A marvellous View for an exceptional anniversary

The View © Adrian Cheah

With a stellar scene of Penang outside its floor-to-ceiling glass walls, The View at Equatorial Hotel is an exquisite fine dining restaurant wonderfully suited to mark any memorable occasion.

The View © Adrian Cheah

It was here that my wife and I decided to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with our daughter. Decorated with white linens and glimmering candles, this cosy French-inspired restaurant offered a gastronomic delight that titillated not only our taste buds but all our senses. The food served that evening appeared amazing and the quality ingredients made our palates dance with delight.

The View © Adrian Cheah

Our culinary journey began with deliciously tender Escargots de Bourgogne, baked with garlic and herb butter. A basket of warm and fresh slices of bread with a trio of dipping sauces was also offered.

The View © Adrian Cheah

This was followed by cauliflower soup served with pita bread, split pea puree and white truffle oil infusion. It was all smooth and luxurious.

The View © Adrian Cheah

After that, a sharp sorbet was served to cleanse the palate. We were then all ready for our main courses. My daughter opted for the baked Atlantic Cod fillet, my wife had the grilled grain-fed rib-eye steak and I just had to indulge in a serving of grilled whole lobster on bean paste spaghetti. Beautifully plated, the courses were simply sublime.

The View © Adrian Cheah

We were served by Zul, a star in his own right, whose attentiveness was first class. The restaurant’s complementary offerings made our evening even more special.

The View © Adrian Cheah

We gleefully tugged away at the sinfully delicious desserts. They included a Ricotta Cheesecake served with plum compote and kataifi, and Lava Cake served with vanilla cream, coconut ice cream and berry-berry garnish.

The View © Adrian Cheah

Zul also brought to the table a well-decorated, complimentary plate with "Happy 20th Anniversary" written in chocolate. It was crowned with a decadent chocolate cake topped with a lit candle. We made our wish in unison and blew at the candle. It was an absolutely enjoyable evening remembering our message of love and gratitude that we had exchanged two decades ago.

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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah 
© All rights reserved
16 January 2019

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The View
Hotel Equatorial Penang
1 Jalan Bukit Jambul, Bayan Lepas, 11900 Penang, Malaysia

Note: The five-star Hotel Equatorial Penang that had been in business for more than three decades shut down effective 31 March 2021.