Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Pie Tee (MYR1.50/USD0.50 each) – These are Nyonya-inspired flower-shaped crispy pastry filled with juicy mengkuang (jicama/yam bean), finely-chopped omelette, red chillies and scallions; meant to be eaten with their own concoction of piquant & tangy chilli sauce.

Continuing the Melaka 2014 series; let me share with you this brilliant discovery of one excellent Nyonya cuisine restaurant in Melaka named Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine at Taman Melaka Raya.

Despite the many visits to the heritage town over the years (looking back over the recent times; this has been an annual ‘makan’ pilgrimage!), I have yet to find one Nyonya restaurant worthy of two thumbs up or tagged with a ‘die-die-must-try’ label.

Okay, I’ve done Baba Low recently for breakfast but they are not full-fledged Nyonya restaurant per se. Those in the league of Ole Sayang, Nyonya Makko, Cottage Spices or Big Nyonya (formerly Kenny’s Delight).

So what makes Amy’s restaurant so special?  Read the rest of this entry »

This article was first published on Malay Mail Online’s Eat/Drink section HERE.

Unlike other stalls, their golden brown apam balik are dainty and fluffy with a distinct taste of coconut milk and gula Melaka

It took us several wrong turns thanks to a series of epic navigational failures peppered with flaring tempers and a healthy dose of curses before we managed to reach Dapur Cho Cho along the main road of Batu Berendam. This being a modest single storey house hidden in a most inconspicuous manner adjacent to a TNB powerhouse made things so much tougher, not to mention the confusion between the old name; Jalan Taman Merdeka which is perpendicular to the main road now renamed to Jalan Mohd Zin Dsh where Dapur Cho Cho is located.

Habuk sagu and pulut kaya (back) are some of the varieties made at Dapur Cho Cho

And in case you’re wondering, they do NOT have a signboard indicating where Dapur Cho Cho is; but if you look hard enough you can see the number of the lot written in black paint across the verandah — house number 84-3. Subtle clue, no less. And challenging to locate if you’re not familiar with the territory like us.

Dapur Cho Cho is the pride of the family now being succeeded by the fourth generation; both Juliet and her brother passionately running the business from the comfort of their home. Specializing in very authentic Nyonya kuih crafted to perfection (literally), this has been a flourishing business conceptualised by the mother who has been the back bone of the culinary business for over 30 years now.  Read the rest of this entry »

Asam Pedas – A Minangkabau style of spicy and sour dish usually served with fish or seafood. At Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas, you should also try their Asam Pedas Daging Tetel (tender beef with chunky bits of fats, tendons and bones). The madly piquant dish is usually served with steamed rice with blanched bean sprouts and half a salted egg.

No doubt there are 101 Nyonya cuisine restaurants available for dinner in Melaka. And the snaking line of people waiting patiently with dripping saliva in front of Capitol Satay Celup. Teo Soon Loong Chan usually needs reservation prior to arrival especially on weekend evenings. While family members are not keen on having tandoori chicken with (extraordinarily) fluffy naan at Pak Putra.

All that and the fact that I have only tried one Asam Pedas place before in Melaka (Asam Pedas Selera Kampung @ Plaza Mahkota near to Nadeje Patisserie) which was quite honestly; disappointing, led us to Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas off Heeren Street/Jonker Street in town centre and opposite of the majestic Casa Del Rio Hotel.  Read the rest of this entry »

486 Baba Low‘s popularity soared after the son started a business of the same name in Bangsar, KL (read the story HERE); effectively bridging the gap for Peranakan cravings here in the Klang Valley by bringing in authentic flavours of simpler Nyonya fares to the masses.

The annual pilgrimage to Melaka (I mean the times when I travel for leisure, not for work) has always led me to new dining discoveries worth sharing; from the traditional Teo Chew porridge stall that has stayed out of the radar for decades, a Hakka restaurant worth giving up that dinner of Satay Celup (again?!), a Teo Chew seafood restaurant serving to-die-for Or-Nee  and even an entire food and travel guide that included a dozen food stops and even sightseeing recommendations in between; just so you can burn off the calories and well, eat again.

This year’s first journey down south Melaka happened over the weekend, and accounted for a few firsts for me. This breakfast spot at 486 Baba Low in Tengkera for one; is one of those gems worth waking up early for.  Read the rest of this entry »