It was a first kind of such gathering here in Penang.
A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a gourmet.
I was a little doubtful whether I should be joining this gathering since those who were attending are established bloggers whom have so much passion in food and also in writing and sharing it out to everyone. For me, I just started out not long ago and I’m still not up to mark in my food hunt and in writing/sharing it out through my posts.
But another thought came to me that this is a chance to meet up with other "seasoned" bloggers or should I say floggers to see and learn how they make their blog so successful and about their great interest in blogging.
So Aug 2nd was the fateful day, Restaurant Hai Nan @ Weld Quay was the place.
I wasn’t the first to reach although I was there before 7pm. Cariso and CK Lam saw me and instantly introduced themselves. We then went around the place snapping photos of the surrounding.
View of the Church Street Pier and QE II just across the restaurant.
Great view of the ferry docking at the terminal
The restaurant itself is also very beautifully decorated with sofas and plants



Our table in a cozy and quite room
Alright…now on to the food we ordered after everyone came and had a good introduction session.
The restaurant serves Nyonya and Hainanese cuisines
We ordered Asam Curry Fish, Ju Hu Char, Fried Spring Roll, Mixed Vegetable and Inchi Kabin (fried chicken with Worcester sauce).

I believe there’s one thing which we had the same feeling about. The food was just so-so while the company of new friends deserves to be mentioned more. Right floggers??
These mini pastries were courtesy of Criz Lai. He took the trouble to buy them from a new pastry shop at Jalan Burmah before meeting up with us. From top: chicken pie, egg tart, black pepper chicken pie
As for me, I wanted to make something for everyone to show my appreciation in getting to know them in person. So from Saturday morning till evening just before the gathering, I was busy preparing these fruit tarts!!
As this was the first time I tried making tarts, all of them were just being nice by giving compliments and eating it. I felt it was too soggy/watery due to the amount of time it was left uneaten after being prepared. Also, the fruits were not fresh anymore + the fruits I used didn’t bring out a vibrant colour to the tarts.
I felt so embarrassed with what I had made but yet the floggers were such a nice bunch who didn’t complain but just eat up all the tarts. I don’t know whether to say Thank You to you all for being so kind or Sorry for the poor outcome of the tarts. Do give me some feedback and I’m sure I’ll improve on it the next time I try making it again!!!
And yes, not forgeting another surprise Lingzie brought for the birthday girl, Carrie from Cariso. It was a green tea cake from Ritz bakery in Prima Tanjung (opposite Island Plaza)

The cake was absolutely delicious. The green tea taste is not overwhelming and the red bean filling in between compliments well with the taste of the whole cake.

And this is how it looks like for those who come across floggers in the same eating place as you are. Nobody gets to touch any of the food till all the cameras are done clicking and flashing. We came across many weird stares since this table of 10 people had like 7-8 cameras pointing and shooting photos of the food.

Hahaha….what a great makan time when you are around with people of the same interest. Thanks to Lingzie for this arrangement and hope to see everyone again next time.
For more meet-up "stories", hop over to their blogs:
will post about my holiday trip next..stay tuned!!!
Cheers…

For me, a person who doesn’t know how to bake, it’s oishii lah your tarts!
Wah! Your photos were very sharp! Is it due to the camera is super good or it’s the skill?! Mind teaching me what mode and setting you were using? Just a simple one will do.
Comment by cariso — August 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
Hi,
Nice blog. Really enjoy reading all the food review.
I would like to invite you to visit Food Promotions blog at http://foodpromotions.blogspot.com/ for all the promotions throughout Malaysia. Do link us at your site. Thanks for your support. Hope to see you soon at Food Promotions Blog.
Comment by Noir — August 4, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
Oh the fruit tarts look so pretty! I hope the next gathering I can attend and you must make the tarts again! Even if the food is just so-so, the desserts surely can compensate for the that ^.^
Comment by durianberry — August 4, 2008 @ 11:34 pm
Hello Bee, your photo is pretty good, which camera brand and model are you using?
Comment by gill gill — August 4, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
Thanks for sharing with us your tarts…they are great and tasty too. The layer of chocolate cream goes well with the fruits.
Comment by CK Lam @ what2see — August 5, 2008 @ 12:19 am
thanks for the fruit tart….delicious, can’t wait to have more ……
your photos are very nice and sharp, great skill you have.
Comment by PenangTuaPui — August 5, 2008 @ 9:00 am
Very thoughtful of you for sharing the homemade tarts.Wish I was there too.
Comment by Fortesfidelis — August 5, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Wah …. how you transport so many ah ? Some more all those tarts looks really heavy with the fruits. Now I am cracking my head how to smuggle pastries on to the plane for upcoming gathering. =.=”
Comment by email2me — August 5, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
bee…those tarts were lovely! the crust was really tasty. but the fruits did turn a bit watery..maybe you can try with those canned fruits next time? since its been ‘preserved’ by the syrup..so im guessing wont turn watery la
Comment by lingzie — August 5, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
Hi Bee, ur tarts look very tasty and I agree with what they said, ur photos are sharp and beautiful. Wish to bake together with u, as I like baking very much…
Comment by Ah Shui — August 6, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Hey Bee Hui, those fruit tarts are lovely
to prevent the crust from being soggy, try to brush a layer of melted chocolate to it first then only put the fruits. You can try glazing the fruits with agar-agar to make them more shinny and pretty
Comment by san — August 6, 2008 @ 10:30 am
Love your fruit tarts Bee. Can I have blueberry cheese tarts next??
Anyway, it’s nice to know the person behind your blog.
See you in the next gathering.
http://crizfood.blogspot.com/
Comment by Criz Lai — August 6, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
=> Cariso
Thank you for enjoying the tarts.
The photos, I did not do any “photoshop” to it except adding the watermark. I just use the macro setting and forced flash off. Then the angle shot is up to your own preference I feel. I’m still learning to take good shots and hopefully will improve more.
=> Noir
Hi! Welcome. Good blog you have there too. Will link up with yours.
=> durianberry
Haha looks can be deceiving. Hope to see you in person in the next gathering!!
=> gill gill
Oh my camera is just a point-and-shoot camera. Panasonic Lumix. I believe your DSLR is much better. I was humbled by the presence of your DSLR kit…so was trying to hide my camera away. Haha!!
=> CK Lam @ What2See
Glad you find the tarts edible.
=> PenangTuaPui
Thanks for the compliment. I will try to bake more..Practice makes perfect!
I’m still learning to take nice photos. Do share with me any advise/tips about photography ya. Your skills is also very good!!
=> Fortesfidelis
Come come…hope to see you in the next gathering and try out your special recipes.
=> email2me
I put in ice-cream tupperwares. But while driving there I think the shaking made some tarts run out of shape a little! Wow pastries…pls smuggle over more yea.
=> lingzie
Oh…ok thanks for the tips. Will keep that in mind.
=> Ah Shui
Thank you. Still very much in learning process…hope to be able to bake so well like you. All you cakes look so “shui”!!
=> san
Yes I did put a layer of chocolate below but I didn’t have enough time to make jelly to glaze the fruits. Bad time management…hahaha. Anyway would like to thank you for your recipes and tips.
=> Criz Lai
Haha ok…let me try experimenting how to make blueberry cheese first, or else dare not let you all try my “first time” tarts anymore.
Thanks for your mini pastries too. Very kind of you.
See you again!!
Comment by buzzingbee — August 7, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
Can see that you guys are enjoying!!
Nice pictures and the tarts too.
Comment by New Kid On The Blog — August 7, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
=> New Kid On The Blog
Yes it was nice meeting new friends. Hope will be able to meet up with you next time
Comment by buzzingbee — August 12, 2008 @ 2:18 pm