Tao Asian - Penang, Malaysia

Salmon papaya, a delicate and delectable entree served with oozing juice and a contrast between fruit and seafood. Best eaten with chopsticks. Welcome to the world of Tao.

A selection of sushi and more from the buffet table (above picture) gives a hint of the care and diversity that goes into a thoughtful and varied menu.

Try the clam with garlic, three layer egg, spicy Idaki Maki, Shabu Shabu and Hawaiian Lamb.

The setting at Auto City is idyllic, with wood panels, interesting with even a live music area and cultural feel.   Watch your step as you climb up artificially made sloping steps from the entrance, and once inside, you have to navigate your way past quaint Japanese styled bridges and stone structures to get to the reception or washrooms.  Tables are often small to adequately accommodate the range of food any typical group or couple orders.  You do, however, get a choice of seating options from cushioned enclosures to  that of chairs which can be too low rise.

Chawan mushi is one of my standard calming side dishes in Japanese cuisine, accompanied by grilled unagi on a small bed of cupped rice (image above).  One can order ala carte or select from the buffet spreads.  Even if each dish may be minimal in size by itself, you can chalk up a hefty bill and/or a most appetising experience by the time the night is over.

The menu is categorised into mains, salads, steamed dishes, sushi, noodle soups, grills, deep frieds or agemono, cold cuts and hand rolls.  Presentation and style catches our eyes when the food is served to us in a group of three in May 2012.  Below, my California temaki roll and further down, Tao's version of an abalone starter, which is yummy to the palate.

Tao operates in both Malaysia and the United States. In the former, they have outlets in E-Gate, Penang Island; Kota Damansara, Klang Valley; and in Auto City, Juru, Penang mainland.  The menu can be primarily Japanese but in reality they provide concept food that incorporates a wider selection like Thai, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese. In Juru, there is a choice of around 130 dishes to ponder over.

My impressions of the Auto City Tao on my most recent visit there last month are:

Atmosphere:  Maybe too busy for its own good.
Location:  Suburban.
Taste:  Good when you are selective.
People Engagement: Can be improved.
Service: Patchy, unless you meet a bright and eager staff member.
Best Time to Visit: Early shift of the two or three sessions for dinner. The variety and availability can decrease during late sessions.
Fav Dish Experienced:  California Temaki Rolls.
Would I Return?:  Yes, to try dishes like the Unagi Mushi Tofu, soft shell crab hand roll and smoked duck breast.

Auto City Juru - Penang, Malaysia

Bright strobbing lights, flashy sights, well polished surfaces and clean brick tiled floors. Car accessories, pharmacies, mobile phone stalls and hair saloons add to the variety. Welcome to a fair in Auto City, alive with crowds of people, periodic parades, diners, apparel sales and music.

It is not just all cars, for it is a suburb, offering all the amenities of a small township. There are replica murals of a Thai restaurant (above) and another manifestation of Americanism (below) is an example of what draws the crowd out of their residential areas to congregate.  When I was last there, the rains came down and whipped up by the winds, unleashed the water on all the cars exhibited there.  Audi, BMW, Subaru, you name it.

Auto City lies at a locational nexus, not far from the Peninsular Malaysian mainland side of the Penang Bridge, within a half hour drive from the regional hubs of Butterworth, Seberang Perai and Bukit Mertajam, having easy access to the North-South Expressway to Alor Setar, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, and all within Penang State. I was introduced to a yogurt and nuts mix concept store called Tutti Fruitti, apparently popular in this nation, for which there is a similar business at Macquarie Centre in Sydney's northwest. A giant LED screen offers free movies to the public each evening. Interesting restaurants include The Boston (claiming to provide "Hongkie
food" ); Haagen Dazs and Swensen ice cream; the Winter Warmers tea cafe; Old Town White Coffee shop; Xian Ding Fei Taiwanese fare; and Sushi Sakae.

The cooler and less humid surroundings after sunset entice people from neighbouring areas to drop by and stroll by whatever is offered. I was captivated by the huge car stereo combos placed in the boot of certain car makes, and under the moonlight, these glow and throb with colour and sound. (picture above).  The fair went on till midnight in a definite holiday atmosphere.

Basketball, lion dance troupes, restaurants, banks, retail outlets, souvenirs, T-shirts, pottery, plants, fabric, coffee, karaoke and more.  The evening when I was most recently there turned out to be a carnival, of automobiles, motor bikes, models, hair stylists, playing bands, family gatherings, teenagers having a night out and with a deep sense of community feel.

Wedding Vibes, Georgetown, Penang

Many preparations lead to a festive wedding. They include the traditional practice of making and consuming brightly coloured rice dough balls (above) in light syrup, to signify roundness, celebration and good vibes. Cakes, hearts and toasts share a common link for all cultures to mark a marriage.  The images below were taken on site at the Ming Garden Restaurant in Georgetown's Times Square on 30 May 2012.

The above images in this entry are from the collection of Mr Loke Yew Fai of Kuala Lumpur.