Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
247
($432/£268) double; RM2,266 ($657/£408) Rasa Wing double. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
4 restaurants; 2
bars; 2 outdoor lagoon-style pools; outdoor lighted tennis courts; health club; spa; wat ersports equip-
ment and ac tivities; concierge; airport transfers; room service; babysitting.
In room:
A/C, TV w/satellite
programming and in-house movies, fridge, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
The 1885
CONTINENTAL If y ou're celebrating a special occasion while in
Penang, The 1885 will make the experience bey ond memorable. The nostalgic romance
of the E&O H otel, its colonial ar chitecture, interiors, and manicur ed lawns ev oking
times when tigers probably roamed the grounds after dark, provides the most incredible
backdrop for a perfect meal. From an ever-changing menu, poultry, special cuts of meats,
and fr esh seafood ar e pr epared in delicate contemporar y Western style. Candlelight,
starched linens, silv er service, and extr emely attentive staff cr eate a magical experience.
The wine list is extensiv e. By Malaysian standards, this is an expensiv e meal, but if y ou
compare the quality of the ser vice, cuisine, and surroundings, really, you will never find
such elegance for this price in E urope or the S tates. E nglish afternoon teas ar e also
superb. Men are asked to kindly wear a shirt with a collar.
Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O), 10 Lebuh Farquhar.
&
04/222-0000.
Reservations recommended. Main
courses RM60-RM180 ($17-$52/£11-£32). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 7-10:30pm.
Mama's Nyonya Restaurant
Finds
NYONYA Those who crav e Penang's most
famous culinary style of N yonya food (or P eranakan) have to visit this cozy family-r un
restaurant in Abu Siti Lane. Ruby, one of the four sisters who r un the place, learned her
cooking from her Mama, hence the name. I t's authentic, as Mama keeps a watchful ey e
on her pr otégés, although she no longer cooks. You'll see her ther e ev ery day though
lending a helping hand with all the painstaking detail required for this kind of food. You
might encounter some of her famous clients, including M alaysia's o wn international
shoemaker, D atuk J immy Choo, or H ong K ong dir ector Ang Lee. All the fav orite
Nyonya dishes are on the menu—try
tau eu bak,
purut ikan,
Nyonya fish head curry, and
otak otak.
Look like a tourist, and someone will help y ou negotiate the menu.
31-D, Abu Siti Lane , Geor getown.
&
04/229-1318.
Main c ourses RM10-RM25 ($2.90-$7.25/£1.80-
£4.50). No credit cards. Tues-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm and 6:30-9:30pm.
13
May G arden Restaur ant
CANT ONESE This is a top Cantonese r estaurant in
Georgetown, and while it's noisy and not too big on ambience, it has excellent food. But
how many Chinese do you know who go to places for ambience? t's the food that counts!
Outstanding dishes include the tofu and broccoli topped with sea snail slices or the fresh
steamed live prawns. They also have suckling pig and Peking duck. Don't agree to all the
daily specials, or you'll be paying a fortune.
70 Jalan Penang.
&
04/261-6435.
Reservations recommended. Main courses start at RM15 ($4.35/£2.70).
Seafood is priced by weight in kilograms. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-3pm and 6-10:30pm.
Ocean Green
SEAFOOD I can't rave enough about Ocean Green. If the beau-
tiful sea vie w and ocean br eezes don't fulfill ev ery holiday expectation, the succulent
seafood certainly will. A long list of fresh seafood is prepared steamed or fried, with your
choice of chili, black-bean, sweet-and-sour, or curry sauces. On the advice of a local food
expert, I tried the lobster thermidor , which was expensiv e but divine, and the chicken
wings stuffed with minced chicken, prawns, and gravy . Baked crab with cheese is also
highly recommended.
