Tag Archives: Pork-Free

Eats, George Town, Heritage, Homes, Pork-Free, Style, Travel

A Peranakan Feast to Welcome the Year of the Horse

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Star-topper Serabai or “Apom Bokwa/Berkuah” at 32 Mansion

Since the start of the year, it’s been a whirlwind of Peranakan delights for me. 

Today’a Nyonya food promotion at 32Mansion, nestled along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, was yet another cherry on top 🍒, Kah Hock and his team have truly nailed it!

The flavours… oh, the flavours 😍! It’s like a warm hug from Nyonya mum Nora (for those who know) herself. 

Each dish is a masterclass in balance, with the perfect blend of spices, herbs, and love ❤️. The stuffed asam fish with its tangy tamarind and fragrant lemongrass, transported me straight back to the kitchens of Peranakan grandmas. 

The pie-tee game here was also upped with crisp top-hat shells and a refreshing filling with just the right amount of chilli kick 🌶️.

But the show-stopper was the “serabai” which Nora’s daughter and I opted for dessert. 

Serabai, (also known as serabi in Indonesia), is a traditional Southeast Asian pancake or crumpet found in Penang made primarily from rice flour and coconut milk. It has a soft, spongy, and bubbly top with a slightly crispy base and is typically served as a sweet or savoury snack or dessert and enjoyed with a coconut and palm sugar syrup. 

Today’s lunch with Lil Sis Jo wasnt just a meal; it was a homecoming. 

A reunion of sorts, where the familiar flavours of Nyonya cooking bring back memories of loved ones and laughter shared around the dinner table. As we gather with family and friends for this Lunar New Year, there’s no better way to bond than over a feast of these comforting, soul-willing dishes. 

Kudos to Kah Hock and the team at the sea-fronting 32Mansion, for crafting a culinary experience that’s sure to leave you feeling like you’re back in the bosom of your (real or adopted) Peranakan family 💕. 

Can’t wait to return  for more! 😋 

#PeranakanCuisine #NyonyaFood #32TheMansion #FoodiePenang #ChineseNewYearFeast

32Mansion / Beach Blanket Babylon

32 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah,

10050 George Town, Penang

Tel: 604-2622232

Eats, George Town, Heritage, Pork-Free, Style, Travel

From Jewels to Jiu Hu Char : Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Charm on Bishop Street

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Jiu Hu Char (stir-fry jicama with cuttlefish)

In the heart of George Town’s heritage district, Bishop Street whispers stories of elegance, history, and reinvention. 

Once home to the prestigious B.P. de Silva jewellers, this iconic row carried a reputation for luxury, refinement, and timeless craftsmanship — with a clientele that included royalty and dignitaries along with high society from across the region.

Today, in a delightful twist of heritage, that very space once filled with velvet-lined showcases now draws admirers of a different kind — food lovers. 

Entrance to the former B.P De Silva which is today home to Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery
Award-winning one star Michelin restaurant

Stepping into the four-times awarded one-star Michelin Aunty Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, feels like walking into a lovingly preserved memory — with warm Peranakan hospitality, family recipes, and an unmistakable sense of home.

A Taste of Nostalgia, Reimagined

What sets Aunty Gaik Lean’s apart is not just its rich, authentic Nyonya flavours, but its Muslim-friendly menu that has not compromised on quality or taste. It’s a rare and respectful adaptation of traditional cuisine, made accessible to more diners without losing the heart of its heritage.

The nasi ulam is aromatic and vibrant, and the sambal belacan — bold as ever. Even vegetarian diners, including many from the Indian subcontinent, have found the dishes flavourful and deeply satisfying — a testament to the careful balance and generosity in the kitchen.

Where History Meets Heart

To dine here is to savour more than food. You sit where once patrons browsed fine gems under chandeliers, in a building that quietly cradles Penang’s evolving story — from colonial-era commerce to culinary celebration. 

The echoes of B.P. de Silva’s prestige lend a quiet dignity to the eatery, while the cheerful clatter of cutlery and scent of shallots signal a more grounded kind of luxury: a meal made with love.

Whether you’re drawn by memories of kampung cooking or curiosity for the space’s storied past, Aunty Gaik Lean’s offers more than just lunch or dinner — it offers a taste of heritage, harmony, and hospitality.

So, pull up a chair. The past has never felt so warm.


Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery is located at 
1, Lebuh Bishop,
10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Contact +60 17-434 4398 (for reservations/inquiries)

Eats, George Town, Homes, Photography, Style

Nailing a good sugee cake

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It is not a place one associates with great sugee (semolina) cake, but this is Penang, and you just never know what lies behind a door, the side of a backlane or even a monsoon drain here!

In this case, it’s a grand mansion by-the-sea, known simply as 32 Mansion. I always admire businesses with simple names coined from their addresses or postcodes. (the street address being 32 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah).

A visit to this 1920s sea-fronting Italian villa, is a history lesson in itself …

(Extracted from the business operator’s website)

BUILT FOR LEONG YIN KEAN, THE SON OF TIN MAGNATE LEONG FEE, WHO HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ITALY WHILST A STUDENT AT CAMBRIDGE, THIS ELEGANT ITALIANATE VILLA ON GEORGE TOWN’S NORTH BEACH LOOKS OUT OVER GARDENS ONTO THE SEA.
IT WAS DESIGNED BY CHARLES MILLER (OF STARK & MCNEILL) AND IS LOCATED ON “MILLIONAIRE’S ROW” (NORTHAM ROAD BUT NOW RENAMED JALAN SULTAN AHMAD SHAH).

THE MANSION WAS BUILT IN 1926 AND MODELED AFTER THE OPULENT VILLAS IN LONDON’S REGENT’S PARK. SADLY, LIKE MANY OF PENANG’S MANSIONS, IT FELL INTO A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND HAD BEEN USED AS A MOTOR-BIKE CENTRE CALLED BIKER’S PARADISE AND HAD AS MANY AS 30 TENANTS LIVING IN PARTITIONED BLOCKS ALONG ITS ONCE ELEGANT ROOMS.


RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY IN 2000 BY ESCOY HOLDINGS IT IS A MODEL OF HERITAGE CONSERVATION BY ADAPTIVE RE-USE AND IT NOW HOUSES THIRTY-TWO AT THE MANSION AND BEACH BLANKET BABYLON.

Back to their sugee cake … it can be found on Beach Blanket Babylon, or BBB’s dessert menu or pre-ordered as a fresh and buttery takeaway (it’s advisable to order the full-sized sugee cake at least 3 days ahead).

While BBB is better known for its crab laksa, the humble sugee cake has received equal praise from those who appreciate this baked goodness, for which many Eurasian, Peranakan, Chinese and Indian aunties (and uncles) guard the recipes fiercely.

Step into the home so cosily and welcoming created by Kah Hock, for either a slice of his sugee cake or the rest of the great spread offered.

Walk away with not only a satisfied meal, but endless shots of this great home and (it’s grounds) for your countless Instagram and other social media posts!