BY CK LAM

Located at the heart of the UNESCO heritage zone in George Town Penang is Muntri Mews. This beautifully refurbished boutique hotel on narrow Muntri Street is home to Mews Cafe, an air-conditioned café which serves Asian and international specialties.

The cafe offers breakfasts and lunches, all prepared with sauces and spices, without the usage of MSG. The breakfast list has offerings of sandwiches, croissant, toast, muesli, fruit platter and egg prepared in several variants. I tried the croissant filled with wonderful slices of ham served with tomato and vegetables. There is also the beverage menu with freshly squeezed juices, fruit frappes, mocktails, tea, freshly ground coffee and delightfully refreshing float.

A lunch visit had me sampling several dishes. I first tried the Mixed Mesclun & Rocket Salad, a mix of greens with thick pieces of nicely charred smoked duck.

It was a pleasure tucking in the Beer Batter Garoupa Fllet Fish & Chips. The garoupa fish fillet coated with a crispy and light batter comes with a light touch of tartare sauce and a side bowl of thick cut crispy fries.

The Helen’s Curry Mee is a must try especially for those who love lemak (rich with coconut milk) soup with aromatic spices flavor. The full-bodied soup is well balanced with equal tones of spiciness, sweetness and creaminess. With generous portions of chicken, fish balls, prawns and crispy soya skin, I would say it has more ingredients than noodle! Fragrant chili paste is served separately for those who want it extra spicy.

I was recommended to try the Nyonya Laksa Lemak in a thick flavorful coconut based fish prawn stock. The portion was just right, with plenty of garnishing. The soup taste nice and refreshing, as it draws special flavors from the chopped kantan flower, pungent prawn paste and droplets of lime juice.

It was exceptionally delightful sampling the Cheng Th’ng, a dessert which is commonly found in restaurants instead of cafes. It has a balance of sweetness drawn from the many ingredients of longan, winter melon, red dates, sea coconut and sugar. This dessert can be served either hot or cold.

One of the outlet’s must-try is the mango and sweet glutinous rice. Normally serve with coconut milk, this sticky rice dessert comes with a scoop of coconut ice-cream instead. Indeed a nice change from the usual presentation!

Other desserts offered include the Sago Pudding. This dessert synonymous with Nyonya cuisine is served with its traditional accompaniment of coconut milk and Gula Melaka. The ingredients are simple but were well prepared.

The presentation of the food at Mews Cafe sets it apart from the rest. Every dish is plated on unique mix and match porcelain from the owner private antiques collection.

While the breakfast and lunch menu is a good reason to visit Mews Cafe, the warm and friendly atmosphere is just as inviting. Its location is convenient, with easy access to a plethora of other attractions nearby.

Mews Café
Muntri Mews
77 Lebuh Muntri
10050 Georgetown
Penang

Tel : 04 263 5125

Fax : 04 263 4125

Written by CK Lam, food blogger and editor of http://www.what2seeonline.com ; featuring the Best of Penang Food. She constantly combs Penang for the best gastronomical delights and loves promoting Penang Cuisines, Culture and Heritage.