Pañpuri’s Organic Spa @ E&O Hotel Penang

Organic Spa Haven in Penang

When I stayed at the prestigious E&O Hotel in Penang recently, I was told of the hotel’s award-winning Pañpuri’s Organic Spa that offers organic and authentic therapies from across Asia. Nestled on the sixth floor of the E&O Hotel, Pañpuri is set with a backdrop of opulence of a pampering haven for those who seek moments of unwinding spa pleasures.

Pañpuri’s Organic Spa, established in 2003, originates from Thai heritage. Pañña means wisdom while Puri not only means a holy site, but also has the connotations of untying what is tied and making the unknown, known. It’s also one of the first and only Thai brand to use genuine “Certified Organic” ingredients in its formulations. With a list of impressive awards globally, Pañpuri currently has nine locations in Asia Pacific while their organic range of products is available across the globe extensively.

The moment one enters, it was a tranquility of Zen with soft sweet greetings from the staff working at Pañpuri. A room designed with elegance of dark colours accentuated with gold trimmings and soft lite lightings to evoke a warm glow throughout the spa. One corner offers a consultation spot while the other has a long reception holds Pañpuri’s organic range of products.

There is another built-in-wall cabinet holding more of Pañpuri’s exclusive products that contain hypo-allergenic and natural plant-based ingredients. Coupled with the skilled hands of Thai-trained masseuses, indulging in moments of solitary and serene escape from our hectic daily lives is utterly blissful and much needed.

The professionals at Pañpuri’s Organic Spa will share their information with one to assist in making the right spa treatment for your needs. A quick chat and based on my preference of spa, I was told that their signature Mali Moonlight Soothing Massage would best suit to my needs. My 60-minute session combines Traditional Thai Massage, Aromatherapy, Reiki, and Acupressure techniques for elements of easement and relaxation.

Before my spa session began, another staff had a consultation with me to find out all about my likes and dislikes when it comes to the session. Questions on which body part I prefer more or less pressure, any discomforts or preference I prefer is to make sure I fully enjoy my spa. I even get to pick my oil of choice from its lovely range.

After a lovely drink and a cold towel to refresh up, my assigned masseuse – Cindley guided me to one of the available rooms out of five for my session. I passed one of the rooms and couldn’t resist peeking in. A couple’s room obviously, this one has a Jacuzzi and its own bathrooms and wardrobe.

My room looked similar but without the Jacuzzi pool. Featuring twin massage bed, the room was minimalist but very contemporary with an air of serenity. Themed in dark shades offset with whites and accentuated with brass and gold through its finishing, my room has its own private steamed shower room as well.

Cindley opened a box on the massage bed to reveal cottony plush slippers, disposable shower cap and other bathroom amenities. A bath robe made from organic material with a gold Pañpuri logo along with a brass bell was also placed on the bed for me to change into.

As soon as I changed and gently shake the bell, Cindley appeared and led me to the velvety blue sofa where a gold covered brass bowl was setup along with some natural ingredients of an organic foot scrub. She placed a warm neck pillow filled with rice and other natural plant ingredients around my neck to soothe out my tension. Immediately, the neck pillow worked its magic like a charm. The warmness helped to ease out the tight knots on my neck and shoulder as I sigh with much bliss.

She proceeded to use limes, kaffir lime leaves, natural bath salt and other spices for my foot scrub, gently massaging and easing comfort to my tired feet. As soon as that was done, I moved to my bed, all ready for my pampering session of Mali Moonlight Soothing Massage.

I thought it was rather thoughtful of the spa to even put a bowl of pretty flowers floating on water beneath the head board that allowed me to rest. At least I am looking at something pretty and not just the floor.

The room offers a glass window too with a view of the Straits and this was extremely pleasing to the eye. Resting well and leaving the world behind, I closed my eyes and succumbed to the masseuse’s skillful hands as she worked Reiki and Acupressure techniques to ease my body and mind.

Needless to say, I dozed off while the evening sun sets outside. She applied enough pressure at all the right spots as per my consultation earlier. The aroma of my organic Thai Jasmine oil was gently massaged into my skin, allowing the air lingering around to be perfumed with jasmine scent. Even when she applied much pressure to my needed tight spots, I honestly didn’t even nudged or notice much, simply because I was in such blissful state of Zen.

60 minutes went too fast and soon my spa session was done. As she finished with a light head massage, I couldn’t help but to wish for more time for this session. I did a quick wiped down and changed back to my clothes before I was ushered to another room.

This one was warmly lit and has lovely armchairs set along with more wood and brass finishing. Soft music echoed subtly in the background and I was told to enjoy my hot cup of ginger tea along with some dried fruit pieces. Thanking Cindley for her services, I sighed in contentment that this session was literally a much-needed one from my usual stressful life at work.

The Mali Moonlight Soothing Massage is really ideal for those who wants a relaxing yet therapeutic massage. Leaving the Pañpuri’s Organic Spa, I vowed to return for other sessions should I head back to the E&O Hotel in Penang. This time, I’ll make sure to sign up for their 90 minutes one!

Pañpuri’s Organic Spa Menu is available at www.eohotels.com/download/Panpuri_organic_spa_menu.pdf

For more information about the spa, please ask with E&O Hotel Concierge or enquire at the front desk or dial ext 3233 or mail to spamanager@eohotels.com

Pañpuri’s Organic Spa

EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL

10 Lebuh Farquhar

10200 Penang, Malaysia

Tel: +60 4-222 2000

Business hours:

10.00am - 9.00pm Daily

*More photos available at ChasingFoodDreams Facebook Page

E&H Hotel Staycation Stories   

•        E&O Hotel Staycation

•        E&O Hotel Panpuri Organic Spa

•        E&O Hotel 1885 English Afternoon Tea

•        E&O Hotel Planters Lounge Breakfast

•        E&O Hotel Sarkies Buffet

nourish! Presents Slow Food in the Fast Track & A Lunch @ Proud Janny, The Weld Kuala Lumpur

Eating My Way to a Healthier Living!

Life speeds by as one grows older. Time flies and every moment, I find myself rushing here and there, trying to juggle and meet datelines and work responsibility. There are just crazy days, lots of them actually, that I find myself completely exhausted after work hours and settle for takeout or any food that is fast and available. Gone were the days when my mum would take almost a whole day to prepare dinner on the table for us and we were able to sit down together and enjoy a good wholesome meal with the family. Having moved to the city for a quite a while, I admit to losing the reality of what we should really eat and put into our body. It’s not like I don’t know how to cook, it’s just a matter of time and effort. When one reaches home after 8.30pm each day, the energy to prepare a proper meal just is not quite there at times.

Recently, I was invited to attend a three-day event on 18^th, 20^th and 21^st May of Slow Food in the Fast Track organized jointly by nourish! magazine and BTC group held at The Weld, Jalan Raja Chulan a few weeks back. The event was organized in a bid to educate the public with the aim to teach the fast-paced metropolitan society the vital importance of a good diet in promoting and maintaining health, as well as to re-affirm the notions of those who have already adopted to such lifestyles. The result of this is invariably the fostering of a healthy community, which is ideal in the corporate world, where busy days often leave no time for meals, let alone those good enough to sustain and nourish.

Arriving early, the hall was already dressed with participating booths filled with lots of quality and organic products. Participants included Shannon from Just as Delish, Opika, Green Chicken, Jatomi Fitness, Strictly Natural Goat Milk, Shaury Spices, Shirio, MAC Cookware, First Olive (Int) Sdn Bhd and Tupperware.

I was also here for the 2^nd edition of nourish! magazine launched at the event. It’s a food magazine like no other. nourish! is filled with lots of what’s happening in the food industry, how everyone should be aware of the country’s natural resources, ingredients and produce, knowledge sharing and recipes from passionate foodies. Do check out nourish! available now at all major bookstores for a copy!

Throughout the day, visitors from the press and the public were treated to an array of activities such as talks on cooking and eating well by industry players, open booths by various vendors in the organic scenes with their products for sale at a special price, a fitness lesson by Jatomi and a Salad ‘Spin off’ competition.

 

The event kicked off with a fitness lesson by Jatomi fitness.

Chef Ryan Khang of Proud Janny Restaurant and publisher of nourish! magazine shared a talk on organic and healthy living. Armed with a degree in food science, his passionate contribution to the culinary industry is seen through his many acclaimed works in public food events, research on food industry through nourish! magazine and his latest culinary venture of Proud Janny restaurant. He showcased the culinary skills of his team by serving up an organic degustation menu for press members, chalking up the superior flavor of the cuisine to the magic of organics and sustainably-grown food.

 

I had the honor of judging the Salad Spin Off where three teams from Nutriplus, Jatomi and American Express showed off healthy and delicious salad recipes.

Jatomi’s recipe of Salmon on Greek Salad was rich with omega 3 from the seared marinated soy base salmon with lots of crunch from the greens and toasted bread. Nutriplus team made a lovely Caesar Salad with freshly made Caesar dressing. Taking home the trophy that day was the American Express team with their Sautéed Chicken Breast Salad with Pomegranate. Lean and moist, the chicken breast was brined and cook to a tender bite. The dressing on the salad was vibrantly fresh, tangy and spicy. I like the crisp apple slices in the salad, making it really fruity, crisp and juicy with every bite.

Group photos of the teams and the judges for the Salad Spin Off competition.

En. Azman Zahari, CEO of Green Chicken also gave visitors a great insight to organic and healthy living. Green Chicken is a micro enterprise that deals in free range chickens in Kuala Selangor. Did you know that Green Chicken also provides delivery services when you buy their chicken? More details at www.greenchicken.com.my

We headed on over to lunch at Proud Janny restaurant where I met some new blogger friends, Abbygail from Abbygail’s Kitchen & Esther from The FussFree Chef! Proud Janny serves up an eclectic mix of wholesome Nyonya cuisine intermixed with Western fare, Breakfast fare, artisanal coffees, light sandwiches and cakes & pastries. The restaurant is proudly manned by Chef Ryan, Chef Janet and Chef Loke, featuring dishes all freshly prepared each day with quality and wholesome ingredients.

Nasi Ulam with Percik Chicken & Acar Salad

Showcasing a Nyonya testament, the nasi ulam is filled with loads of raw herbs for that distinctive flavor of a herb rice salad. Served with a chicken Maryland cooked al a Percik style, the tender confit chook was redolent of spices with a nutty finish. Fresh green vegetables and herbs is another addition in making this dish a healthier option. A dollop of spicy sambal added more oomph to the dish!

Sunkiss Rice with Tamarind Prawns, Chicken Lobak, Sambal Hebe & Sauté Vegetables

My first having rice flavored with citrus and I simply adored it. The fluffy tangy rice was filled with sweet orange flavor notes and tasted light and fresh. Tamarind prawns, another Nyonya signature, partners along with pieces of chicken rolls makes a good balance of protein to accompany the rice. Jazzing up the rice was a good dosage of dried shrimp sambal, spicy and pungent in full glory. I would have love some kind of gravy or curry with this dish for extra flavors.

Herbs Baked Free-Range Chicken Leg

Going back to roots, the chicken was earthy and delicious. Seasoned with herbs and served on mashed potatoes, roast root vegetables and a pool of brown gravy, this is a dish that reeks of comfort food at its best.

Salmon Kerabu Sandwich is Crystal Bread

A myriad of flavours, the mango kerabu sends shocks of delicious flavors to one’s senses. Sour, sweet, spicy and savory, the mango kerabu works beautifully with a spicy salmon filling sitting proudly on the restaurant’s homemade crystal bread. It’s a burst of citrus sourness with slight mango sweetness and spicy while the salmon filling was almost creamy, contrasting well with the light crispy crystal bread.

I was curious about crystal bread. Chef Loke who makes this fresh daily was proud to show us his crystal bread, a bread so light and crisp, it was truly delightful as a sandwich. Crystal bread is made from natural fermentation and needs time to sit and develop into its texture and flavors. It is intensely fluffy and filled with lot of air holes in the bread. Chef Loke recommended toasted the bread for full satisfaction.

Dessert

The best part of the meal is definitely dessert time! We savor luscious homemade cakes made in Proud Janny’s kitchen. Cakes and pastries are available daily and one never knows what the kitchen might surprise you with. Of the three slices, everyone fell hard for the White Chocolate Cake with Toffee Bavarian Cream and Brittany Salt Flakes. The cake is an utter sin on its own but worth every single calorie. The combination is just gorgeous with lots of deep rich caramel notes and heightens to the max with salt flakes. Crunchy bits of toffee bits added texture to the cake. I wanted more of this cake but they ran out… make sure to order this if you are at Proud Janny!

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Cake is also delicious with its rich dark chocolate and caramel combination. The cake is quite dense and every bite is a chocolate lover’s dream.  Another cake (if I m not mistaken) is a Chocolate and Coffee combination. Fluffy and moist from a good soaking, the cake is also really good due to the rich ganache.

Proud Janny also serves hearty Western and local breakfast, pastas and more. Check out there facebook at www.facebook.com/proudjanny for more details.

Shannon also has some of her healthy snacks for sale at Proud Janny!

It was certainly a fruitful event filled with lots of information and goodies. You can check out a video clip of th event! Thanks to Shannon for the lovely invite and to the organizers of the event! Eating healthy contributes a lot to our general health living and also helps save the earth. There are plenty of quick shortcuts to eating healthy and making the effort to do an extra step of using organic and quality produce is certainly a great start… especially if the food is going into our bodies!