September 2013
Named after the French expression 'yum yum', Miam Miam is a lively cafe with a curious mix of flavours from savoury souffle to pasta. Their menu is predominantly French or European but with Japanese influence in each. Undoubtedly, the result is a unique, if not somewhat confusing, melding of flavours. But one that's fast becoming trendy within the Penang crowd, judging from their midweek lunch crowd.
While there are several pasta dishes to choose from, and they have unique ones such as French lobster bisque pasta, squid ink pasta and arrabiata from RM24.80+, it’s the Miam Miam Spaghetti that calls out to us like a siren song. The hefty portion is loaded with bacon pieces, shimeji mushrooms, tomatoes, sausage chunks and topped by onsen egg (half poached), while the spaghetti is coated with a delicate sauce that makes the dish both light and substantial.
The souffle dorian filled with rice, beef and ham
Now, their bestseller is the soufflé dorian at RM26.80+. Pot baked, this one is funnily suffering from an identity crisis. Filled with rice coated in sweet, Japanese sauce, a few slithers of beef and ham pieces then topped with thick, fluffy baked soufflé that’s light as feather, it is sweet on the palate with only hints at umami. It’s certainly a unique and an acquired taste that’ll leave you slightly confused and satiated at the same time. We say, it’s something you must try at least once in this lifetime.
Sweets here are parfaits and pancakes. The mango and kiwi topped inch-thick pancake for RM19.80+ is average at best. However, well worth pairing it with their special blend coffee that’s pleasantly sour and well roasted. Best part is, refills of this choice are 50 per cent off.
Their special blend coffee is pretty good, served with a thimble of cream
For those wanting something more conventional, they have croquet monsieur, classic BLT, ‘Shrimp Avo’ and simple buttered thick toast from RM5.80 right up to RM22.80+. Also, it’s one of the few cafés that offer French toast with whipped cream and maple syrup.
Like the flavours they offer, the non-smoking café’s interior is a charming cross of European and Asian chic dotted with cheery-coloured furniture. Service is friendly and if you’re in a hurry, skip the soufflé for another more leisurely meal time. Kitty Kaye