Eats, Festivals, Halal

Cookie Bake-Off with Flex

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They came, they baked and impressed the judges, their colleagues and all cookie monsters present! Forty Flex Penang employees comprising 20 teams rose to the challenge yesterday in displaying their baking prowess at making Hari Raya cookies. 

Left to concoct their own recipes or fall back on traditional festive ones, the teams did Flex proud by displaying so much love, joy and pride in what they were doing while having fun.


Stella, Faten and Joe had a field day sampling the bakers’ delights and Val conceded that every single team and their cheering supporters present were winners. The attention to detail, creativity and taste were amazing while Flex’s generosity in allowing the bakers to take home the Pensonic ovens and cake mixers and a host of other goodies are enough reason for it to remain employer of choice and have more employees asking for more corporate cooking events.


Pensonic’s abilities in organizing cooking events were put to the test and they emerged with flying colours and have proven that their corporate headquarters are more than just a place to view their products and impressive test kitchens, but also a spot to cook and have fun in.

George Town, Luxe, Shop, Spa, Style

M is for Massage and (Jo) Malone

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It’s one of those treats which money cannot buy. And this is simply because the quintessentially British Jo Malone London does not charge you for their oh-so-blissfully relaxing (20 minute) hand and arm massages (yes, it’s free BUT by invitation only).

Betsy and I ambled over to the brand’s first boutique in Penang this evening, The generous invite on thick and creamy paper said to bring along a friend  (Betsy) and we were welcomed by the gracious Lillian and equally warm and familiar Carmen.  Lime infused water and a black velvet Jo Malone complimentary pouch were offered (to store our respective watches and other jewellery items) before we submitted ourselves to a relaxing and scented journey.

Lillian used a latte whisk to form a warm frothy hand wash in a fragrance of our choice (mine being grapefruit, although my first introduction to the brand by Bina years ago, has had me hooked on their signature Lime Basil & Mandarin).  She wiped it off gently with a warm towel, leaving the skin feeling softer and noticeably lighter.

Lillian’s firm yet soft hands are the perfect ad for the body products and the incredible layers of scents  combined, and so telling of the brand which is synonymous with a bespoke style of service.

We were waved off in a shower of multiple sprays, and continued to feel cocooned in the warmth of this British fragrance for the ensuing hours spent as mall rats.

George Town, Shop, Style

Handpicked by Nergish

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She travels the world over to visit new sights, revisit old ones or catch up with family and friends. Her style sense and eye for unusual fashion jewellery have always brought on compliments from others. 

Nergish’s handpicked selections of all things silver and other one-of-a-kind fashion statements can be viewed and are for sale.


Beauties from India, Thailand and China – which include semi-precious stones are set mostly in 925 silver while some are also rhodium-plated items – are yours to browse and buy. 

Contact nergish.manecksha@gmail.com for more details.

Christmas, Eats

It’s all in the butter

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Prices may be up but when real butter is used in Christmas staples like Pineapple Jam Tarts, you can expect nothing but flaky and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.


Baking, cooking and roasting goddess T has been on her feet since the start of Advent making fruit cakes, cookies and tarts for friends and family to enjoy. 

Today a fresh batch of tarts were lovingly baked  and topped with homemade jam for a beloved aunt in George Town. The care package will make its way across the Penang Bridge to its lucky recipient this weekend.

Christmas, Eats, George Town, Homes, Shop, Style

Festive retail therapy

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Pam has been busy in her kitchen preparing limited stocks of Mulled Wine Extract. All you need do is to just add to a bottle of red wine and heat gently for an instant taste and smell of Christmas! 

She has also carefully shopped for and curated festive items for the picking ranging from Scandi-styled wreaths, tree ornaments and free-standing decorations including unusual lights (battery operated for maximum flexibility).


A relaxed and friendly pre-Christmas get-together takes place tomorrow (Dec 8) at Pam’s shop from 10am to 7pm where you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine, while browsing the selection of tasteful gifts, decorations and seasonal goodies including traditional fruitcake, shortbread, German stollen & cookies, Christmas flavours from Scoops Ice Cream, hand-made chocolates and more!


Grab your shopping lists, cash (and credit cards) and head for 5.4 North (24 Lorong Kinta) in George Town tomorrow.

Photos courtesy of 5.4 North

Homes, Style

ID by Nala

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Her impeccable attention to detail was apparent during a trade and lifestyle show, “InStyle Langkawi” three years ago. Lisette Scheers had brought prototypes of her Nala Designs merchandise for potential buyers to check out. She had pointed out to me then some of the imperfections found in one of her bags, and said she would need to address some production issues before they are launched commercially.

When I bought my blue Baise En Ville Willow Wishes bag three months later, I noticed that she had ironed out all concerns she initially had with the model.

It is this same eye for detail, style and perfection which has seen Lisette apply herself successfully to each venture she undertakes, ranging from designing stationery, tote bags, cushion covers and a whole range of other Nala items.
It seems only logical that she would now further diversify and go into the interior design business. Having designed and decorated her cafe – Dr. Inc (in Bangsar), she proceeded to do up her former home which has since been given up for rental.

The Nala-inspired home at Damansara Heights has all the clean lines, vibrant colours and stylish finish to its interiors, thanks to Lisette, who is open to taking on jobs of transforming living and working spaces in any city, including George Town, with touches of Brand Nala.

Email: Lisette@beautiful-linc.com

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Photos courtesy of naladesigns.com

gardens, Travel

Secret (tropical) Garden

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The drive up the Batu Ferringhi coast to Teluk Bahang is pretty on most days with blue skies and even bluer and sometimes green waters reminding those who live on the island that they are blessed. Before arriving in Teluk Bahang town, slow down and to your left, is a “secret garden” on a hill which serves as a sound lesson in creating a classroom of all things nature. Here, you can stroll amidst the foliage and learn new names of flowers, insects and make friends with tadpoles, frogs, and other blessed friends of nature. With a whiff of spice(s) in the air, you want to learn more about the smells and beautiful dishes you can whip up with them and all these can be fulfilled in other corners of the garden. A cooking school where chefs like Viji, Nyonya Su Pei and Rohana make it a joy to master a local dish or two and partake of it, is found in the grounds. Also perched on a wooden deck, is yet another spot to chill, where you can take it the gentle breezes of the Andaman Sea as you nibble into Thai-inspired canapés or even savour a full Thai lunch or dinner. Even the shopaholics are not forgotten in this tropical paradise, for a retail outlet stocked with many Malaysiana items await.

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For now though, lets focus on this weekend’s happenings,  where a “Poison Garden” is taking shape and will be unveiled. The project, is a collaboration between the Tropical Spice Garden and Lithuanian designer Tauras S. The small theme garden is said to reveal the rich history humans co-existing with plants that heal, thrill and kill! Details in the poster below and please remember to RSVP if you are attending.
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 Photos courtesy of the Tropical Spice Garden

Eats, George Town, Heritage

Nyonya Nibbles

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They are up at the crack of dawn making Nyonya kuihs (cakes made by the Straits-born Peranakan Chinese) which are so fine and delectable. Located along the hard-to-park Burma Road, there is also mercifully a backdoor entrance to Li Er Cafe which fronts (!) the Pulau Tikus Market. An open kitchen offers visitors a first-hand look at how some of their childhood favourite eats are prepared.

Deep-fried Chinese crullers (Yu Char Kway or You Tiao) are being pressed and prepared from fresh dough for take-aways.

While my picks for the day were the Kuih Kosui (steamed in Chinese tea cups and rolled in desicated coconut) and Kuih Talam (twin-layered and also steamed in green and white),  the aromatic sambal ikan bilis which is served with the iconic Nasi Lemak, assails the senses and can go on record as having proven its weight in gold previously.

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Eats, George Town, Heritage, Homes, Shop, Spa, Travel

George Town

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She has been a safe harbour to travellers for centuries, many of whom ended up calling her home and enjoying their days in the sun and being surrounded by water. Today she is a cosmopolitan city where travellers still fly, sail or drive in droves. While her silhouette has been altered greatly by man-made developments, she still has plenty to offer by way of experiences, panoramas and exquisite flavours. This is my George Town!img_6621

Mainly tales from Penang