Chef Wan to promote Penang food !!!

PENANG'S spot on the world cuisine map is set to get a leg up if Malaysian celebrity chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, gets his way.

Redzuawan wants to showcase the island-state's culinary delights to the world this November by getting Tourism Malaysia and a host of corporate sponsors to support for Penang to host the prestigious "Gourmand World Cookbook Awards" event here in November.

"Several potential corporate sponsors, which include some of Malaysia's blue-chip companies, have given their support in principle, and I need to convince Tourism Malaysia that since Kuala Lumpur hosted the event four years ago, Penang is the next logical location which must be showcased," he told a press conference at Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort in Penang last week.

Redzuawan was in Penang as part of a nationwide trip to introduce Swedish chef K.C. Wallenberg to Malaysian cuisine.


The Gourmand World Cookbooks Award were founded in 1995, and in 2008, books from 102 countries participated in the compeition which has been held in cities which include Beijing, London and Paris in recent years.

"The economic spin-offs to an event of this kind will be manifold and Penang's tourism industry is not the only state to gain from the presence of some of the world's celebrity chefs, food editors and cookbook writers.

"My plan is have the creme de la creme of the food industry to come out to Malaysia a week before this event, to tour the rest of the country and sample our food," Redzuawan said.

He added that all national airlines like Malaysia Airlines, its subsidiary Firefly and low-cost carrier Air Asia will also benefit immensely from the proposed event.

The annual Gourmand event is said to provide a platform for the who's who in the world of cookbooks and winebooks, hundreds of publishers, authors, chefs and journalists to participate.



Meanhwile, Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa director of communications Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said: "An event of this nature will help elevate Penang's status as not only a gourmet or hawker food paradise, but also a choice destination for global meetings and conferences.

BusinessTimes

Hmm...a famous local chef to promote the famous Penang food? Good idea....can work!

Penang's latest shopping mall to boast floating stage

A floating stage will be built at the island’s sea-fronting Straits Quay retail marina enclave located at Tanjung Tokong in Penang.

The project is expected to be completed within the next one or two months where top entertainment performances would be held there.

Eastern & Oriental Berhad retail division-Straits Quay senior manager Emily Teh said with the food and beverage outlets having alfresco style dining facing the sea, shows held at the stage would definitely be an eye- catcher.

She said there were also plans to hold musical festivals on the stage.

“With the Performing Arts Centre of Penang taking a built-up space of about 20,000sq ft, people can really expect great shows,” she said.

She said Penangists would get to catch shows that were normally held in Kuala Lumpur once the stage was ready.

Teh said diners could enjoy the awesome promenade night view by the sea.

“There will be cruise liners passing by. Patrons can also view part of the mainland and Gunung Jerai in Kedah from the marina,” she added.

Teh said people could also stroll along the promenade and enjoy the evening breeze.

She anticipated that most of the retail outlets would open by April and the whole mall should be occupied by mid year.

Apart from designer and boutique outlets, there are also plans to organise street markets every first weekend of the month.

Wow, the latest and newest attraction in Penang is growing bigger and better...although I heard the food there are pricy!!!

New Penang Hill train service delayed

The new Penang Hill funicular train service, which was expected to resume this month, has been delayed until at least March as the authorities are still carrying out safety tests.

A source said the new train was being tested and the service fine-tuned to ensure that it was fully operational.

“We are in the final stage now and the progress is smooth,” he said.

It was earlier reported that the RM63mil upgrading project of the funicular train service was expected to be completed last December or this month. The project, undertaken by the Tourism Ministry, had started in February last year to improve services after the previous 87-year-old train frequently broke down.

Upon completion, users will see two new Swiss-made air-conditioned coaches that could carry 50 people each with commuting time of 10 minutes for one way.

Under the new system, commuters can reach the hilltop in a single ride instead of changing trains at the middle station.

It will also be more user-friendly for the elderly, disabled and children.

In the first place, do we ever expect the project to be completed on time? Haha...the state and federal will miss a big chunk of tourism income during the coming CNY holiday period for sure :)

Free bus rides for Penang factory workers...ANY TAKERS???

The state plans to introduce a Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (Best) to transport commuters from Seberang Jaya in the mainland to factories in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone on the island at no charge.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the “park and ride” system was approved at the state executive council meeting on Wednesday and is scheduled to begin on March 1.

Under the system, Lim said the commuters need only pay for the parking of their vehicles in Seberang Jaya and the state would supply the buses to transport them for free.

He said that Best was aimed at but not limited to factory workers, and would focus on the Bayan Lepas FIZ for a start.

“Anyone can ride but the destination is only the factories in Bayan Lepas, not anywhere else,” he told a press conference at his office in Komtar here.

Lim said that with this service, motorists could save up to RM250 a month on the Penang Bridge toll and petrol.

He said the state would see to awareness and publicity programmes for greater participation, adding that the details of the system would be fine-tuned and announced by state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow, who was present, said that for a start, 10 buses would be deployed to shuttle commuters from 6am to 9am and from 4pm to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays, which is when most factory workers would be commuting.

“We have done a survey among the factories in Bayan Lepas where 1,100 workers have shown interest in joining this programme,” he said.

Chow said a bus shelter was being built at the Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya which would be the initial pick-up and drop off point, while 50 to 60 stops would be put up in front of various factories in Bayan Lepas.

“We will have two or three routes to serve all the factories,” he said, adding that the system should help to reduce the number of cars on Penang island and traffic congestion.

Lim said Best was aimed at helping to reduce the financial burden of lower income workers, especially in view of the announcement by the federal government to increase the price of RON97 by 10sen to RM2.40.

“This is our effort to reach out to help Malaysian workers fight the fuel price increase and subsidy reduction, which we feel is unfair as it is only borne and suffered by the poorer factions of Malaysians and not by the rich companies.


“The state government is concerned as this is the second time within a month that the price of the petrol has gone up,” said Lim.

Hmm...if your daily routine is just get out from home, go to work, get off from work and go back home in mainland, this is a very cost saving move. Of course provided your car is park at a safe place with reasonable price and you do not have frequent after work activities on the island...I believe many of my mainland friend will not have chances to use this system when it comes to implementation time, simply because they are too active after work...hahahaha!

Bolehland !!! RON 97 petrol and kerosene to cost 10 sen more per litre

The price of RON 97 petrol will go up by 10sen to RM2.40 a litre on Wednesday, said Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman.

The price of kerosene will also go up by 10sen to RM2.50 a litre.

The price of RON95 will, however, remain at RM1.90 sen per litre.

Hashim said the confirmation of the price increase was received from petrol companies about 9pm on Tuesday.

“The price of crude oil has gone up. The petrol companies have averaged out the prices globally,” he told The Star.

RON 97 was last increased by 15 sen to RM2.30 on Dec 1.

OK, now RON95 price remains...but only for now. You never know, maybe new announcement will be out tomorrow to inform that the price for RON95 will go up on Thursday...Malaysia Boleh!

Festive Lighting sponsors for the State???

Penang Government is inviting the private sector to sponsor or contribute towards the installation of festive street lighting during major celebrations.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the private sector could also put up the festive lights during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Wesak Day, Deepavali and Christmas.

“We hope to create a festive mood which will be attractive to locals and tourists,” he told reporters at his office in Komtar yesterday.

He said all lighting decorations would have to be safe and not cause public inconvenience.

Interested sponsors can contact Lim’s office (04-2623366) or state executive councillors for details.

Anyone from the private sectors want to sponsor any festive lightings? I believe any individual will do, does not have to be from private company... let's brighten up the island!!!

‘Old’ Penang look during CNY 2011

A street in the heritage area in George Town will be transformed with old furniture, old settings and people wearing clothes of olden days to make it look like a street from Old Penang.

The transformation of the street, called ‘Time Tunnel to Old Penang’ is part of the activities planned for the state-level Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration on Feb 12 which will see streets in the heritage area abuzz with various activities and games.

The streets that are involved are Armenian Street, Cannon Street, Ah Quee Street, Chulia Street, Acheh Street, Carnavon Street, Kampung Kolam, Soo Hong Lane and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Jointly organised by the state government, Penang Chinese Clan Council and Clan Associations Youth Committee, the 2011 Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration will be held from 3pm to midnight.

Event organising chairman Ang Yee Shyuan said those who wished to buy anything on the ‘Old Penang’ street, which had not been identified yet, would have to use old currency which they have to change first.

She said there would also be many other activities and games suitable for children and adults.

“We have divided our programmes into five areas, namely Bai Fu (good fortune), Bai Lu (emolument and career), Bai Shou (longevity), Bai Xi (jubilant) and Bai De (morality).



“Since it will be the Year of the Rabbit, mascots of the animal will join a parade. There will also be hawker stalls selling local delights,” she told a press confe-rence at Komtar yesterday.

There will also be an exhibition of different species of live rabbits.

Ang said the committee had yet to come up with names for two mascots, adding that the public could propose ideas by emailing to penang.cny2011@gmail.com.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said 100,000 people were expected to attend the event which involved 80 clan associations, non-governmental organisations and schools.

Hmm, back to the golden days? Sounds interesting for the young generations...perhaps everyone should pay a visit there?...