Zamin - a Penang local

Zamin shared with us his opinions about Penang, its culture and food. He is a proud local, and we enjoyed quite a few drinks with him at the Tai Wah cafe, where he can be often be found at about 4pm...

We met Zamin over some beers at the Tai Wah Chinese Cafe in Georgetown. He is a proud Penang local, the youngest of 20 siblings. He was happy to share his knowledge of Malaysia, and Penang in particular, with us. We were able to gain some insight into the Malaysian culture and religion, as Zamin was comfortable discussing issues that might be sensitive to some. He is Muslim, but still indulges in the odd alcoholic beverage, while most Muslims do not drink alcohol as part of their religion; here it comes down to a personal choice, and showing respect for other's beliefs. Penang has a relaxed feel to it and the tolerance and respect each culture shows to others results in a generally harmonious enviroment. Zamin's many dining -out tips were all spot on; each recommendation provided a great experience.

Zamin works at the Bayview Hotel, and was kind enough to introduce us to his executive chef Billy Boudville. Billy is quite a character and was amazingly generous with his time; he spent hours with us discussing Malaysian cuisine and provided a range of dishes for us to try. We enjoyed traditional Penang laksa (with a delicious sweet/sour flavour) and Hokkien Mee ( a very rich prawn broth with Hokkien noodle). It was interesting that Billy voiced concern about the poor training some apprentices receive, and the lack of a strong work ethic some possess in recent times -similar to the problems arising in Australia in the hospitality industry.