Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Ampang Yong Tau Foo – Like bread and butter; “Ampang” and “Yong Tau Foo” are inseparable entities.

The hunt for good Yong Tau Foo in Kuala Lumpur continues, in a fashion that’s most relevant now since this task started way back then when we were dejected over Ampang Homeland’s meagre version. Ampang Homeland, Orchard View and Foong Foong are neighbours, so to speak.

Situated adjacent to each other, you can’t help but feel sorry for the team on the losing end of the stiff competition. Though the first two names have had branches all over Klang Valley (correct me if I am wrong), while Foong Foong stays adamant with just one solitary outlet serving their range of 37 years-rich legacy.

Did this experience leave us enamoured with the some said over-hyped Ampang Yong Tau Foo?  Read the rest of this entry »

Coffee Walnut (RM12/USD4) – Highly addictive; this marvelous creation combining caffeine-enriched, coffee-flavoured fluffy cake with generous bits of chopped walnut, stuffed in between the roll laden with fresh cream.

Tell anyone that Ipoh’s famous for Swiss rolls, and you’d have puzzled looks with cynical, doubtful thoughts. Usually met with something along the line of “Blah … KL has designer cakes, premium confectioneries and you’re telling me Ipoh has Swiss rolls? What have you been ingesting lately?”

I mean, yeah. I would not have been seduced by these beautifully soft, fluffy and fresh rolls (the cakes, I mean … don’t think otherwise) had it not been the constant supplies back home when JJ Cakes was still operating from the back of a paint store opposite of Tow Boo Keong temple.

Then they moved to a counter incorporated into De Mouth Restaurant on Jalan Kampar, before moving to a stand-alone premise a short distance away. If you don’t buy the hype, read on for the full story ….  Read the rest of this entry »

Behind the Scene - Freshly-steamed dim sum to satiate the breakfast crowd on a Sunday morning.

Saturday. Blissful start to the weekend; with a chilly wind blowing across the city, a gentle thunder roaring in the distant background and melodic pitter-pattering of raindrops on the pathways.

I should have just slept the day off.

The span between blog posts may get severely lengthened from now on, for work commitments will be taking me to another level altogether. There goes the mandatory year end holidays for Motormouth.

Though the ladies here do not push trolleys or carts filled with piping fresh dim sum from the wok or the steamers, they compromise by loading their trays with a little bit of everything, then make their rounds.

Short of collapsing in bed and revere in the sheer joy of napping on a rainy afternoon, let me get this post out of my system; before Chooi Yue Dim Sum gets old and stashed amongst the backlog of ‘to-blog-or-not-to-blog’ archives. And why the urge to recommend this place?

Let’s put it this way, if you’re sick of wasting precious minutes stuck on the “dim sum street” of Ipoh, or seeking for a worthy alternative to the famous dim sum restaurants in Ipoh, try this place in Ipoh Garden South. Not convinced? Read on ….

Read the rest of this entry »

Sweet Temptations – Tiers of colourful macarons for picking @ Take A Break (RM3.50 per piece)

No, not from blogging. So stop preparing that cardio-resuscitation device for fear of an impending heart attack. Although I can’t deny that I’m tempted to, especially in trying times like now.

The past few weeks have been challenging; both mentally and to some extent …. physically. Difficult decisions were made, and I spent more time thinking than eating.

Yeah right.

Anyway, was back in my hometown for a good portion of last week, and needless to say, the eating sessions got more interesting as time goes by. If you’re wondering why wasn’t I covering all these stories back when I had all the time in the world (when I was based in old town of Ipoh), beats me. Maybe distance DOES make the heart grow fonder. Or in this case, the craving grows wilder.

Take A Break is a café that has been silently operating for a good 4 months now, in Ipoh Garden South. But is this another run-of-the-mill, flash in the pan wonder? Read on to find out.  Read the rest of this entry »

Butter Icing Cake (one kg for RM42) (UPDATED 25. Nov 2011 – She does NOT sell the cakes by half kg, only one size = 1kg) Surprisingly dense cake made of pure butter (with option of butter-chocolate), elegantly laced with melt-in-mouth icing; almost like meringue’s texture.

Nancy Chong. Mention this name to the newer generations and they’d be puzzled with no clue as to what, where and who the name implies.

But what if I tell you that Nancy Chong has been baking her famed cakes since more than four decades ago in Ipoh? And that the fact that her business is still booming; still perpetually baking for orders streaming in endlessly?

Read on for an insight into what made this brand so heartwarming; tugging into the deepest emotions of some (those whom had their wedding cakes made by Nancy back in the days), while satiating the sugar cravings of the countless others ….. Read the rest of this entry »