Whenever I was back to my hometown, I had to gather my friends to meet up at certain places for everyone's convenience. When I was a wild bachelor, I was clubbing at the different discotheques along the beach hotels at Batu Ferringhi. Later years, I got married and mellowed down to meet my friends at hawker centres instead.
I always stayed at Northam Suites Hotel for many nights and would walk across to the Northam Beach Food Court nightly. I would eat the different hawker foods every night with my best buddies and their families. Now that Northam Suites have closed down unfortunately, so my plans had changed too. I would meet them at Starbucks nearby the other hotel in the city.
I have the fondest memories of this Northam Beach Food Court because it was once the palatial bungalow of the late philanthropist Ng Sui Kam. The huge sprawling grounds reach the shores off Gurney Drive where you could enjoy the full panoramic view and breeze of the sea. There used to be a huge swimming pool beside the big bungalow with green roofs. When I was very young, my parents brought me there to swim together with my same childhood friends who sit onboard SHK in Hong Kong today. The late philanthropist was better known as the founding people of the MCA party long ago. He was an old family friend who would generously invite friends over to swim. The property has changed hands long ago and a developer will be building a luxury condo in near future.
We better eat and enjoy the relaxing ambience with the sea breeze while we still can. Once the condo is built, I will be eating the 'wind' instead.
The hawker stalls there come and go. Right now, I was told that the best stall is the Lor Bak which uses generous 5 spices to marinate them to perfection. It was so yummy to eat that with dipping sauces. We also ordered other fritters to eat.
The Pie-Tee was also very delicious when served crispy. Go try it.
This is my top favourite Hokkien Char Noodles. Suprisingly, only Penang Lang would love this and it is not easy to find a good plate of Hokkien Char in Penang. This stall gets only 5/10 ratings from me.
The fabulous view is here. I used to sit here from dinner time till 1.00am!
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Those were the days. Young time, went to karaoke and clubs. Now mostly stay at home, connect with friends through social media. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI like pie tee, but not easy to find in Kuching.
I think Pie Tee is a Nyonya Food. Only common in Penang and Melaka.
DeleteWhen we get older, social friends changed. When I got sick, my new friends were made in the hospital. I guess my final years might be in old folks homes with new friends again.
Hi TM , so good to read so many update from you .
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the many places to eat in Penang and also your holiday /reunion in Penang
Wish you well and recover soon !
Regards , Norick
Thank you very much Norick. I am still recovering, slowly and steady lah. Hope you can visit Penang for holidays and makan-makan.
Deletefrom the pictures, i think u look 'fit' and energetic, not that frail & skinny nowadays.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that you see me as 'fit' and energetic. It must be the photoshop apps that fatten me up. Wakakakaka
DeleteI love to visit Penang and enjoy the hawker food. I have visited Northam Beach Food Court once. A nice food court facing the beach. I love lobak and pie tee. Missing all the mouth watering food of Penang. I have yet to try the Hokkien Char in Penang. KIV for future trip.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will visit Penang again soon. Lots of hawker food across the island from Georgetown until Balik Pulau. My saliva is drooling now as I type this. Must try the Hokkien Char Noodles.
DeleteIt's good that you are enjoying yourself to the max meeting friends and eating! I remember my partner brought me to some hawker stall years and years ago. What I remembered most was the lor bak which I super love. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!
ReplyDeleteI often asked friends why the Penang Lor Bak is always better than KL and elsewhere. It must be the water used from Ayer Itam Dam that makes the water and all hawker food sweeter. When the Swatow Lane's famous Ice Kachang stall went to participate at the Penang Week in Adelaide yearly, they had to fly the Penang's water along to make ice there!!! I dont think your lahling is aware of this.
DeleteAs you know the Penang Lang like me and your lahling are sweeter too!!! Wakakakakaka
Wanna ask, what's Mee Hailam exactly?
ReplyDeleteHonestly I cannot remember what is Mee Hailam but it sure looks exactly like Hokkien Char from google pixs. I will revert back once I know the answer.
DeleteIt's good that you could hang out with your buddies and enjoy the familiar good food. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the company of good friends. These are precious moments!
DeleteI nener been to Northam Beach Food Court and it's definitely a lost because it has a beautiful sea view.
ReplyDeletePlease visit there on your next trip. Go around late evening to see the sunset skies like my last photo.
DeleteI should have asked you to tapao the 'kacang tumbuk' for me. I have been to this place more than thrice after your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI went there to eat twice but that kacang tumbuk fella was not working. Either went for holiday or kena tumbuk la. 5555
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ReplyDelete