Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Salted Egg Lotus Root (RM8/USD2.70) – Coated with a batter that’s rich with salted egg yolk, and curry leaves for that distinct, aromatic touch; the plate of humble lotus root (ling ngau) was transformed into something decadent worth ordering again and again ….

Remember Steamhouse in Bercham? That restaurant specializing in healthy, steam cuisine has already expanded to a second branch in Ipoh. How wrong was I to grow a certain skepticism on the prospects of a restaurant preaching about nutritious food in Ipoh!

I mean, traditionally, GOOD food and HEALTHY cuisine do NOT go along fine in the same sentence. Right?

And then, Zhi Yin Yang Yan (ZYYY) came along late last year. Or maybe middle of last year for all I care, but I failed to see the future of another restaurant hailing the coming of an era of healthy eating and endless range of double-boiled soups.

Boy … was I WRONG. Read on, and see why. Read the rest of this entry »

…. That could still be shying away  from the radar of curious food hunters; especially the rampaging kind (read : hungry tourists lining up for ‘tau fu fah’ and dim sum every weekend). And truth be told, deep inside, I really wish for hawker stalls that line the battered/littered streets, back alleys and neighbourhood to remain as such; instead of falling prey to peer pressure of development, mass marketing and hence dilution of authenticity of the street food itself … and ultimately stripping off the burning passion that once carved the aged scars and wrinkles on the faces of the traders our grandparents once knew.

And in Bercham, this couple still brace the blazing hot sun, windy skies and torrential rain to serve up the same “popiah” for years (Popiah = fresh spring rolls loaded with boiled yambean, chopped French bean lightly boiled with egg omelette, bean sprouts, crispy fritters and lightly brushed with optional chili and sweet sauce on top)

And for today, let’s revisit one of the stories lesser told in blogs, guide books and TV shows. The hawker food stalls on Bercham’s Food Street. Read the rest of this entry »

The tangy, tomato-based gravy graciously slathered upon the piece of meat (chicken, pork, beef or fish) prior coated with an egg batter and then deep-fried, topped with boiled peas and onions, with a compulsory side of pan-fried cubed potatoes. This … is the epitome of one traditional Hainanese chop.

Being a Hainanese descendant myself, many people have expected me to be;

1) Being able to whip up a storm whenever and wherever, since our ancestors were supposed to be magnificent cooks, AND

2) Literally having the ‘winds’ inside the head; stereotyped as a person with an extremely moody temperament; close to churning out whirlwinds and tornadoes at the slightest point of irritation. (loosely translated to ‘Hoi Lam Ting’ … )

Then again, I can assure you that I am none of the above. But developing a strong penchant for culinary excellence and at times swayed by winds of changes that might have overwhelmed the basic sense of judgment, I may just be revealing my true colours beneath.

This, my dear readers, is a story of one classic Hainanese kopitiam in Ipoh; a rarity in this era of booming commercialization. Read the rest of this entry »

What could be better described as a bundle of sins loaded into several bowls; the Ipoh famous “Ma Ta Liu” (police station; referring to the one on Hugh Low Street) curry mee possesses an unprecedented legacy and undeniable charm over their fans since more than half a century ago

The last experience with Xin Quan Fang was way back in 2008 (read that post intermittently peppered with nonsensical ramblings and grainy shots here), and from then on, I had no intention of returning.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because of the food, nor even the infamous attitude of the people running the place. But rather; the tenacity and patience required to endure the taxing wait … which can  take up  to 15 minutes (if you’re lucky), or a stressful 45 minutes if you’re not.

 But life plays its tricks on you at the most unexpected times. And I found myself there for brunch this morning. What really happened then?  Read the rest of this entry »

Wondering what’s Travel Blitz? Read the first 3 chapters and find out then. Trust me, even if you’re a staunch detractor of travelling to local destinations, there has to be at least ONE small town somewhere out there that will entice you with its charm. 

A Hainanese-style Chicken Chop @ The Cottage Restaurant, Kuantan, Pahang

For tonight, I will not bore/overwhelm/drown you with wordy descriptions and lengthy/elaborate grandfather stories like normal. Although the mind is highly-tempted to do so, the hands and these lethargic pair of eyes started to shut down and the longing to lie flat on the plush, warm bed this rainy Thursday evening just got so much stronger as the minutes go by.

Where am I taking you this time around? Kuantan; the capital of Pahang. Ready? Read the rest of this entry »

Nasi Lemak CT Garden – A tray loaded with goodies? Nasi lemak, otak-otak, rendang daging, ayam goreng, sambal tempe and more.

It’s always fascinating to bump into places hidden within the nooks and crannies of the metropolitan that is Kuala Lumpur. Especially when you least expect a wondrous eatery in the midst of the skyscrapers almost overflowing with customers with a perpetual grin on their face and overwhelming appetite overruling their sense of judgment.

Like us. Our tray got too heavy from the food and started to bend inwards towards the bottom; although from the looks of it, the food that we took was not exactly of gargantuan proportion either.

Halved hard-boiled eggs and killer sambal with onions ready to be loaded upon the waiting packets of “nasi lemak”

Which of course led us to one last deduction; this tray must have been overloaded by the previous ‘owners’ …. how not so when everyone had at least two packets of nasi lemak each (we saw some having more than 5!!!)? Read the rest of this entry »

Stir-Fried Caramelized Roasted Pork with Spring Onion and Garlic (RM15/USD5) - A sinful clash of savoury and sweet flavours

It’s always a blessing to be around fellow foodies. Or like-minded hungry souls from my hometown of Ipoh/Perak. Not too long ago, I got this elaborate e-mail from a reader on Chemor Village Restaurant in Chemor of Perak; a town situated about 30km away from Ipoh city, and roughly 15 minutes of drive from my place.

In his well-constructed piece, he was detailing about every dish so eloquently/passionately, I was immediately hooked on to his recommendation.

But of course, there was that awkward moment when I started to wonder if he owns a fair share in the business itself, but this suspicion was quickly dismissed after discovering that the article was picked from Ipoh Echo’s Dec 2010 edition.

And why was I feeling slightly disappointed after the meal? Read on …. Read the rest of this entry »