Our adventure begins! After getting settled in the Seven Terraces, a restored traditional home and shop houses now converted into a beautiful hotel, we’ll meet at the hotel’s acclaimed Kebaya Dining Room for an upscale welcome dinner of classic Nyonya dishes, with a twist. You might start by wrapping your own popiah, a romaine lettuce bundle of blue crab, crispy garlic, and cucumber before a main course of lemongrass curried prawns or spiced fried chicken with finely julienned lemongrass and lime leaf. For dessert, expect a balance of fresh and decadent flavors like a passion fruit semi-freddo with lime and nutmeg or sticky rice balls stuffed with palm sugar fudge and bathed in warm coconut milk. As we eat, we’ll get to know each other and learn about the week ahead.

Today we learn about George Town’s geography, history and markets through its food. We start early with breakfast at the iconic Chowrasta Market, a living testament to the city’s rich history and vibrant culinary scene. From the Hindi word “chauk” meaning crossroads, Chowrasta market was a trading hub during the British colonial era and is now a vibrant marketplace and culinary destination. We’ll have local coffee, kaya jam, toast and eggs before we wander the market sampling dishes with Malay, Indian, Chinese and Nyonya roots that tell the stories of migration, trade, tradition and innovation that define Penang.

Duly fortified, we’ll visit the clan jetties and specifically the Tan Clan. The clan jetties originally centered around fishing and now comprise thriving communities of temples, homes and small businesses. Mrs. Tan will prepare our lunch which we’ll enjoy together nearby.

After an ample break, we’ll gather for dinner in the historic home of international hotelier Chris Ong’s grandfather. Before dinner, we’ll tour the residence, including the wedding chamber and original kitchen, see part of his porcelain collection and hear family stories and the history of the house.

After a leisurely morning, we’ll don our aprons to cook with Nyonya culinary expert Su Pei. Su Pei was schooled in the art of Peranakan cooking by her grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law who together taught her over 500 prized family recipes for Northern and Southern specialties. Nyonya cuisine is matrilineal, and because few recipes are ever written down, normally the only way to learn them is via family lessons. Su Pei has decided to become an ambassador for Nyonya cuisine, expanding its reach and she’ll teach us a range of dishes, ranging from snappy stir fries to refreshing vegetable salads, spicy sambals, and rich stews. After a late, long and large lunch, you’ll have the evening free to explore on your own.

We depart early to head to the Tropical Spice Garden for a day of exploring, cooking and learning about the herbs and spices that shape Penang’s cuisine. On the way, we’ll stop at Heng Lee Soy Sauce, an artisan soy sauce shop that still employs traditional sun-fermentation methods. We’ll taste some of the 50 kinds of soy sauce made on site and tour the outside facility.

When we arrive at the spice garden, we’ll walk around to see what’s in season and ready for us to use in the kitchen before joining one of the garden’s experts for a hands-on cooking class. We’ll use herbs, banana leaves, soy sauce from Heng Lee, mangos, guavas, blue pea flowers, ginger, and learn how to roast and blend curry powder from scratch. Lunch will be late and when we return to Georgetown you’ll have the evening free. We have recommendations for great cocktails and the best hawker stalls, if you’re hungry.

The family, or clan, is the organizing unit of much of Penang’s political, economic and cultural life and today we’ll immerse ourselves in this history. We’ll visit Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (Khoo Kongsi for short), one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia and home of the majestic clan house Leong San Tong.

From there, we’ll stop for brunch at a shop specializing in kuih, where we’ll taste these traditional sweets and see how they’re made. We’ll also visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a museum of Peranakan culture. "Peranakan" in Malay means "local-born" or "descendant" and refers to people of mixed Chinese and local heritage. We’ll then stop at a temple before continuing to Su Pei’s home, where she will demonstrate the intricate beadwork traditionally used to decorate Nyonya shoes. The evening will be free to explore on your own.

Today we travel to Balik Pulau on the western edge of Penang to learn about farming and the local fishery cottage industry. On the way we’ll stop at Belimbing Cafe for their famous gigantic roti jala and the flaky roti canai. They resemble massive lace doilies and we’ll eat them with plenty of hot coffee and curry.

Caffeinated and full, we’ll drive on to Fortune Wellness, a fruit farm managed by husband and wife team Lee and Evelyn. We’ll walk through their orchards, learn about farming practices and the international economics that shape them, and taste the fruit in season, which may include nutmeg, bananas, ciku and water apples. On our June departure, we’ll also sample different varieties of durian and learn about this famously complex fruit.

For lunch, we’ll visit Pulau Betong’s fish market where we’ll select the fish we want cooked fresh for our meal. We can’t host a culinary tour in Malaysia without learning about belachan, or shrimp paste. This essential ingredient defines the flavor of the dishes we’ve been eating and cooking all week. We’ll visit Chop Kim Hoa to learn about this irreplaceable condiment and the evening is yours to enjoy at another hawker stall or rest in our hotel.

Love Letter Cookies are an iconic part of Penang life and today you get to try your hand at making them. We’ll visit Madam Quah, owner and head baker at Eng Seng Kuih Kapit who will teach us how to make these lovely tuiles using the traditional method of baking over a charcoal stove. The afternoon is yours to pick up souvenirs, visit one of the independent bookshops or museums in town or relax.

We’ll meet up again in the evening to toast our week together over a farewell dinner with Su Pei at her home.

We end our trip in Penang. After breakfast, we will depart for the airport or those who want can stay to continue exploring. Until the next adventure!