Pay As You Like

In our first week, we've decided to use a new technique with our first customers.
First styled by Radiohead for fans dowloading their online album. It was further used by non-profit restaurants and now high-class NY restaurants..it's PAY WHAT YOU FEEL!

If you enjoyed the service, food and atmosphere you can pay the menu price..if you feel that you can't pay or would prefer to pay less, that's ok too.

We've found that though it's usual to pay the menu price, our customers are a little more free with verbal feedback and compliments or suggestions..
I suppose in reality it's more a vehicle for better communication with customers..

And so far, we've found it has had a positive effect!

Opening Day!!

Soul Kitchen has softly slid open its shutters..and opened for business!

On Tuesday, we opened our doors to the public..in a word-of-mouth only, soft opening..the grill was fired up and the plates polished for our first customers early in the morning..although, 10am opening is not so early! A lovely couple of Holland landed our first Tonio's breakfast, which now seems to be a favorite.

During the day, we had a small stream of couples grace our small space. Tramezzini although impossible to say five times quickly is a sure favorite..meats, tomatoes, cheese and a mouth watering sauce of your choice..mmm-mmm..

It's been slightly humid here, raining often with brilliant thunderstorms. But as usual life on the island is nice!

Last Minute Frills..

Late in the night behind red shutters in the dark of the night..three little workers in a kitchen were working up a fright!

With just one night before opening the doors to the public..we were busy scrubbing down the facade, fixing the new sign..polishing mirrors..preparing sauces..arranging seating..plants. Hauling, lifting, , shopping, mopping and chopping up a storm in this small kitchen!

Finally, we'll be ready for tomorrow. With a delicious menu, fresh produce and a really sweet little atmosphere, we hope our first customers will be happy!

Introducing...the newest soul sista

Tabitha is our newest addition to the Soul Kitchen family..she hails from the shores of Australia, half Australian half Malaysian and a whole lot of soulshine!

I knew Tab's father in Australia and her younger brother Josh has been a great help and good company during the Love Bus explosion in Penang!

It seems we are now a permanent fixture on the Love Bus 'trail', with the occasional traveller dropping in with a message from the Love Bus in other parts of Malaysia..

We hope to see more of them around in the future..

The month of May

The Love Bus has gone. Peace and Quiet prevail Soul Kitchen.

Soul Kitchen is very close to its soft opening.

Michele starts to get busy with doing food costing. Tedious part of the whole project. Michele only looks at the white calculator and punches numbers. That's the fun part. Michele's fingers getting sore after two days of punching numbers. That's the not so fun side.

Michele got news that Tonio is buying a panini maker !
Michele likes ! Soul Kitchen serves panini in Penang.

Michele has started getting excited about panini recipes
Portobello mushrooms. Roasted Balsamic garlic. under the hot grill.....Herrlich !

Love Bus continues to excite Soul Kitchen

The Love Bus does yoga.





Check out the half naked and sweaty bodies. Sessions of 10 intensive days starting at 4am till 10pm led by funny but strict Professor Lingam.





Love Bus leader Mitch ( below, left ) cooked Asian lunch in our Kitchen. Hippy musicians and yoga doers enjoyed the super delicious vegetarian lunchie without much salt and sugar. Assumption : Mitch couldn't find the salt and couldn't tell sugar from salt. That's Professor Lingam seated in the centre.


While Love Bus does Yoga, rebellious Moses once studied Mechanical engineering, assisted by beautiful web designer Selina, repairs our retro 60s trash bin. Wet and organic stuff is strictly prohibited climbing into the bin.

A call from Josh...

April was a month of roller coaster of physical and emotional experiences for me. Fun and colourful. As Tonio went to Europe for work, I stayed back in Penang doing the necessary preparations for the cafe. Being a less- organised other half, I do things much slower than if Tonio was around. I finally felt ooooooh, now that he's gone I don't have to always check my accounts daily !

One day, Josh called me. We had a chat. We went out for lunch. The next day he stayed over at mine.

No, it's not what you think.

Josh is a member of the Love Bus. He came to Penang three weeks ahead of time for a gig.

Love Bus soon filled the space of the official pre-opening of Soul Kitchen. After the honour of encountering the intellectual stimulating conversationalist Josh, I met talented vocalist Erin , cheerful sunshine Tab, then came Jason and Luisa, the Australian German love birds, and later came sweet Charlie boy.

They were having a great time warming up at Soul Kitchen with creatively painting their bus. The Love Bus, that is. Selina, a fun & sociable-part-time Penangite, joined in the irresistible fun.

They manged to finish the bus hours just before the gig.Credits go to that someone who bought a fridge on that day. I should've revealed earlier that it was a fridge box.With full confidence,
Charlie, led by Jason on the wheel of the bus that goes round and round, paraded down Muntri Street. They attracted a number of curious onlookers including my wonderful neighbours on our left. For their first gig in Malaysia, Love Bus played in Penang at 62, Weld Quay.



Josh met Andrea, a Chilean Chef who used to work in New Zealand and told her to go to Soul Kitchen to meet me up. Andrea came with Owen and together we baked the most amazing fish pizza man had ever eaten.



We finished the pizza before we could take any pics. Typical hungry pizza lovers.