Chinese Roti Canai

When the word roti pratha or roti canai as it is more commonly known here in Malaysia is mentioned, it has been traditionally the domain business of the Indian Muslims or "mamak". With the multi-racial background and diversity of race, this business had somehow immersed into the local community which includes the Indians and Malays seen picking up the trade around the country.


However, a Chinese making roti canai is something rare in Malaysia and rather found it refreshing from what can be commonly found. In true Malaysian fashion of diversity in race, I found this in Malacca.

Previously, I had only known of Kenny (aka Bibik Kim Neo) of the Baba Nyonya skits on TV and dinner shows who used to make roti canais in his Baba Nyonya restaurant which attracted quite a crowd everyday then.

A trip to Semabok market (Jalan Semabok-Jalan Johor intersection) in Malacca provide methe opportunity to watch and experience the taste of roti canai and roti telur made by this Chinese Peranakan vendor.

Arriving at 730am got me into a queue for his roti where seats have been taken up in the small quaint corner of a sundry shop.

His roti tasted as good as those made by the Mamaks, Indians and Malays. What really made the roti tasted better was the curry which was cooked in probably a little fusion of the Nyonya style. That itself gave a little twist to the normal roti gravy of dhall and indian curry.

Give this a try when you're in Melaka!

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Had been busy with business meetings around Batu Pahat when I remembered someone once told me that there are many good tasty Hainanese Chicken Rice shops around this town.

Nearing lunchtime, I launch my search for the shop asking various local folks there and all I get is there are many. I continued my walk around this town and recall the description from a friend of mine that it’s pink in color, corner shop and a visible signage hanging outside the shop.

It is during this time I noticed I was standing opposite Swee Bee Hainanese Chicken Rice Shop at the intersection of Jalan Rahmat (which is the main thoroughfare in town) and Jalan Fatimah.

As I walk in, can’t help noticed that it was 12noon and the shop was empty with thoughts that I had walked into the wrong shop lingers in my mind.

But barely 10 minutes later, the queue to “tah-pau” (take away) had started and the empty chairs in the shop had been taken up by the lunch crowd.

The steady stream of customers further confirmed the popularity of Swee Bee Hainannese Chicken Rice among the locals and travelers.

When my order arrives, can’t help sniffing on the typical Hainanese chicken rice aroma which was obvious but what really confirms the shop’s popularity was the moment the tender chicken meat sank into my mouth.

What a satisfying meal!

SWEE BEE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE
25 Jalan Rahmat
Batu Pahat, Johor

Cendol

I had lived in Melaka for 18 years and savour almost all the well guarded delicacies of the state. One particular stall I had not patronize previously and much talked about among the locals and outsiders is the mamak (Indian-Muslim) cendol stall at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho - Bukit Cina.

It took some convincing for me to jump into my car for a drive to Bukit Cina to taste the specialty of the cendol served at this particular stall set amidst ancient old Chinese graveyard which forms the largest Chinese burial ground outside mainland China.

The fact that the stall is set under some shady trees, provide the right “bawah pokok”(under the tree) ambience to the cendol stall which have now expanded into providing noodles such as mee rebus, mee goreng, mee rojak, rojak etc. The sight of the traditional ice shaving machines added the nostalgic feeling of good old taste of food.

When the cendol arrived on my table, I could smell the aroma while stirring the cendol blended with “gula Melaka” and red beans, provides just the right taste to enjoy a bowl of cendol on a hot sunny afternoon. The first spoon confirmed that the freshly made cendol was excellent unlike those “frozen food” cendol we see in the supermarkets.

Why not make it a point to taste the cendol on your next visit to Melaka and if you require accommodation, there are many hotels which you can book direct from here.

What is cendol?

Cendol is a local dessert of green noodle like made of rice flour flavored with pandan (screwpine leaves) juice and served with shaved ice, thick palm syrup (Gula Melaka) and santan (coconut milk).

Some hawkers do serve cendol with red beans and “pulut” (glutinous rice) which gives the dessert an extra touch to the different tastebuds (of course with a little extra $).

Location:

If you are coming from Jalan Munshi Abdullah, turn left at the roundabout at Bukit Cina and the stall is about 200 metres from the roundabout.

If you are coming from the south i.e. Semabok, Banda Hilir and Ayer Leleh, head straight along Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho towards the Bukit Cina roundabout. Once you pass the Chinese association building on your left, about 200 metres onward, the stall would be on your right.

Malacca Breakfast Favorites

Stay In Malacca to savour the local delicacies!

Top 10 Local Food Favourites

Top 10 Favourites

Sunday May 4, 2008
Text by FARIDAH BEGUM

The first anniversary of Sunday Metro is on May 6 and to celebrate, we reveal our top 10 foods for the year!

1. Egg Tart

Recommended: Choy Bee Biscuit or Simee in Kampung Simee market, Ipoh; Fung Wong Biscuits, Jalan Hang Lekir, KL; Tong Kee Confectionary, Jalan Tun HS Lee, KL; Nam Heong Restaurant, Old Town Ipoh; Yuen Garden Dim Sum, Jalan Kenari, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong, Selangor.

2. Ais Kacang



Recommended: Swatow Lane Ice Kacang, Penang; Mustafa Cendol, Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan; Men Kee Food Court, Jalan Tun Ismail, Seremban; Berkeley Garden Restaurant, Berkeley Roundabout, Klang; Penang Village, Putrajaya and Hartamas Shopping Centre, KL.

3. Banana Leaf Lunch



Recommended: Krishna Curry House, Jalan P.P. Narayanan (formerly Jalan 222), Petaling Jaya; Ashoka, Perak Stadium, Ipoh; Passion of Kerala, Brown Garden, Gelugor, Penang; Sri Paandi Restaurant, Jalan Cantek, Section 5, Petaling Jaya; and South Indian Aiyengar Restaurant, Pines Condominium, Brickfields, KL.

4. Nasi Kandar



Recommended: Line Clear, Penang Road, George Town; Nasi Kandar Pelita (Headquarters: Taman Chai Leng, Prai, Penang; 21 branches in Malaysia, Chennai, India, and Australia); Nasi Kandar Kudu, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL; Kampung Melayu Nasi Kandar, Jalan Kampung Melayu, Penang; Restaurant J.S. Maju, Presint 9, Putrajaya.

5. Nasi Lemak



Recommended: Zam Zam Nasi Lemak near St Michael’s school in Alor Star; Nyonya Nasi Lemak at Jin Hoe Café, Jalan Cantonment, Penang; Nasi Lemak Tanglin at Kompleks Makan Tanglin, Jalan Cendasari, Kuala Lumpur; Lido Nasi Lemak, Klang, Selangor; C.T. Garden (C.T. Roses) Nasi Lemak, Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman, KL.

6. Tau Foo Fah


Recommended: Pasar Malam Jalan Templer, Seremban; Hawkers Centre, Taiping; Funny Mountain Tau Foo Fah, Jalan Osbourne, Ipoh; small lane next to Wisma Hanifa, Jalan Masjid India, KL; Stall on Petaling Street across Hong Leong Bank, KL.

7. Murtabak


Recommended: Murtabak Mengkasar, Pekan, Pahang (also known as the royal murtabak); Padang Tembak, Penang; Hameediyah Restaurant, Campbell Street, Penang; Bismillah Restaurant, Klang; fresh and frozen murtabak from sisters Nik Sri Emas & Nik Sah at Jalan Merbau and Banggol, Kota Baru, respectively;


8. Roti Canai
Recommended: Sri Melur Jaya, SS19, Subang Jaya; Restoran Miria, Kota Baru; Zam-zam Kopitiam, Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan; Vello Villas, Penang Street, Penang; Buharry Bistro, Asian Heritage Row, Jalan Doraisamy, KL.

9. Char Kway Teow


Recommended: Pun Heong Coffee Stall at Tebing Tinggi, Jalan Bendahara, Ipoh; side of Tin Wah Coffee Shop in 4 1/4 Old Klang Road; Hai Beng Coffee Shop (Old Man Lim), Jones Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang; Kedai Goreng Kuey Teow Tong Shin, off Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL; Kedai Kopi Sin Guat Keong, corner of Kimberley Street and Cintra Street, Penang.

10. Roti Bakar


Recommended: Kluang Train Station Canteen, Kluang; Kedai Kopi White House, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, Kota Baru; Kedai Kopi Hai Peng, Kemaman; Tong Nam Bee, Jalan Tun Razak, Raub; Hainan Curry Rice, Bukit Tinggi, Klang; Kedai Makanan Sun Sun, Jalan Merdeka, Ampang.

Source : The Sunday Star, Metro, 04 May 2008

“Hor Chien” or “Orh Luak” (fried oyster)

“Hor Chien” or “Orh Luak” (fried oyster) is a synonymous Melaka offering to the discerning taste buds. There are many stalls offering this delicacy and frankly, only the locals would be able to tell which is a better stall to patronize for it’s texture and taste.

The fried oysters you find in Melaka is very much different then those in other states like Penang. The Melaka version would be slightly dry and crispy without the gooey rice flour when served. Sambal is used to further add an inviting aroma to the dish and topped off with a generous serving of oysters. The coriander leaves adds further good smells to the dish.

There are few locations for this great fried oyster dish of Melaka and are as follow;

(a) Jalan Bunga Raya lane

This stall have been operating through generations and they used to fry over firewood but not anymore. Previously, they had even used duck eggs instead of the normal chicken eggs which explain why they were so popular though now diners have much more choices.

(b) Jalan Bandar Hilir – Oyster 7

This hawker used to run his stall along the old esplanade before shifting to his present location on the left of the the road from Bandar Hilir heading towards Semabok, Melaka Raya and Ujong Pasir. His stall is before the Hawker Food Court in Bandar Hilir.

(c) Ujong Pasir Oyster, Jalan Kampung Pantai

This is my favorite and this aunty used to have a stall in the once famous “Moon Luck” food centre in Ujong Pasir. Since the closure, she has shifted to the corner shop along Jalan Kampung Pantai, just at the corner of Kampung Pantai bridge. The shop’s close proximity to Jonker Walk and Melaka River Walk makes this stall a “must try” fried oyster.

The servings are slightly more then the average that you have from the other stalls.

An important note, fried oysters are only sold during the night and if you want to savour the taste of this delicacy, be prepared to stay in Melaka till evening.

If you feel like staying in Melaka for more food, here is a selection of hotels you can sleep real tight and perhaps more Melaka food next morning. ;-)