Dining

Starbucks coffee prices now, post SST

With the introduction of the 6% SST (tax) from September 1st, prices have risen again, almost to the same level as with the GST in the case of coffee and restaurants.

price list

These prices are before SST is added. And, as I mentioned before, unlisted is the “tall” option, which, at least for Americano coffee, is RM1 less than indicated above. I suppose they have to have this option because some of the flasks they sell can contain only the Tall volume, the others taking the Grande volume. Presenting a flask grants you a RM2 discount, so long term it pays for itself. I tend to use the loyalty rewards I collect for times when it is inconvenient to carry the flask – and especially at the airport where prices are much higher than elsewhere.

Starbucks works out pretty economical compared with many coffee houses, and if you ask for less water is often pretty good.

This same blog appears on the site I’m currently setting up – tropicalexpat.com.

blatantly bad birds – (Countdown: 3)

park next to Gurney Plaza

On a walk this morning I noticed birds behaving badly – flirting in the park.

birds flirting

Can’t they read the sign?

It seems it’s mating season, and I also notice birds building nests recently.

Doutor Coffee in the Gurney Alfresco area has closed

I’d been meaning to have a coffee there, but it’s already closed. But another coffee shop will replace it.

Doutor coffee is being replaced with another coffee shop – so there’ll be four coffee shops in a row – Dome, Doutor replacement, SF Coffee and Starbucks. And that’s just on this side!

And it seems there was an altercation with a pole on Gurney Drive.

I suppose this happened last night

Otherwise it’s fairly quiet this week.

Cheapest – and best? – coffee shop in Penang – (Countdown: 4)

One can get a coffee at PBC Coffee in the First Avenue Mall for RM2 – the catch is, you prepare it yourself – including grinding the coffee beans by hand. The first time a staff member will show you the procedure.

PBC

instructions

prices

coffee grinder

implements

we’ve ground the coffee now – you can filter the coffee or use a French press

carefully pour in boiling water

filtering

the coffee – in a ceramic mug – not in those undesirable paper cups

the wall

Grab had a discount the day we went – so catching Grab from home to First Avenue and back cost us RM5 – then RM4 for two coffees. RM9, or about USD2 for a day out. Not bad.

And as Grab sometimes has special discounts – it cost us RM2 to get to First Avenue from home, and RM3 to get back

Gurney Euro Deli closed

One day Euro Deli was suddenly gone – all boarded up.

Euro Deli closed in December. I assumed it was the end of their contract, as they’d opened in December several years ago. Asking management at Gurney left me no more enlightened. They didn’t tell me what would be replacing Euro Deli. But yesterday I saw that it’s a sales office for condos.

Yesterday I saw them refitting the shop

the interior

Guinness on special at Tesco – which has some new trolleys!

Guinness is on special in Tesco – the best price I have seen in years. Tiger is RM108, and there are others, too.

Guinness

Tesco has some new trolleys – they steer straight even when full – you can see which are new by the wheels.

new trolley – you can tell from the wheels

a nice little George Town cafe

Almost opposite St George’s church on Masjid Kapitan Keling in George Town one can find the Cafe Little Angel.

When it’s hard to park your car on the street, the only spot available is often right in front of it – because any car parked there will be bathed in oil from the cafe’s extractor fan.

But anyway, it’s inexpensive with a friendly staff, and tasty food.

Touch Veggie Delight – vegetarian restaurant

I dined here much earlier in the year, but am finally writing about it.

While I don’t understand the concept of eating “vegetarian chicken” – as you may just as well eat chicken, or recognise you are eating soy, they have plenty of dishes that don’t pretend to be something other than what they are. I saw an advertisement that states that there is no MSG, and I am pleased about this and that awareness of the toxicity of MSG is spreading.

It’s bright and clean inside. I went with a group, and we all enjoyed our food.

Details are:

68-1-1 Sunrise at Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, George Town, Penang, 10250 – you can park (using a voucher) on Gurney Drive.
+60 4-217 0158
http://www.touchfancydelight.com
Open Mon-Sun 9:00am-10:00pm.