Cafe with French and Spanish Cuisine in Localized Flavour - Black Kettle @ Beach Street, Penang

One of the most unique dish we tried was Baby Octopus & Angel Hair Pasta (RM 30). Just like any expectations you would have in a plate of great pasta, the angel hair pasta noodles were cooked to al-dente. However, it was semi-drenched in a coconut & lemongrass creamy broth and served with a pair of chopsticks instead of fork and spoons, highlighting the traits of localization. 

We enjoyed the coconut & lemongrass broth that carries a pleasant and sleek creaminess, and it is lighter in taste if compared to carbonara. You may add on the sambal provided into the broth, as it helps to thicken the broth and introduce a tad of heat component. Overall, it is an unique pasta that no where else offers and you should give it a try if you are adventurous in your palate experience. 

One of the popular dish that gained significant customers' positive feedback here is Peri-Peri Chicken (RM 24). We thought it is a well balanced meal, featuring marinated boneless chicken thigh as protein, hot & puffy fries and carbohydrate and fresh garden salad as source of fibers. The piece of protein is tender and succulent in texture, then complemented well with the moderately hot and sweet homemade Peri-Peri sauce. 

We also like the slight hint of herb scent in the chicken, which perhaps derived from the Peri-Peri sauce as well. 

If you were to enjoy some French cuisine, then Black Kettle has got it to satisfy your crave. They serve Bouillabaisse (RM 31), a well seasoned soup with assortments of seafood stew (squids, tiger prawns, fishes, New Zealand blue mussels) and potatoes. The trick to enjoy the soup is to crack the complimentary toasted bread and dip it to garlic mayonnaise, then wet it with the soup to introduce a rich and nice taste. 

Both hot and cold version of the soup offers a different experience, and each has their own unique characteristics. Try it out yourself and you will know the differences. 

Shall you prefer a lighter meal, Black Kettle has a wide variety of pastries to offer. We were recommended to try their Ham, Béchamel & Cheese (RM 17.50) in a croissant. First thing first, the croissant is crisp and fluffy, a trait of croissant that not many pastry shops in Penang offer. The moment we slice the croissant, we could hear the crackling sound of the pastry, exposing the nicely formed fluffy texture within. 

We liked the pairing of croissant with turkey ham slices, Béchamel sauce and mix cheese as it created an enjoyable semi-rich taste. After that, cleanse the palate with fresh garden salads garnished with their homemade sauce which offers a fair balance between tangy and and sweet taste.

Another item that left us with big impression is Creamy Mushroom (RM 18), a dish that has strong Spanish influence. Unlike any regular mushroom soup, the soup is thicken with tarragon butter and cream, then garnished with smoked paprika to create a unique rich texture with nice herby and spicy scent. Generous quantity of shitake mushrooms were served in the soup, and you may enjoy the soup with the crispy toasted bread. 

Intrigued by it? Try them out!