Tree Monkey, Batu Ferinngi, Penang, Malaysia

The owners bring a long history in the F & B industry and in particular with Club Med to the business. They have brought the same collaborative and fun atmosphere that the chain is famous for to Tree Monkey through an international staff and a menu that encourages interaction. Tapas and smaller dishes are featured so you get to try many items even if you’re not part of a large group. With a reputation for authentic Thai cuisine some of the menu highlights are: Miang Kham (spice roll) – wild betel nut leaves (organically grown in the Spice Gardens next door), ginger, onions, lime, red & green chili, hashed coconut, peanuts, tiny dried shrimp and the chef’s special sauce; Thai Tapas – Thai toast, money bags, spring rolls, herbed chicken, pandan chicken, Thai fish cake, prawn sabai, mussels with salsa, darling crab, otak otak & lemongrass skewer with three sauces of sweet chili, plum, cucumber coriander and vinegar; Namprik Mamoung – lightly steamed veges with powerfully spicy shrimp paste – popular with the ladies as it’s not only guilt free in terms of intake but the blast you get from the sauce is guaranteed to burn a few calories just through ingestion; Namtok, meaning waterfall, is a north eastern Thai dish of finely sliced grilled beef with shallots, spring onions, mint leaves, lime and dry chili; classic Bangkok style Tom Yum Soup – yum yum indeed, a thick lemongrass soup with mushrooms, chili and lime juice – on CNN’s top ten list of the most delicious foods in the world; SIZZLING Prawns with herbs and spices is yet another crowd pleaser – surprisingly flavoursome without the spice. Everything is served with raw or lightly cooked vegetables.