Today is Leap Day, a bonus day, so an early start to see the sun rise over Penang to the east seemed appropriate. We had a nice breakfast but saved room for our Michelin Starred lunch. Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery is one of the two Michelin Star restaurants in all of Malaysia and it was our leap year treat to ourselves. It was small but authentic and it had received a star in 2023 and in 2024. The storefront fit the old time theme and the music was old 50's tunes. Auntie Gaik Lean herself was sitting at one of the tables when we were seated. She came over to take our order and give us some suggestions. The menu was in Malay and English but the English was very sparse. Unfortunately there were no pictures of the dishes, I like pictures when I am unfamiliar with the cuisine. Leslie's first choice was out of season so Auntie suggested a few things. Some suggestions would have been too spicy for Leslie so she declined the spicy ones. Auntie suggested the four angle bean dish so we ordered it. I got a meat roll and the tamarind prawns. The prawns were butterflied but still had the shells. It was almost as if the prawns were softshell prawns. I missed a few bits while peeling and they were surprisingly easy to chew. Good meal and most reasonably priced.
Looking out to the mainland from the new park
Peaceful time for the fishermen
It will soon be very hot
Great Egret in the surf
Looking for his breakfast
Wading along
A small stream flows in at this end of the park
Time to head back
Is this a land snail or a sea snail dropped inland?
Noce flowers along the way
Tropical climate allows continuous flowering
A kind of hiciscus
We have arrived
This is certainly the place
Great screen at the front door
All lit up on an interior wall
The Professor and the Sasquach
Lots of blue and white murals on the walls
Here she is, Auntie Giak Lean
On the wall and in the flesh
Proudly displayed!
Mear in roll form as an appetizer
Prawns with Tamarind sauce
Fried chicken
A tasty rice dish
Four angled beans otherwise known as winged beans
I looked them up to see what they were. Tasty but served in a spicy format so Leslie did not enjoy them
Even the tile outside the door was a sign for Auntie Giak Lean
The lunch pots in the window decorations
