Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Well, actually I used to refer to this snack as Chinese peanut candy, but I guess that sounded a little bit vague to paint a more accurate picture of this classic crunchy snack that should be common in Chinese households, or at least more prominently appearing (and disappearing) during the festive season.

To be frank, I was never a fan of this.

The ones from most confectioneries around Ipoh are usually hard, sweet (cloyingly at times) and taste pretty much generic; you cannot really differentiate one from the other. Sometimes you may even feel that all of them are sourced from the same supplier.

My fond memories of seeing these finger-length, rectangular-shaped brittles dated way back to since I was in my toddling age; where our family traditional Chinese New Year snacking fest would almost always included a jar of this – a firm favourite of my late grandma whom in reality detested hard food but never could say no to the brittles. Read the rest of this entry »

A’han Nyonya Kuih @ Seapark, Petaling Jaya – Colourful variety of Nyonya kuih made freshly everyday at the premise itself

Always a delight to have closure to every chapter in life. Here’s a follow up to the Seapark fried chicken rice story last two days. Since it can prove to be somewhat a challenge to park within the internal perimeter of the Seapark wet market area, we inched our way further and parked near to A’Han Nyonya Kuih shop; facing a row of terrace houses. And yeah, that famous burger lab is situated directly adjacent to this. But the ‘lab’ only opens in the evening. And A’Han should be closed by late afternoon (if I am not mistaken).

Tough luck huh? 😉

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Disclaimer : Pardon me if I come up with a half-baked post today. Not a walk in the park for sure, for more reasons than one. Firstly, I’m still burping from those extra cheesy, caloric-laden pizzas loaded with salami and Italian sausages from dinner. More on that in a later post.

Shat Keh Ma (literally translated to “Kill Ride Horse” …. don’t ask why because I don’t know) is but  one of those snacks that most people would never bother to write about. But then again, I am an anomaly/freak of nature/weirdo of a food blogger.

Tonight’s my last night here in Ipoh for this Raya/Merdeka homecoming fest, and the 5 days of non-stop eating relived all those bittersweet memories of the glory days when I was still working here.

Ahhh … the better days when life was more than just work and traffic jams.

No turning back now I guess, so might as well expand my horizons to territories uncharted, street food unwritten and stories untold. For today, allow this Motormouth to share his story on Hong Kee Confectionery; another priceless gem of an outlet famous for their ‘shat keh ma’, egg tarts and ‘gai dan gou’ (egg cake with kaya) ….. Read the rest of this entry »

North Point Famous Egg Waffles aka ‘Gai Dan Jaai’

Best way to eat around in Hong Kong? Embrace the plethora of street foods and indulge in snacking round the clock. Seriously, you don’t want to stuff yourself silly with the conventional 3 meals a day. Oh no …. 6 might be stretching the limit slightly, but the snacking in between meals should be cherished as much.

After all, how else can you fit in egg tarts, ‘but zhai gou’ (Chinese style of mini rice puddings flavoured with red bean, brown sugar or plain white sugar) and ‘gai dan jaai’ (mini egg cakes/waffles) into that packed-like-sardines itinerary of yours?

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“Here Comes the Kacang Putih Man!” A very generic; instantly recognizable tray of Indian snacks displayed on the green-painted compartments on the back of his motorcycle.

MotorWHAT?! Don’t throw rotten tomatoes, brickbats, durians or slippers please … Just a very random phrase that sprang to mind when I was contemplating on a catchy title. Plus, aren’t you curious on what ‘kacang putih’ really is?

If you’re a Malaysian baby, then guaran-damn-teed you would have heard of, tasted, loved or abhorred (why should you?!) the classic Indian snacks usually sold by the roadside, or in school canteens.

But any idea WHY they’re named as such? Read the rest of this entry »

It pains me to put today’s post into words. To recount the sheer determination, passion and tenacity that drove and still drives this 74 years-old uncle for more than half a century. To witness with a heavy heart how his hands shook while daintily spreading the mélange of julienned ingredients and sauces on the precariously laid out, freshly steamed popiah* skin on the RM200 slab of wooden board.

(*Popiah is a popular Chinese snack of fresh spring rolls with julienned vegetables and fritters, sometimes with strands of egg omelette and/or crabmeat/dried shrimps, then lightly brushed with chili sauce and sweet sauce)

No words can actually describe this utter admiration that develops into pure respect for what he does best for 54 years (since 1957; coincidentally that was the year we were declared independent from external colonization), and still counting. The laborious hours he spent standing under the scorching hot sun, merely shaded by the canopy that covers barely more than his bike that he has been relying upon for more than a decade now.

Yes, dear Ipoh folks, and the interested readers from wherever you are. Let me share this story on what could possibly be the most legendary popiah seller in all of Ipoh … Read the rest of this entry »

For the other equally mouth-watering food and travel posts from this Hong Kong escapade, jump HERE. Feeling slightly nostalgic? Then go all the way back to 2008 for even more ramblings from Motormouth. Be warned, leave your common sense behind. Seriously.

If there’s ONE Hong Kong street food that’s not only repulsive and pungent; bordering on being categorized as garbage food, yet alluring enough to aficionados and symbolizes the charisma of Mong Kok so well, it has to be the Stinky Beancurd; fondly referred to as “Chow Tau Foo”

Mong Kok in Kowloon has been portrayed as THE most notorious area in all of Hong Kong. At least, in the movies. When gangfights juxtaposed against the neon lights of hovering signboards publicizing the melange of massage parlours, mahjong dens and spitting images of tattooed men tucking into their hot pot (fondly known as steamboat in this part of the world).

On the contrary, this bustling part of Hong Kong is a foodie’s wettest wildest dreams come true. Generally crowded from day until night, you can find a cafe, restaurant or even a snack vendor/peddler at every nook and corner.

Read on for more tantalizing shots. I kid you not.

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