Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian Food Blog

The undisputed Malaysian Street Food – Chunks of grilled marinated chicken and beef on skewers, served with the conventional sides of cucumber and ‘nasi himpit’ as well as their signature grilled thick, white bread.

Continuing the Kelantan 2009 saga (read the first chapter on Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah & various Kelantanese kuih-muih), let’s see what we had for dinner on one of the nights spent in Kota Bharu; the capital of Kelantan.

We were initially gunning for some other cuisine (I think it was supposed to be a killer tom yam restaurant, somewhere near to KB Mall; the famous shopping complex of Kota Bharu), but the lack of proper directions led us to a half shack-half dilapidated eatery. Not as alluring as we initially have expected, we adjourned to a backup plan ….. Satay Malaysia Restaurant on Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, a distance away from town centre.

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Fresh produce @ Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah – The sisterhood of Kota Bharu, Kelantan doing their thang!!

Now wait a minute there, Motormouth. Didn’t this visit to the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia take place back in June of (wait for it) … 2009?!!!!

Yeah, a little later than usual; I knew I just had to put into words this amazing escape to Kelantan; that happened slightly more than a year ago. Before this poor old man’s memory fails him, allow me to share some of the shots taken in and around Kota Bharu; the capital of the state Kelantan.

After the jump, be mesmerized by the sheer vibrancy and burst of colours streaking the iconic market of Kelantan; Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, as well as the availability of various sweet snacks sold at the market …… CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

For two weeks in a row this month, work takes us to the west of Perak. Last week, we were put up at Orient Star Resort (www) in Lumut for 3 days. Lumut is the pier town before one takes the ferry to the more glitzy Pangkor Island. Situated about 10 minutes away from Seri Manjung and Sitiawan, seeking for FOOD and FUN (in whatever way you wish to interpret this) has never been a hassle. (If you’re lost on what to eat, you can refer to my constantly-updated list of Perak Food Guide)

Orient Star @ Lumut - Gorgeous right? You can imagine wailing hours after hours waddling in the pool, underneath the scorching-ly delicious sun. Now if ONLY the trip was not solely for work.

A little resemblance to Eastern & Oriental Hotel on Penang Island? Shades of a pre-colonial residence preserved til this very day?

But of course, if you’ve been an ardent follower of this blog (Hehe, I am so over myself here ….but allow me to, for I’ll tell you why at the end of the post!) you would have known that Motormouth does not go outstation without at least slipping out for a meal or two. And it’s no difference for this short exodus to Lumut. Albeit, for a very short seafood dinner and a movie (Predators, in case you’re curious) in Sitiawan …. CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

The Statue of Liberty wept for the likes of us; tourists paying lots of moolah ($$) for pathetic food … who am I kidding? Genting Highlands = Mecca of Good Food ?!!

Okay people, Friday rants again. The week flew by without any fanfare, conflicts, tantrums nor warfare. Good news, coming from someone who works in a volatile working environment; filled with last minute decisions, exams (yes, at this time and age!), pinnacle of bureacracy (can’t complain, given the nature of my job) and unplanned travels.

Speaking of the devils, I still need to work tomorrow on a lovely Saturday morning. Shucks right? Especially when it’s not in IPOH we are talking about, but somewhere down south. Maybe I’ll grab myself a piece of Tau Sar Pneah, or an overfried piece of fried chicken from Gulam Rasul.

Crispy, salty, sweet and very very addictive plate of thinly-sliced ‘fah lam yuk’ (pork belly meat) deep-fried and coated in a caramelized sauce. (RM15.00/USD4.50)

Since I am in no mood to do proper food reviews, let me share my food-hunting experiences (or lack thereof) in Genting Highlands sometime back in May. Word of advice …. do NOT put high hopes in discovering feasts of gastronomic proportions up in the highlands. Yeah, you may be feeling ‘on top of the world‘ or ‘dining with the angels from the sky above‘ … but unless you’re prepared to pay astronomical rates for a culinary indulgence, you’d be better off starving yourself or pray that you win enough chips for an abalone or two, or a meal at The Olive.

Read how we started off with a bang in Gohtong Jaya (the town before you reach the peak), then things started to go downhill from there ….. gastronomically speaking, of course …. CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM6.50/USD2.00) – Gravy-licious serving of a tender chicken chop battered, fried and topped lavishly with the brown sauce with onions, carrots and peas.

I wrote about Yut Sun Restaurant in Taiping before, a famous kopitiam that serves a wide array of Hainanese dishes, including the perennial favourite of many; Hainanese Chicken Chop, as well as the not-so-common Roti Sayur, and they even have an ‘Egg Steak‘ to pique your interest. Best of all, Yut Sun’s PORK-FREE, hence you’ll see people from all races dining together in harmony …..

Corny but true.

However, this time around, I was aiming for Wan Li Restaurant on Jalan Kota instead. Situated on the same side as Kok Beng Hainan Chicken Rice (amongst the TOP 10 Chicken Rice in Malaysia!!) and opposite of Kum Loong Dim Sum, most people would pass by this place without even batting an eyelid; judging from the disdain and rather rundown outlook of the premise. But DON’T come to conclusion just yet. For more often that not, it’s places like this that holds promise, and dishes out foods that arrest your attention; ensuring perpetual revisits …….   CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

Cameron Valley Tea (Bharat Plantations) – A sight for sore eyes indeed … the endless fields of lush greenery greeting the weary soul from the lowlands.

Still remember how I jump-started my Monday two weeks ago, at Swiss Garden Resort @ Damai Laut? Ironically, exactly one week after, we were required to travel all the way up the highlands for another 3 days, 2 nights of work-related holiday.

Wait, I just coined that term. It could well be a holiday-related work for all I care !!!

Wanna read more about Strawberry Park Resort; aptly named The Highest Resort in Cameron Highlands? Then you wouldn’t wanna miss my last year’s stories ….

Almost one year on, and we were back again in possibly the one resort in Cameron Highlands that correctly defines the alluring charm of neo-Tudor influences from the days of the British colonization on our lands.

Of course, some might argue that Strawberry Park Resort is way past its prime …. being a decade or two too late for familiarization amongst the younger generations. But wait, therein lies the charm … of a resort that has seen better days, complete with rickety (slightly exaggerated, no worries) polished wooden floors, a bath tub in the middle of the humongous bathroom, eerie closet with creaking sounds, yet bear such  pride; a testament to their rich legacy.   CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »