beyond toxicity

After almost being exhausted in checking out the newly opened Tesco Supermarket in Tajung Bungah and bought some kitchen essentials for us to use as we move in to our own appartment to rent in less than a week, we went to Queensbay Mall for that much needed-haircuts for me and Gabby, did some more grocery shopping and brought our palates to a restaurant that we haven’t tried before.

With floral table tops and dainty curtains, relaxing mood complete with classical violin music, Winter Warmers Coffee and Tea House in Queensbay Mall offers its customers an experience to dine British in the heart of Penang.  If you don’t want to kill your curiosity to know whether this charming cafe is affordable or not, you’ll get intimidated easily with its sophisticated and luxurious interiors.

Because it’s almost late for lunch and our tummies were literally growling (read: our borborygmi can be heard even without auscultation, haha! ) I immediately called the wait staff to provide us menu.  We found out that they have set list which I preferred; they also offer variety of choices from salads, pasta, entrees like chicken, beef and fish dishes (Winter Warmers is a Halal-restaurant thus does not offer pork), desserts, coffee and tea.

Tina tried their Fettuccine Carbonara…

Their version of Carbonara was fine but nothing spectacular (read: I think I can cook a better-tasting pasta than this perhaps because I am missing ham and bacon but nonetheless, it’s filling!).

She initially wanted to order Savory Fish Fillet baked with cheese toppings and Carbornara was Gabby’s choice, however after we tendered the order to the wait staff, he told us with a smile,

Then, Tina asked him, “Why, do you have huge servings?”  Silently, I was telling myself, “He doesn’t have idea of our appetites!” hehehe! So my wife let go of her fish dish and settled to share the pasta plate with Gabby as he also ordered a yummy all-time-favorite, Chocolate Waffle.

Unsurprisingly, Gabby enjoyed this sinfully delicious goodness. Tina and I only dunked our forks a bit just to taste this irresistible delight but our son managed to finish the entire plate up to the last bite. Needless to say, it’s that toothsome!

As I wanted to try their tea instead of coffee but admittedly had no idea at that moment what to pair it with, I safely decided to go for one of their meal sets. I shared it with my 2 love ones who gave their thumbs up too.

My preference included fresh green salad…

It was almost perfect introduction to the main dish : Bolognese Cheese Bake!

I’d say the Mango Pudding was the best compliment of this set meal…

This quaint cafe tucked strategically in one end of the mall would never be called Winter Warmers without their hot blends.

As a coffee addict myself, it wasn’t easy to leave the chance to try their cappuccino or mocha, but I don’t know, I just had a sudden and strong desire to try tea instead of caffeinated drinks at the moment. I trusted the waiter’s suggestion to try Green Tea Moonlight Rose with my meal set. I found it soothing; I liked it.

The steaming pot of Green Tea Moonlight Rose instantly made me a tea-lover too.  Even without its known health benefits of being an antioxidant and whatnot, a sip would make you like it in a blink! However, as it was Gabby’s first to see a dried little rose in a cup of tea, he innocently asked me, “Daddy, bakit may rose na patay?”  (Daddy, why is there a dead rose in your cup?).  I smiled and replied to our son,“It’s dried, not dead!” hehehe.

Tina didn’t like it at all. She mentioned the feeling was like drinking a cup of potpourri, hahaha! I didn’t agree. The floral scent was subtle and it was enough to stimulate relaxation amidst digestive process.

 

Before, I only liked drinking iced tea and rarely would you find me drinking Lipton in warm cup. But after our casual dining experience at Winter Warmers, I’m convinced that there are a lot of alternatives to my addiction to coffee; and dunking tea bags in a steaming hot pot is one.

 

Winter Warmers’ service was impressively quick; food and drinks graciously landed on our table in less than 10 minutes; wait staff was attentive.  They have affordable and reasonable prices of set meals and ala carte dishes and drinks. Best of all, if in some food establishments in Penang, a glass or a cup of ordinary iced cold tap water costs around RM 0.80 (yes, may bayad ang malamig na tubig sa ibang resto dito!), it has no charge in this cafe! And for ALL of those yummies on the photos, we only paid RM 50+ (PhP 700+ or USD 16.44+), tax and service charge included. We’ll definitely* come back to try their other stuffs. 

*My mom (and dad) who will be coming over to Penang in a couple of weeks time (for my mom to visit us on tourist visa and for my dad who will be on dependent visa, will continue his grandfather’s duty of being a nanny to Gabby) and loves anything floral will surely be delighted in this English-themed cafe.*

We love Strabucks and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf too, but apparently, we’re grateful that there are a lot of places that provide more pleasant and relaxing atmosphere with wider variety of goodies.

 

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Winter Warmers Coffee & Tea House, Queensbay Mall, Penang
Queensbay Mall, 100 Persiaran Bayan Lepas, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang.