It has been weeks since our last publishing, reason being that we are currently preoccupied with a food research project. Therefore, in the recent months we have had to do without with most of the usual invited reviews to give way to our aspiration and passion of “real” food. With the limited time that we have in between appointments, interviews and reports, we try put them into good use like sampling new ideas, tantalizing our senses with new flavours and unwinding to release some stress. One of such occasions was the sampling of the newly introduced Pinang Thaipas at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa.
The “Pinang Thaipas” is their innovative version of the world famous Spanish Tapas and Chinese Dim Sum. Served at their pool-side Pinang Restaurant and Bar, it provides a form of indulgence for light eaters to sample the variety of flavours and textures that Asian (Thai & Malaysian) dishes can produce, and also convenience for social events or gatherings.
The Thaipas menu offers a little bit of sweetness, sourness, bitterness and spice that comes in sets of four(4) individual servings per order. The range of dishes begins from soups to desserts, from Malaysian to Thai influenced flavours which are not too far apart in terms characteristics and tastes.
Pinang Laksa (RM16), Pinang Laksa is Penang’s version of noodles and soup. The smooth firm rice noodles and coarsely julienne vegetables served in a tart, spicy and sweet fish and tamarind base broth tends to stimulate the appetite with its hot and spicy yet richly sweet tastes. 
Tom Yam Goong (RM22), a mildly acidic hot and spicy Thai influenced soup served with a generously-sized king prawn and laced with few drops of the earthy truffle oil.
Miang Kham (14), roasted rich desiccated coconut, savoury dried shrimp, sweet nutty cashew nuts, pungent chopped shallots and ginger and hot chilli dressed in a home-made sweet honey sauce parcelled in a musky wild pepper leaf (wild betel leaf). The bite size “food wrapped in a leaf” produces a bouquet of taste and texture with an aromatic smell when chewed.
SOM TAM (RM14), julienne of firm crisp savoury green papaya, chunks of crunchy long beans, fragrant tart lime juice, chopped spicy chilli, salty fish sauce and sweet palm sugar make up this dish that was anointed one of top 50 must try food complied by CNNGo in year 2011. The ingredients are combined and pounded in a mortar then served with generous sprinkles of toasted cashew nut, thus Som Tam literally mean “sour pounded”.
Tod Man Pla (RM18), mildly spiced Thai red curry marinated fish cakes deep fried till golden brown and served with a sweet cucumber relish. The dish played with our sweet,savory and spicy sense of taste, which was quite well balanced. 
From Thai, we moved on to some local dishes that we are much acquainted with. Chicken Pie Tee (RM14), crisp thin golden brown cups filled with braised julienned sweet juicy yam bean (jicama), salty cuttlefish strips and meaty minced chicken topped with sprinkles of chopped spring onions, fried shallots and a sweet chilli sauce.
Deep Fried Spring Rolls (RM14), strips of tender moist mushrooms, yam bean, vegetable and sweet prawns seasoned with five spice parcelled in soft popiah skin (spring roll) and deep fried until crisp and crackling.
Giving presence to our local deserts is their Sago Gula Melaka (RM16). Shooter glasses filled with sweet creamy rich palm sugar syrup, dainty pearls of sago pudding, herb jelly and topped of with a layer of savoury coconut cream and a mint leaf. 
Mango Rock & Roll (RM16), finely fried crisp spring rolls filled with tender sticky glutinous rice served in a glass of smooth sweet tangy mango coulis.
Mainly playing with Thai and Malaysian favourite dishes and flavours, the Thaipas menu which was recently introduced to Pinang Bar provides a small sampling of what our local and Asian can achieve when some ingenuity and passion is put into old food items and transformed into something new that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.
The Pinang Bar is situated at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa’s Garden Wing poolside, just a few steps away from Batu Feringgi’s beach front. Their opening hours are from 10:00am to 10:00pm daily. For more details you may contact 04-888 8788.
