following :  Wet market and Sunday market, Roman Catholic church, Historical Schools (SMK. Sacret Heart, SMK St. George), Spice and Fruit farm, Xuan Wu Chinese temple, Balik Pulau Laksa, Shophouse No. 100, Silversmith, Roundabout and Old District office.

Now, here is the centre that we gathered before our cycling tour.

The bikes prepared by the Explore Balik Pulau Centre.

Our tea break before cycling tour began. [...]

The ingredients and style used in this restaurant is different or claimed to be ‘higher’ grade than the so-called ‘OLD’ one. Well, for me, it doesn’t matter whether if this restaurant is from the same management source, I only care about the quality of the food.

Below pricing are for 10 pax portion & also price/kg:

Steamed Grouper 石斑清蒸（钓） – RM80/kg [My rating : 8/10]

This grouper is not breeding ones, but fished. It’s very fresh.

Tri Flavour Red Snapper 红狮三味 – RM25/pc [My rating : 7/10]

Steamed Clam 花芭蒸 – RM18 [My rating : 6/10]

I still prefer clams to be prepared in more spicy flavour.

[...]

This is a 13-yr-old restaurant taken over by a young man last year. If you still recall, this is the first Taiwanese restaurant in Penang.

At this restaurant, you will not be seeing commercial type of typical taiwanese food, but the homecook style (blended with local taste) instead. If you are looking for a cheap and yet good meal, this probably suits you!

Saucy Chicken Rice 贵妃鸡饭 RM8

Sweet-based of sauce cooked with wolfberries/goji berry.

Taiwan Beef Noodle RM7

Ingredients : Beef (you will expect ngau lam and muscle here), pickled Chinese cabbage and pakchoy.

Beef is freshly bought from the market by the restaurant owner. Therefore you can let go the worry of consuming 黑心牛肉 from supplier.

Their noodles are flat version, unlike other Taiwanese restaurants in Penang.

Their soup base is very thick and resembles OXTAIL soup, non-spicy version. Therefore you are advised to bottom-it- up when it is served hot!
[...]

Apart from the Lorong Selamat’s Char Koay Teow, did you notice there is one PURPLE building there?

Yes, this is another new one (not too new though, already half year old since Dec last year), a restaurant run by two young ladies who have traveled around the world in search of recipes.

Their passion can be seen from every décor in the premise wihich is self-decorated. If you are observant enough, then you will notice that every exterior window frame is made of different design too!

Downstair dining area.

The wall alongside the staircase.

They have many menus. One for 1st & 3rd wk, one for 2nd & 4th wk;  and further divided into Lunch and Dinner. It’s kind of confusing for me! I shall slip in part of the menu in between photos as reference (only).

This restaurant is one of the few restaurants that never use MSG. Most of their sauces are homemade too!

Well, you don’t get shocked when you see the LONGGGGGGGGG list of sauce choices in their menu (scroll till the btm).

Homemade Mushroom Soup - A version with many types of mushrooms blended into one. [My rating : 8/10]

Pizzaiola
Veggie Pizzailo RM9.90
Chicken Ham Pizzailo RM13.90
Beef Pepperoni Pizzailo RM14.90

Chicken Ham Pizzailo with Roti Canai Base (RM13.90) – Chicken Ham + Pineapple + Sweet Corn [My rating : Nil, no chance to taste ]

[...]

This is not the first house at Jalan Irrawady that is being converted to a restaurant (I believe most of you know about the other one nearby right?) :p).

My first impression when stepping into this restaurant is “Hmm…….huan keng beh pai leh!”

The colour tone and image portrayed are sharp enough for you to know that this whole restaurant is Mediterranean-based, with white & blue colour painting inside out. (Oh ya, except the restrooms  .

The yellow lighting which I like the MOST is matched with blue sky ceiling and neat table settings, expressing cozy and cool ambience.

Left to Right :
Wine display corner (Wide selection of wine from France, Australia, Chile and etc).
Outdoor seating (smoking area/ceiling fan).
Indoor seating (non-smoking area/air-cond). [...]