boon's log 3607.04: Food blog: In and about...

Here a little entry about food and makan-makan around Penang.

First of all, it's my turn to hog the kitchen/oven. And after a second try, I've finally managed to make something close to Maxim's Portuguese Custard Tarts. The first try was rather unsuccessful because of the wrong recipe (which was for normal egg-tarts) provided by our baking-needs-supplier (Demeters, along Jalan Jelutong). The pastry recipe that one needs for Portuguese Tarts is like that found in puffs or rolls, i.e. multiple thin layers of puff pastry. Well, from one of the recipe found on the web, the easiest way was to get it off the shelf. Failing find it from our local supermarts, I resort to doing the pastry myself, and I must say that it was rather rewarding(!). The toughest part of the whole thing is making the pastry, where you need to roll and fold and roll and fold...

If you are interested, I'd suggest the following website for the pastry; click here.

As for the custard, I'd suggest this following website.

The result of combining the two recipes? Simply Portuguese Tart heaven...


Portuguese Custard Tarts

Last week IL and I managed to savour 2 different (relatively) new noodle houses in Penang: Ajisen Ramen and Taiwan Bull. We first landed in Taiwan Bull, Queensbay Mall, during one of the weekdays (while the rest of the gang went to Sakae Sushi). Our overall assessment of Taiwan Bull is as it's name says - a load of bull. The pricing is a little steep to an extend that it does not make sense. Take the following as an example. If I remember correctly, the price of a bowl of minced beef noodle is RM10.90. If you want to add additional meatballs (with soup), that's additional RM2. And guess how many meatballs they give you? 2 mini little beef-balls!


Taiwan Bull: Food's so-so; portion is little; service's poor; price is weird

And the portion sufficient to fill your tummy to the level of what an appetizer does (non-American appetizer, that is). And the service is pretty bad. Even though they do not have many tables, with >5 persons working in the kitchen, they took >1/2 an hour to deliver IL's noodle soup (and we had to remind them twice).

Not recommended if you have any other choice for lunch/dinner - especially dinner if you don't intend to take supper 2 hours after that... Oh, we met ML a few days later and she had the same comments on the place and told me that I should blog about this... So, ML, there you go! ;)



Then, during the weekend, my parents were in town and we decided to check out Ajisen Ramen up in Gurney Plaza. The place looks crowded and not your typical Japanese-feel restaurant. The other problem that we encountered was that we barely had place to put Ab's stroller. Anyway, we managed to fit everyone in, in the end.

Overall, we kinda prefer this place compared to the former. The service was quick and the portion was huge - not just the noodles, but the meat portion as well. I ordered the soft-bone beef brisket noodle (or something like that) and it was more than enough to fill me. Green tea, as usual, is bottomless, for RM1.50 (if I remember correctly). So overall, costs less, tastes better, bigger portion, faster service.


Ajisen Ramen: Good taste, ample portion, good and fast service and better deal for your buck

Don't mind going back to Ajisen Ramen again, but I'll think twice about Taiwan Bull...

boon out...