Melaka – Thousand Layers Cake?! (Nadeje Patisserie) & Popiah (With Lard!)
January 6, 2009 | 14,500 viewsAfter the carnivorous meal at Jalan Bunga Raya, we (pathetically) tried to shave off the pounds and calories (as well as guilt!) by strolling around, amidst the rather sunny weather. Melaka is a small town, perfect for walking around leisurely, appreciating the nostalgic ambience of the classical town. Penang’s Georgetown’s the other classified World Heritage site, bearing a striking resemblance in terms of architecture and influences.
The battered and rebuilt fortress of A Famosa – THE epitome of Melaka
Random shots of the town and the river
This time around we skipped most of the tourist spots, as our main aim was to eat and shop. OK, more to the former than the latter. 🙂
The much-hyped about Nadeje Patisserie @ Plaza Mahkota
If you google Mille Crepe, either the name Nadeje, or Food Foundry (in Section 17, PJ) would appear. Mille Crepe is a type of French cake, made from many layers of crepe, intermittently spread with fresh cream, or any of the other flavours available.
At RM8.50 per piece, the slice of cake may look like nothing much, but the thin layers after layers of crepe, stacking atop one another, and manages to hold the cake in place was a rather astounding feat. Tastewise? The Original Mille Crepe tasted simple, fresh and clean, but lacking in terms of oomph. The Chocolate Banana Mille Crepe had an awkward ‘rum-like’ flavour, which was not entirely bad, but the alcoholic nuance may be due to the (over)ripen bananas used. The other flavours include Strawberry, Cheese, Chocolate etc.
Location : NADEJE PATISSERIE @ G-23 & 25, Jalan PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka. Tel No : 606-283 8750. Another branch in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, which is situated on the other side of the main road. Got MAP !!!
Forms of transportation …. over the ages
After tea break, we walked some more, as driving around in Melaka requires much patience and self-control. So many one-way roads, plus the abundance of vehicles on the road, equals flaring tempers, honk-a-mania, and unleashing chapters after chapters of the almighty “3 Ji King” aka 3-Words-Bible.
Newton Hawker Centre on Jalan Mahkota, within the vicinity of Dataran Pahlawan
Passing by the rather newly-built Newton Hawker Centre (Perkampungan Makanan Tradisional Newton) on Jalan Merdeka, a short distance from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall and Menara Taming Sari, we took a peek and found quite a number of stalls.
Naturally we were skeptical, memories of unpleasant experiences at such tourist-traps/food courts came washing over me. But the sight of the Popiah stall, manned by a rather, erm, “round” man caught my attention. Still remembered some popiah stall around Jalan Bunga Raya owned by a fat man that’s supposed to be popular, because the incorporation of PORK LARD in the roll.
The Popiah and Chee Cheong Fun stalls, side by side in Newton
A roll at RM2.50, not cheap by hawker’s standards. But bearable seeing the ‘explicitly‘ renovated premise, exuding a very village-like atmosphere. The portion was rather generous, with lots of shredded yambeans, and those crunchy bits (or rather, chunks) of fried pork lards. But the Chee Cheong Fun (rolled rice noodles) was surprisingly, the better choice. Served with some curry, and shrimp paste, with fillings of prawns and char siew, the plate of CCF reminded me of Hong Kong CCF commonly served in dim sum outlets, albeit with a spicier and sweeter twist. Not bad. Only RM2.80 for a regular serving.
The relocated Eye On Malaysia
Menara Taming Sari – 360 degrees view of Melaka at RM20 per ride (30% discount promotion available though)
Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka
Guess what’s for dinner? 🙂
Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan MerdekaAnd Malaysian’s favourite pastime (aside from eating!) ensued …. SHOPPING lor !!! (what else can girls do anyway?! =P) We guys went around in circles though, unsure of what’s for dinner ….
Guess what’s for dinner? 🙂
While looking at the sea ,I guess it might be seafood ! Is that so easy to get it right ?
[Reply]
the cakes look good. i love cakes!!! i didn’t know of such cakes when i went to melaka. so u had seafood for dinner? portugese settlement?!
[Reply]
Dinner should be seafood at Portugese Settlement…right?
[Reply]
Aiks. I didn’t catch the Eye when I was near my place here in KL and now it’s in my hometown! I guess I’ll continue to make excuses to avoid it, haha. 😛
[Reply]
Portuguese food!
thanks for the tip on where to get the mille crepe in malacca. 🙂
[Reply]
The nadeje patisserie looks like our Indonesian “Kue Lapis” or also called as “Spekkoek” in dutch language 😀
[Reply]
I would say, I don’t quite like the mille crepe cakes. Hmm…
And you say you stayed away from tourist spots? Aren’t Newton is just at the Dataran Pahlawan? 😛
[Reply]
hey we seem to be travelling to the same countries/ states recently eh? :p i used to enjoy this pork lard popiah outside the chicken rice ball shop, but he’s not there went i went to melaka recently 🙁
[Reply]
motormouth
hey did you tried duck noodles? You can get a good one near the bukit china and the tan kim hock there. damn nice.
hey there are plenty of bird nest food at stadhuys & dataran pahlawan. worth a try. very affordable.
hey must try durian cendol at jonker street.
satay celup, tau fu fa with ginger soup, nyonya food at jonker street oso, chicken rice ball, escargot at riverbanks cafe ..
[Reply]
drats, i forgot about the mille crepe when i was there!!! arggghhh!!! this or foundry better?
yeah, there are so many eateries of the beaten tourist track…hope to find time to explore this place again.
[Reply]
I’m going to go out on a limb here, but what is the big deal with mille crepe!? I tried this one and the one at Food Foundry and frankly, it’s just layers and layers of cream no? Now popiah with lard on the other hand…
[Reply]
jotting this down for my Melaka food trip
[Reply]
Bakeling : yeah it was seafood. hahaha … a no-brainer right?
Duckie : yup, Portuguese settlement! 🙂 a MUST stop-over. but pretty hard to choose which stall's good.
SimpleGirl : so true. but you had MORE hints, from my comment right?
Life for Beginners : avoid that! hahaha… least unlike Spore's one – stop in motion.
jasmine : yeah Portuguese food. hahaha .. geez is that so easy to guess?
Selba : yeah like kuih lapis. seems like 32 layers of them or something. I counted 16 layers of crepes, and the other being cream.
Jason : hahaha, Dataran Pahlawan ma. fully air-cond and a cool respite from the sweltering heat. it was DAMN hot lah, u should know better. 🙂
sc : yeahlah! same places eh? so when coming Ipoh? hehe. the crispy pork lard really good eh? elevates the simple popiah to another level, like fried noodles.
Alex Yap : oh, you're from Melaka?! wow, so many places you know! thanks!!!! I only tried the durian cendol (which was not so good as I rmbred!), chicken rice balls, and pork satay. nyonya food I've had in Ole Sayang b4, but so-so. bird's nest?!!! wow.
Nic : I've never tasted Foundry's version, but this one not bad. though true as 550ml said, no big deal bout crepes and cream. but somehow a change from cheese cakes and such.
550ml jar of faith : I agree. no big deal. and at RM8.50, you get the feeling youre paying for its aesthetic value>ingredients and flavours.
vkeong : you're going from Penang to Kepong to Melaka …. hahaha …
[Reply]
I love the rum & raisin flavor mille crepe @ Nadeja 🙂
[Reply]
motormouth
I’m not from malacca but i used to study in MMU in 1998. so knew few places there.
even now, once a year, my wife n myself will make an effort to go to malacca for its food.
to be honest, i think portugese settlement is over-rated. Not nice at all. I prefer ikan bakar at umbai. Umbai is about 60 – 90 mins drive from malacca depending on how skillful u drive lar.
for satay celup .. it is always capitol. they even have website for themselves.
[Reply]
i dun like the mille crepe place..the lady boss so babai..agree with alex, umbai is awesome!! grilled seafood with piping hot nasi lemak
[Reply]
aiyo i think i must have crawled out from a rock cos i didnt know the eye of malaysia was relocated to melaka?!
i havent tried either version of the crepe cake. only tried the one i bought from little penang 🙂 but a whole crepe cake is now like rm68! guess we’re really paying for the work that goes into making it.
[Reply]
I miss Malacca so so much.I was 14 the first time I stepped on Malacca soil. Stayed in Tg. Keling for a week at a relative’s house so near a beach. Planning to go to Malacca again this year, hopefully. Gonna try this satay celup…and chicken rice ball…
[Reply]
mimid3vils : forgot whether that was available that evening. may try that the next visit. maybe in Dataran Pahlawan outlet, as the one in Plaza Mahkota a bit secluded and far to walk. =P
Alex yap : oh ic. agreed that Portuguese Settlement's ikan bakar not nice. we didnt even order that this time around, it's too bland. but the other seafood not bad. Umbai Malay ikan bakar I know, but it's a bit far, no?
as for Satay Celup in Capitol, erm, the last time i went, the overwhelming feeling of 'jelak' after the meal rendered me phobic of satay celup since then. when every skewer's covered with satay sauce, it's a bit too much for me.
kampungboycitygal : din meet the lady boss though. but some foreign workers served us that day. i gotta jot down Umbai for next visit. 🙂
Lingzie : yeah, layering >10 pieces of crepes cant be much fun. hahaha …
Ah Lock : go for the pork satay as well. that's my substitute for satay celup, anyway. 🙂
[Reply]
Eh…you went to Malacca with Jason ah? He also made a trip there too recently. The original baker for the mille crepe cake has left Nadeje and is operating in JB. Happy New Year to you!
[Reply]
ai ya, the crepe cake… and I am supposed to give the contact to one of the blogger in Penang….
[Reply]
wmw : yeah, you have any idea where in JB? hahaha … let’s chase him/her down. jason went a few days earlier.
NKOTB : oh, so now you have it? 🙂 but heed wmw’s advice, the original baker has left.
[Reply]
It was not really that hot on 28th though. Plus, we didn’t explore Melaka as much as you do 🙂
If I know that Dataran Pahlawan is nearby, I would have go to other places… hate the traffic jam there.
[Reply]
jason : yeahloh. but maybe it was worse when you went, cz wkend ma. i went on wkdays, still ok, but jam a bit. that’s why we walked instead! =P
[Reply]
aiyah..i was the looking for that cake. have to remember that its in Makota parade
[Reply]
teckiee : its NOT in mahkota parade! plaza mahkota is an area with rows of shops. the other outlet is in Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, the underground one.
[Reply]
i found 1 not bad de..at near by the fat popiah,but not fatty popiah..is a uncle sell 1~just next road to the bunga raya…Jalan Kee Ann ~it pork lard very very crispy de…just RM1.80~very cheap 1…
[Reply]
Many thanks for a further magnificent posting. The place else could everyone wardrobe style of info in this particular fantastic way of writing? I’ve a display up coming weeks time, and I am around the look for similarly info.
[Reply]
woah, i’d never know melaka looked so vintage, nice.. btw that layered cake look so yummm and moist <3 <3 <3
[Reply]
hi J2Kfm,
i went to malacca sometime in 2009 and happen to stumble upon the chee cheong fun stall in newtown food court as mentioned in this article of ur blog..
sometimes in 2010, my fren went there and told me the chee cheong fun is no longer around.. do u have any idea where they shifted to?
i miss their chee cheong fun 🙁
[Reply]