Originated from Southern India, Banana leaf rice is a popular cuisine in Malaysia partly owing to abundance supply of banana leaves in the tropics. The fragrance of rice and dishes placed on banana leaf is indeed inviting and salivating.

If banana leaf rice has been your favorite since 1990s, Inira's Restaurant at Gelugor Brown Garden perhaps rings a bell. It used to be one of the popular hangout spots when we were in university. Think of vegetarian or Indian, that's the place we headed to. A few years back (or several perhaps), the restaurant had been renamed to 'Passions of Kerala'.

Remains with the same theme that serves banana leaf rice, Passions of Kerala seems to have revised and added new dishes in their menu compares to the Inira's era. Formerly portraying a family run business, today Passions of Kerala has another branch located at New World, Burma Road in the heart of George Town, Penang. The restaurant at Brown Garden retains the old charm, operated with fans on the ground floor. First floor is reserved for larger group and installed with air-condition. The newly opened outlet at New World however demonstrated a modern looking facade and sophisticated interior.

My Significant Other and I were there again recently. We love Indian spices and longing for the taste after being away from home country for quite a while. We opt for a set of standard non-vegetarian banana leaf rice each. Offered with four assortment of refillable dishes, the set is also served with a basket of papadums. Aside from the standard, we also picked a platter of deep-fried bitter gourd and Chicken Masala - a red curry chicken cooked with masala spices.

In order to obtain the best experience of eating banana leaf rice, I would recommend you to try with hand. This is in fact the most authentic way of tasting the cuisine. Interestingly, the custom of folding banana leaf at the end of your meals provides feedback to the chef/food maker. If you love the food presented, fold the banana leaf towards you while folding it away from you signifies otherwise.

Price here is more expensive compares to Brown Garden-Gelugor outlet but taste is equally great. Do not miss their mango lassi!  

Address:
Passions of Kerala - New World Park Outlet
102 Lot C3, New World Park
Jalan Burma, 10050 Georgetown
Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 04 2272550

Direction:

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