The Malaysian Food Review

About one month back during the Deeparaya celebrations, Smoking salmon, 3 special guest and I made a trip to Penang for good great food (is there any other reason to go to Penang but food?)

All of us being non Penang natives, we spent quite a fair bit of our time searching and driving around for the famous food spots.  That was until we came upon a treasure map.  A good piece of map detailing famous and usually good food in and around Penang town.  Being great Malaysian citizens, we decided to share it with you so that you can cover more food than we did in our trip.  We do not know of it’s origins as the book was too worn and torn.  It is MFR’s first official Penang Food Guide Map for Dummies.

This Treasure Map was given to us by a proud Apam seller, shown to us because it featured his Apam.  I quote, “My Apam is eaten by royalty, but i cannot tell you which ones or i would have to kill you”.

Enjoy the map.

Once in a while, when you just feel like you have eaten a whole lot of meat, you’d like to have something light.  So, i found this wonderful Restraurant in Ipoh serving Lui Char, a dominantly vegeterian dish.  Restaurant Chor Kee is also rather famous for it’s Bak Kut Teh, but that is for another day when i feel more carnivorous.  The restaurant itself is tucked away in Ipoh Garden East.  One of the most popular residential areas in Ipoh town itself.

It is a traditional Hakka Dish.  Served normally in two seperate bowls, one with the rice + ingredients and the other with the sauce/soup.

The rice here comes with a whole lot of ingredients.  From what i could remember, it included, peanuts, onions, cabbage, four-angled beans, long beans, two other greens and fried dried prawns (the only non-vegeterian ingredient). The sauce/soup is more often the make or break part of the dish.  The soup is made of boiled tea, vegetables i don’t know their names and a bit of mint.   

You eat Lui Char by mixing the it all into something close to a mush.  It’s a dish you either like or hate and nothing in between.  This particular stall is managed by a guy with spiky hair and his father.  I haven’t found a place in around KL serving this dish that is quite as good as this one.

Other than Lui Char they also serve other Hakka delicacies like Yong Tau Foo and Cakes.  The Yong Tau Foo filling is slightly different from the norm.  It has pork mixed with the normal fish paste in its filling, which is claimed to be the most authentic way.  Of course when in Ipoh, you always have to try the white coffee too. 

How’s the Food?  Lui Char (8/10); Yong Tau Foo (6.5/10); White Coffee (6.5/10)

How much is it? Lui Char RM3.00; Yong Tau Foo RM 0.40 per piece; White Coffee RM 1.10

Will I return?  Definitely, well worth it.

[Ratings]

Hey Friends! Tongue of Fury here continuing with my best of Penang reviews. My journey now takes me to Penang Road, where the famous Teo Chew Cendol is located.

First thing I noticed about the stall… chinese people. Second thing I noticed… they spelt Cendol as Chendul, I’m pretty sure its the same thing though. And I never knew there is such a thing as Teo Chew Cendol; Does anyone out there know a place where I can find Hai-Nan? Hmm… yes… lame pun… move on…. You can either order direct from the stall outside or from the friendly waiters inside the kopitiam. I heard its more expensive to order from inside. Anyone who knows please let me know.

The Cendol came in a little plastic bowl with a metal spoon. At first glance it looked like any other cendol. However it turn out to be pretty good. The flavour was just nice, not too sweet which many Cendol stalls are guilty of. There is also a good amount of Santan which adds to the taste. My only complaint is that there weren’t enough shaved ice. I was tempted to get a 2nd bowl but decided agaisnt it for there were still a bowl of Asam Laksa and Char Kuey Teow waiting for me. That will of course be in my next review.

Give this Cendol a try when you’re at Penang, if you’re a Cendol fan, like Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow, this is not to be missed.

[Ratings]