I recalled my first visit to the Penang buffet at York Hotel in the late 80s as a child. Then, it was a big big world when the buffet line seemed to stretch on endlessly. Needless to say, I remembered very vividly on the laksa and the unlimited serving of char kuey teow. Of course, as a kid, we made the beeline for the ice lax hang station. It was one of the most treasured memories of food and family at the buffet event. It was an 'Event' in those day.

Decades forward, it was a quiet sweet nostalgia that this Penang buffet was revisited again. Same old feeling, same excitement, same flavors and same old-skool Penang food.
The buffet line has defiantly got longer (12 traditional hawker stalls) with the usual Penang favorites of Cha Kway Teow, Penang Prawn Mee and tangy Assam Laksa, Nasi Lemak with Nonya Chicken Kapitan, Penang Rojak, Cuttlefish Kang Kong, Kway Teow Soup or Dry, Oyster Omelette, Ban Chang Kueh, Pasembur, Lor Bak.

My new favorite - Ban Chang kuey, crispy on the outside and soft and flavorful on the inside. This brought me back to school days when we would just make a beeline at the school canteen for the fresh ones produced. This is better as the skin remains crispy even when it cooled down.

Assam Laksa was flavorful and tangy, the prawn paste was fresh and render its distinctive notes to the dish. A great dish but indeed not for the faint hearted.

Looking around the cafe, I am happy to be back.... Old memories preserved, new memories formed, old friends rekindled, new relationships forged. A quiet great evening indeed.

This Penang Hawkers' Fare will be available from til 27th March 2016 for just $29++ on the weekdays and $33 on the weekends. Walk-in only.

Thank you @yorkhotel for having us and @sixthsensepr for the invitation to this great evening.