Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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.

Friday, September 15, 2023

EQ PRESENTS CELESTIAL TREASURES FOR MID-AUTUMN FEST


Rabbit motifs take pride of place on EQ mooncake gift boxes this year. Referencing the Chinese folklore where the rabbit was immortalised by the Emperor of Heaven for its selfless act, the rabbit once again was the icon of choice for EQ's Mid-Autumn Fest gift packaging.

Origami-style rabbit motif hot-stamped in gold played a central role in my 
Longevity Collection gift box in vibrant red. Inside, I found 4 traditional baked mooncakes (RM198). Should you prefer snowskin, a set of 6 snowskin mooncakes (RM228) is available too.

Featuring blind-embossed elements of the moon and other decorative motifs, the understated gift box can be repurposed into a keepsake or jewellery box post-celebration.

Headlining the array of baked classic mooncakes is EQ’s Signature Pearl of Harmony. Featuring a combination of black sesame paste, mung bean paste and salted egg yolk, it was meant to resemble a full moon glowing against a night sky. The delicate nutty sweetness of black sesame was balanced by the savoury richness of the salted egg yolk.  
 
We also like the mildly sweet Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk. Equally agreeable was the Pandan Lotus variant with a discernible fragrance of
 pandan whilst the perennial Red Bean filling proved on-point.
 
Visit https://www.eqkualalumpur.equatorial.com/celestial-treasures-mooncakes/ for more details on EQ’s other Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes and mooncake selection. Otherwise, drop by EQ Kuala Lumpur, Kampachi and IPPUDO restaurants, Pavilion KL Centre Court or Thyme Out Café, AICB Building to purchase and view the Celestial Treasures available.

For more information, please WhatsApp EQ Kuala Lumpur: +60 12 278 9239 or email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com 



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