A Gastronomy Journey with The MICHELIN Guide

By : Chha

The name Michelin is a well known name for everyone, not only in Malaysia but world wide. Some of you may know Michelin as the leading mobility company and i am very sure that many of you also know the name 'MICHELIN' as a mark of distinction awarded by the Michelin travel guides to a restaurant in recognition of the high quality of its cooking. For many years, the MICHELIN Guide team has been eyeing Malaysia as one of the destination that they are looking forward to break into the Food and Beverage scene. Finally, this year the MICHELIN Guide is in Malaysia awarding 97 Restaurants the MICHELIN Guide in the First Edition ever including 4 restaurants the MICHELIN Stars. It is an honor for me to be part of the MICHELIN Guide familiarization trip to experience a gastronomy journey with the MICHELIN Guide, focusing mainly in Penang and i am proud to introduce to you some of the restaurant that i have tried through out the MICHELIN Guide familiarization trip.

Thara
Michelin : Bib Gourmand
Address : 5 Lorong Prangin, George Town, 10300, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 014 - 990 1400
Opening Hours : Close on Thursday ( Open : 12.00 pm - 3.00 pm, 5.00 pm - 10.00 pm )
GPS Coordinate : 5.412679, 100.334342









Thara Restaurant in Penang is a Thai Restaurant which serve dish that goes really well with rice. As Malaysian, we always crave for more rice and Thara is the best place for that. Guest can order many different types of Thai Dish and eat them together with rice. This type of place is really suitable for friends gathering or for family get together. Some of the dish that i manage to tried here at Thara Restaurant are the Sizzling Young Peppercorn Clams, Onion Omelette, Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, Garlic Squid, Papaya Salad, Fried Kailan and many more. My personal favorite dish here is their Deep Fried Water Spinach and also Red Snapper fish. I always have this craving for Thapthim krop dessert and when ever i visit a Thai Restaurant, it is a must for me to order one, here at Thara they got that covered too so that guest may have their Thapthim krop craving fix. Thara Restaurant has a very modern looking restaurant with some light touch of traditional Thai Restaurant feel.

Rasa Rasa (回味) Food and Beverage
Michelin : Bib Gourmand
Address : 59 Gat Lebuh Chulia, George Town, 10300, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 012 - 442 2570
Opening Hours : Close on Tuesday and Wednesday ( Open :  8.00 am - 3.00 pm )
GPS Coordinate : 5.414070, 100.340618







Nasi Lemak with fragrant pandan in coconut milk rice and crunchy anchovies for breakfast anyone ? Regardless if you are staying in Penang or coming over to Penang for holiday, having a cup of coffee and Nasi Lemak for breakfast is always the best choice. Dining in at Rasa Rasa gives me that local Penangites feeling. This small little place is awarded with the Bib Gourmand title and it is proud to that Rasa Rasa has put our local Malaysian dish into the MICHELIN Guide. Here at Rasa Rasa you can find food local food like Nasi Lemak, Soft Boiled Kampung Egg on Toast, Curry Chicken, Fried Bihun, Longan Aloe Vera Lohan Guo and many more. If you want to travel like a local Penangites, then Rasa Rasa is the place to get a taste of it.

Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery
Michelin : One ⭐ MICHELIN Star
Address : 1 Lebuh Bishop, George Town, 10200, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 017 - 434 4398
Opening Hours : Close on Monday and Tuesday ( Open : 12.00 pm - 2.30 pm, 6.00 pm - 9.30 pm )
GPS Coordinate : 5.418019, 100.342406







As of now, during the writing of this post, there are only 2 restaurant in Penang that has One ⭐ MICHELIN Star and one of the restaurant that has been awarded with that title is Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery. When visiting Penang, one of the must try cuisine is the Peranakan cuisine or better know as Nyonya food in Penang. Auntie Gaik Lean who is also the Chef herself takes the effort and years of hard work in making sure that all the Nyonya food serve here looks good, taste good and yet stay authentic to its original Nyonya flavour. There are many different type of dish to choose from which goes really well with rice. I really like their Authentic Nyonya Curry Kapitan Chicken, Nyonya Inchi Kabin, Jiu Hu Char, Otak Otak, Egg Belanda and some said that their Nyonya Beef Rendang is nice too. The Pulut Hitam with Dried Longan and fresh coconut dessert is my favourite. It’s a perfect place for a family or friends gathering to enjoy Nyonya food.

Bao Teck Tea House
Address : 25 Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10300, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 04 - 263 1100
Opening Hours : Monday - Thursday | 8.00 am - 2.00 pm, Friday - Sunday | 8.00 am - 6.00 pm
GPS Coordinate : 5.413287, 100.335238









MICHELIN Guide cover all types and category of cuisine which include this historic appeal restaurant with details of its restaurant's environment worth appreciating such as the patterned tile flooring and the moss garden which give a calm and relaxing feel for everyone to enjoy Chinese tea while eating dim sum. Bao Teck Tea House in Penang is the place to go for an authentic yum cha experience and tasty Cantonese dim sum. During my visit there, I manage to try their Bao Teck Siu Mai, Crystal Seafood Dumpling, Mushroom Siu Mai, Golden radish Cake, Snowy Char Siew Bun, Golden Sesame Ball, Crispy Yam Puff, Money Bag with Prawn and not forgetting their Crystal Osmanthus Jelly for dessert. Tea lover can enjoy Chinese Tea here which is being prepared in a very professional manner. All the waiter and waitress here are well trained on the correct way to prepare the Chinese Tea. There is also a more private space for guest to enjoy the quiet and calm environment while enjoying their food and tea.

Gēn (根)
Address : Unit 6, 8 Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, 10300, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 012 - 511 3323
Opening Hours : Close on Monday and Tuesday ( Open : 12.00 pm - 3.00 pm, 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm )
GPS Coordinate : 5.416007, 100.343279










If you are looking for something different and creative then Gēn (根) is the place to be. The courses never fail to surprise and plating is always aesthetically pleasing and sometimes playful. The minimalistic room with pale wood tones, full length windows and an open kitchen feels cosy and relaxing. Food here are serve in small portion in order to maintain its quality and taste. By looking at the name of the food from their menu, there are a lot of uncommon combination of food which make me curious waiting to try. There are food like Buah Kulim Cacao Husk, T’lur Caviar Jicama, Ginger Flower Rose, Duck Ayer Itam Ginger, Pineapple Nutmeg Chocolate and many more which i personally feel that it is uncommon but the owner here has his own unique way in making the food taste good.

Il Bacaro
Address : Campbell House, 106 Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10100, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 011 - 6399 7580
Opening Hours : Monday - Tuesday | 12.00 pm - 10.30 pm, Friday - Sunday | 12.00 pm - 11.00 pm
GPS Coordinate : 5.418119, 100.333577










Craving for Italian food ? Here is one from the MICHELIN Guide list for everyone to try on. Dine and Wine at Il Bacaro which is located in Campbell House is the best way to enjoy Italian food when in Penang. Serving food like Raviolo di Bresaola Ripieno di Crema di Montasio e Pere, Spaghetti Salsa di Limone e Gamberi, Risotto con Fegato D'Oca Saltato in Padella, Filetto di Cernia allo Zafferano con Puree' al Basilico, Torta di Limone and many more. Even by reading the food list from their menu makes me feels so Italian. Pair these food together with some good wine from Il Bacaro for a romantic dinner with your love one.

With the success of releasing Malaysia very first list of the MICHELIN Guide. The team is excited to make these update as regular as possible by doing a live updates to reveals new additions to the guide throughout the year in Malaysia. So Malaysian can be on the look out regularly for newly update list.

I am sure many of you are curious on how the rating and selection of the MICHELIN Guide list is being done, me included. Well, the selection will be assessed by independent and anonymous inspectors, following the historical and universal methodology of the MICHELIN Guide, based on five criteria, all focused on the plate :
  1.  Quality of the ingredients
  2. Mastery of cooking techniques
  3. Harmony of the flavours
  4. Expression of the chef’s personality in the cuisine
  5. Consistency, both over time and across the entire menu
I am definitely looking forward to more and more food and beverages outlet bring added into the MICHELIN Guide so that i can try all the tasty and good quality food here in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully there will be more coming soon from other states of Malaysia !


Posted Date : 29 May 2023
Posted Time : 12.37 am

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