KEN HUNTS FOOD: Beep Beep Q @ Bangkok Lane, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Beep Beep Q @ Bangkok Lane, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Barbecue devotees would be glad to know that there is a new Barbecue restaurant hit the shore of the island recently. Beep Beep Q walks a slightly different path, the restaurant offers made-to-order barbecue buffet dinner (at Rm 58 nett per person); guests get to choose their orders from their menu, not only featuring an array of meat but a wide selection of vegetables as well. The restaurateur cum Chef is a car enthusiast which explains why there are so many automotive spare parts adorning the walls. The setting is not posh or picturesque but rather simple with a few wooden tables and chairs. Al-fresco dining area is available for those who prefer a more outdoorsy ambiance. However, we belittled the setting and thought that the foods were very impressive and worth every single penny spent. Ala-carte lunch menu may be served in the near future. Beep Beep Q is situated at Bangkok Lane, Pulau Tikus.

Many Thanks to Beep Beep Q for hosting us that evening.

Having honed his culinary skills abroad, the Chef dishes out very impressive grills. No lackluster, every single item served was meticulously paired with his home-made sauces. We get to sample both Sirloin Steak and Lamb Shoulder; Chef uses his home-made Barbecue sauce on the red meat. Both were grilled till perfection- juicy and fork-tender; little effort was necessary to slit through the meat. The Lamb Shoulder was especially toothsome for having the right ratio of fats to lean meat. Chef further impressed us with his creativity of topping a caramelized Pineapple on the meat (though canned Pineapples were used). We were indeed amazed by how the sweet and sour Pineapple amalgamated with the red meat; absolutely brilliant! We need not to dip the meat in any other sauce, the moderately spread of Barbecue sauce was good enough to grant the meat the necessary flavors.

Unlike the red meat, Chef applies his own recipe of Butter and Garlic sauce to the Chicken Wings. The Wings were well-executed, though may be slightly rough in texture; Chef has certainly marinated them well. The sausages were equally lip-smacking, though not home-made; they scored well in terms of flavors and texture. Similarly to the red meat, Barbecue sauce was evenly spread over the sausage; it was not needy for any extra seasonings or dips.

A quirky, playful yet enticing creation- Grilled Mangoes. The Mangoes were grilled to caramelize the surface and lightly spread with Honey Barbecue Sauce. The sweet and sour Mango was really appetizing but we thought it was not spectacular, more like a Mango with a hint of smokiness. It may be better if the Mangoes are in season, for a sweeter and juicier bite.

We get to sample an array of their Grilled Vegetables- Zucchini, Broccoli, Oyster Mushrooms, Yam, and Aubergines. The Oyster Mushrooms were lightly sprinkled with Salt and Herbs, it was crunchy with a strong earthy flavor. The remaining vegetables were lightly spread with Chef's home-made Honey Barbecue Sauce which introduced a gentle savory-sweetness to the vegetables. We were intrigued by the presence of Yam (hereby named Crispy Yam), the Grilled Yam was blanketed with a thin layer of crispy-skin while the inner layer has a velvety texture. All vegetables were grilled to a perfect crunch.

Alternate your serving with free flow of Salads, Mashed Potatoes and Soup; despite they did not manage to impress us with the dressing but the greens were very fresh and crunchy. The Mashed was toothsome, it was light and easy on the palate; not overly greasy with a nice buttery aroma and delicately salted while the extra fine touch of Herbs and Spices enhanced the flavor. The home-made Pumpkin Soup was equally delectable. It was creamy and robust with the Pumpkin flavor, the Chef did a nice twist here by leaving traces of Pumpkin chunks for the extra layer of dimension. If I were to nitpick, I would prefer it to be served warmer or perhaps, with some chewy-soft French Baguette. Other soups that may be served are Cream of Mushroom Soup and Chicken Pasta Soup.

You may also help yourself with a bucket of Tiger Beer at additional cost (all-day-long Happy Hour Promotion at Rm 52 nett per bucket/ 5 in a bucket) or just stick to the included plain water and fruit juices.