RELAXING YEAR-END GETAWAY AT AMARI SPICE PENANG

A splendid haven to revel in. The Executive Lounge on level 25 of Amari SPICE Penang is not only a serene breakfast spot but also a great place to get some work done anytime of the day.

The team on duty is courteous and friendly, quick to attend to your every need; from serving breakfast to whipping up an evening cocktail, they’re ever-ready to lend a hand.

 

This time we stayed in an Executive Deluxe room which accorded us access to the Executive Lounge. We love lounging by the floor-to-ceiling windows where expansive views of the nearby golf course and the park adjacent to the SPICE Convention Centre and SPICE Arena are visible.

 

We were stoked to find an in-room coffee machine in addition to the regular kettle for tea-making. In addition to complimentary Penang tau sar pneah (mung bean biscuits) and nutmeg sweets, we discovered the mini bar stocked with water and soft drinks were on the house.

The smart workspace with international plug-points and Wi-Fi proved to be a boon when I needed to tackle some work. For a spot of reading, the cushy chaise lounge with ottoman was perfect.

 

As Executive level guests, we have the luxury of enjoying breakfast at Amaya Food Gallery or ordering our choice of complimentary breakfast in the Exec Lounge. We barely needed to lift a finger as the team pampered us at every turn; plying us with coffee and tea and serving our choice of breakfast.

Whether it’s Nasi Lemak and Fried Kway Teow to Welsh Rarebit and Breakfast Egg Set, guests can order from the a la carte selection listed.

Out of curiosity, I had Welsh Rarebit – basically a sandwich of rye bread with Cheddar cheese, fried egg, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and salad. Simple but I liked it. My hubby’s Boat Noodles passed muster.

Laid out on the counter are assorted cold cuts, cheese, cereals, dried fruit and nuts, fresh fruit slices, French pastries and condiments: butter, jams, honeycomb, etc for toast. Bottled juices, detox water, yoghurt and muesli are found in the chiller.

Opened from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, light refreshments are served throughout the day. From 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm, you can order classic cocktails and creative mocktails, house pouring wine and selected liquor drinks to complement hors d’oeuvres whilst enjoying the view at dusk from the lounge.

Other privileges for Executive level guests include private check-in and check-out services, complimentary pressing of 3 garments on arrival and complimentary meeting room use (maximum 2 hours, subject to prior booking and availability).

Dinner at the spacious Amaya Food Gallery, the all-day dining restaurant on Level 4, also made our stay truly memorable. During our visit, Amari SPICE Penang hosted Thai chefs from its sister hotel in Bangkok for a promotional stint so the dinner buffet highlighted a myriad of delicious Thai specialities.

Among the tempting dishes we tried were stir-fried glass noodles with prawns, miang kham (wild betel leaves with condiments), som tam salad, mee krob, seafood tom yam, green curry, Thai iced tea, ‘crying tiger’ grilled beef with chilli dip and tom yam fried rice.

The hotel location is also strategic. Just a short drive away, we enjoyed watching the sunrise and went for a nice morning walk along Karpal Singh Drive, visited the Chew Jetty and as usual, went to eat our fill of local food.

Local life is best experienced at Chowrasta market and its surrounding environs: there’s a wet market, lots of mom-and-pop shops around the vicinity, hawker’s stalls and street-side vendors selling household stuff, casual wear, footwear and toys.    

   
For the year-end school and festive holidays, Amari SPICE Penang has been all decked up with pretty decor and a special 'gingerbread house' selling festive goodies. If you're keen to bring your family for a staycation, Amari SPICE Penang currently has some great packages online:

https://www.amari.com/penang/special-offers/hotel-packages

For reservations at Amari SPICE Penang, tel: 04 683 1188. Address: 2 Persiaran Mahsuri, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

KOPITIAM EXPERIENCE AT DORSETT GRAND SUBANG

Hankering for some good old kopitiam fare such as Nasi Lemak, Roti Bakar with Butter & Kaya or Soft-boiled Kampung Eggs with your fave cuppa? Foreign and local guests of Dorsett Grand Subang can now enjoy a first-hand experience of eating in a local kopitiam Mon-Fri, 10.30 am to 5 pm without stepping out of the hotel.

Priced at RM12.80 nett per order inclusive of a cup of Milo, Teh Tarik, Kopi Lokal or Nescafe Tarik, you can select Roti Bakar (toast) with Butter & Kaya (local egg jam), Soft-boiled Kampung Eggs, Nasi Lemak Bungkus, Cucur Udang (2 pcs), Giant Chicken Curry Puffs, Popiah Goreng (2 pcs) or Portuguese Egg Tart.

We gave thumbs up to the delicious Nasi Lemak. Wrapped in banana leaf lined paper, the coconut cream-enriched rice was fragrant and went like a dream with the sambal which had a hint of sweetness to it. Ubiquitous accompaniments: a slice of omelette, sliced cucumber, and fried peanuts with ikan bilis (anchovies) lent textural interest.

Unlike Cucur Udang (prawn fritters) sold elsewhere where the prawns are non-existent, we are pleased to find several small prawns atop the crispy pieces. Served with a chilli dip, the fritters were so delectable we couldn’t resist a second helping.

Another on-point offering was Popiah Goreng. The generous filling of shredded jicama, carrot and mushroom inside the fried spring rolls was reminiscent of Penang Nyonya-style chun piah.

As a fan of local curry puff, I was delighted to find the Giant Chicken Curry Puff came up to scratch. Besides diced potato and chicken, it included a wedge of hardboiled egg.

 

If you’re slanted towards Continental fare, individual portions of Big Breakfast (RM48 nett) are served from 11am to 3pm daily. A hearty plate big enough to two light eaters to share, it consisted of fluffy scrambled egg, chicken sausages, crisp beef bacon strips, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, hash browns, cherry tomatoes, salad, and slices of buttered toast.

MOONLIT SERENITIY

Celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival with Halal mooncakes from Dorsett Grand Subang, available now until 29 September.

Perennial best sellers: Premium Musang King Durian Snowskin Mooncake (top right, RM63) and Dorsett Signature Blue Mooncake (bottom right, RM43) comprising white lotus paste single yolk encased in organic blue pea flower snowskin continue to be the top draw among Dorsett guests.

The sweetness of the Signature Blue mooncake is just nice, with the salted egg yolk giving the lotus paste filling balance. We also like the inclusion of kuaci (melon seeds) in it.

A standout in our book this year is the Honey Purple Potato Paste with Single Yolk in Lemongrass Snowskin (RM43). The delicious sweet potato paste melds harmoniously with the fresh herbaceous-lemony imbued snowskin.

A touch of bright sweetness from yuzu honey citron lends distinct edge to the baked variant of Pandan Lotus Paste Single Yolk in Yuzu Honey Citron (RM43). Although it's an unlikely combo, the flavours work like a charm.

Made from pure Musang King pulp, you'd realise why it remains such a hit with mooncake fans of the Premium Musang King Durian Snowskin. The luscious taste is incomparable and as good as eating the actual fruit.

Dorsett Mooncake Gift Set (RM128 nett) makes gifting easier for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. It comprises a set of 4 baked mooncakes and a box of 10 sachets Rhymba Hills sampler. 

For more information, call Dorsett Grand Subang, tel: 03 5031 6060.