Malaysia

Milk Street on the Road: Penang

Jun 21, 2026 - Jun 28, 2025 (Sold Out!)

Join Waitlist
Jul 02 - 09, 2026 Book Now

Where

Malaysia

Group Size

8-12 Travelers

Duration

8 Days, 7 Nights

When

Jun 21, 2026 - Jun 28, 2025 (Sold Out!)

Join Waitlist
Jul 02 - 09, 2026 Book Now

Price

6,750 USD / person

Fragrant with lemongrass, galangal, ginger, coconut and spices, the food of Malaysia’s Penang tells a story of geography, trade, class and time. From the intricately prepared dishes of the Nyonya Peranakan culture to the vibrant hawker stall scene to the farms and fisheries of the rural lands, Penang is a rich classroom for the culinary traveler. Located at the strategic entrance to the straits of Malacca, Penang was once a trade powerhouse, gatekeeping the sea route between the East and the West. As a result, it’s home to many different immigrants and the birthplace of new, blended cultures. One of these is the Nyonya Peranakan, and their historic and contemporary foodways are the focus of our trip with Linda Tay Esposito and Captain Poh Hoo Peng. You’ll make Linda’s family recipes at a cooking school inside a spice garden, cook a multi-course traditional Nyonya Peranakan feast with culinary ambassador Su-Pei, visit historic homes and villages, learn about intricate Nyonya beadwork and fabrics and stroll George Town’s picturesque streets.

Trip illustration

To place Nyonya cuisine in context, we’ll also spend time with small producers from many of Penang’s communities. You’ll taste sun-fermented soy sauces, harvest nutmeg and durian at a family farm on the western coast, learn the art of durian tasting, eat roti breads that looks like enormous lace doilies, learn about spices and blend your own curry powder, slurp bowls of noodles from many beloved and legendary street vendors and try your hand making the mesmerizing Kuih Kapit Love Letter Tuile.

COOK

Shop for and prepare iconic dishes from the Nyonya Peranakan community in Penang with two expert cooking teachers

IMMERSE

Sample sun-fermented soy sauce; cook in a spice garden; shop at local markets & learn the art of making fresh spring roll wrappers

HARVEST

Go seasonal, picking ripe durian and fragrant nutmeg on a small family farm on the western coast of Penang

LEARN

Visit George Town’s protected clan villages and jetties; see masters produce traditional beadwork and batik

FEAST

Eat at the famous Penang hawker stalls, sampling noodles, soups & the beloved Malaysian breakfast at the Chowrasta market

Your itinerary

Meet the Crew

We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of our local heroes:

Linda Tay Esposito

Captain Poh Hoo Peng

Nyonya Su Pei

Justin Lee Hor and Evelyn Lee

Madam Quah Eng Seng

Lo Eng Seng

Where you'll stay

Hear what travelers are saying

Poh was delightful. Superb knowledge of historical local sights, which was an added bonus. Loved her sense of humour as well.

V. Leck

I have taken at least ten classes with Linda and loved every one of them. Her teaching makes cooking dishes I love so accessible. And I love the stories she shares and the rich information she provides.

S. Toh

Poh led a super thorough and comprehensive food tour in Penang! It far exceeded my expectations. She has a deep understanding of the history and cultural importance of the Penang food scene. Every stop was delicious.

R. Mistry

Know before you go

PRICING AND ACCOMMODATION

The total cost of this trip is $6,750. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $1,000 supplement will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to four miles each day and remaining on their feet for periods of time. There are a couple of hikes on uneven ground. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on during a couple cooking workshops.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

For flights in and out of Penang airport, we suggest you arrive anytime arrive by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 8. There are also trains from Kuala Lampur (~4 hours). We’ll provide the option of booking additional nights at our Penang hotel before and/or after the tour, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the city on your own.

INCLUSIONS

• All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish, boutique hotels • Professional guides throughout the entire experience • All meals and drinks included in the above activities • Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events • Private airconditioned coach for visits inside and outside the center city • A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street travelers, excited to explore all that Malaysia has to offer!

EXCLUSIONS

• Private individual arrival & departure airport transfers • Airfare and transportation to/from the start and end destination • Meals beyond those specified in the itinerary above • Alcoholic beverages other than those served at the table • Accommodations outside those noted, including pre- or post-trip hotel nights • Activities, tours & entry fees not included above • Personal purchases and incidentals at hotels

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though ingredients cannot always be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.

NOTES ON ITINERARY

Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.

SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here.

CANCELLATION POLICY

<p>You may cancel 90 days before the start of the trip and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after 60 days before the start of the trip there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after 45 days there is a 75% cancellation and fee and on or after 30 days there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://foxlabs-development.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/foxlabs-development/images_imported/Traveler+T%26C.pdf">Terms and Conditions</a> for full details).</p>

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