Tanjung Tualang - And Its Famous Freshwater Prawns ...

A calming image of serenity

Muahaha ... A funny thought just struck my mind. I'm sure avid followers (if there's any at all) of this blog would've noticed, once they see the 1st photo depicting life in the rural areas, you could've practically guessed what's coming up, no?

Yup, work took us to Kampung Gajah yesterday, a town roughly an hour away from Ipoh. There are a few routes that you can utilise, in order to reach your destination, by the way. Departing from Pengkalan area in Pasir Putih, Ipoh, going towards Batu Gajah, passing by Chenderoh, and Tanjung Tualang (link in Malay language), you'll soon reach Kampung Gajah, in what could possibly be, the fastest way.

The main market in the middle of Tanjung Tualang town

Historically significant for tin-mining activities, this sleepy town may not have regained its flair and stature as before, BUT Tanjung Tualang is widely popularized as a town famous for its large freshwater prawns. This species of the crustaceans family is highly prized by seafood aficionados and tourists alike, and no doubt, THE main attraction of this small town.

The number of seafood restaurants in this town is mind-boggling, thus one needs to play the deciding game, or follow one's instincts ...

The town is strangely shaped like a square box, surrounding the town's main wet market. Of course, you can purchase the fresh catches here, though we arrived pretty late in the afternoon for lunch. Facing the market itself, are at least 5 Chinese seafood restaurants, heavily promoting their main selling point, the freshwater prawns.

KCA, and PTG (Perak Tengah Gal) had eaten at Lung Seng Seafood Restaurant before, a fully air-conditioned restaurant NOT situated in the "square", but a short walk away, along Jalan Besar.

Kam Heong Prawns

Nestum Prawns

Obviously, they suggested the freshwater prawns without us asking, as ordering chicken and pork in a seafood restaurant sounds weird, doesn't it? (But we HAVE to, as Mr. Anti-seafood KYT is highly allergic to products of the sea/river ... Hehehe, kind of defeats the purpose of having lunch in this town, no?)

Anyway, they cook the prawns in a dizzying-ly variety of ways, from steaming to frying in various condiments. We decided on TWO versions of the prawns, half kg of them dished out in Kam Heong style (with spicy/tangy gravy & lots of dried shrimps), while another half kg deep-fried with Nestum oats. (1 kg = RM58)

Both were finger-lickingly delicious, as the sweet, succulent and fresh prawn flesh (rhymes?) with a lot of roes imbued in the prawn heads, was complemented to a tee with both cooking styles. However, I noticed the prawns served Kam Heong style were generally smaller in size, compared to the other half kilo fried with nestum oats.

Sweet, juicy and red prawn roes, a diet freak's nightmare ?!

Steamed Catfish (Pak Sook Gong) @ RM28.80

The steamed catfish (or is that what it's called in English?) was fresh, steamed with soy sauce, Chinese wine, and lots of coriander and julienned carrots. Although, due to an unforeseen situation, the fish was steamed way ahead of serving (a miscommunication somewhere forced FCOE and TallGal to arrive slightly late), rendering the fish with a slight fishy smell. Definitely put KYT off his radar, combined with the many bones to pick, he was practically touching the fish with a pole. Needless to say, he swore by this next dish ....

Steamed chicken with ginger @ RM20

Heavily scented with freshly grinded ginger, the chicken wings (for some reasons, they only claimed to serve half or whole chicken, but the cuts they served were obviously chicken wings mostly) were sufficiently marinated, cooked with the generous amount of ginger. But of course, chicken wings are not known to be fleshy, and consuming the pieces was somewhat a chore. But a small price to pay. Gingers are believed to ward off 'wind' in the body, perfect for the bloated stomach ...

Sadistic instruments of torturous nature??!!! =O

Still remember Joe once quizzed the his readers on the nature and functions of these tools. How cruel of the proprietors of the restaurant to evoke carnage in their own premise, no? =P

Salted Egg Crabs (Rm26.60 or RM38 per kilo)

But of course, children beware, hungry adults may abuse the tools to satiate their own savage instincts. Muahaha .... To crush the crabs, that is. Don't get me wrong.

Salted egg style, an interesting way to cook crabs, prawns, mantis prawns, chickens and even beancurds. But different outlets serve them differently, indigenous to the region/state/influences. Here, at Lung Seng, the crabs are stir-fried with salted eggs beaten to a pulp, rather dry, and without any gravy. You'll have to lick the salted eggs sticking to the shells for extra flavour. But fresh and sweet crabs need no company. Cook them in any ways, and they'll still shine. No laments, thumbs up!

Watch them swimming happily, rejoicing without realizing the fact that someday, they'll end up on your plates ... Oh, the gastronomic world's a cruel one, no?

We ordered a humble plate of green vegetables to balance out the indulging and artery-clogging food (now, where's my statins?!!). Total damage for 6 came to RM148.70. Quite reasonable, for the serving's not skimpy. Though FCOE's shirt was. Whoops .... (that was intentional! LOL)

Location : LUNG SENG Seafood Restaurant @ 10, Jln Besar, 31800 Tanjung Tualang, Perak. Tel : 05-3600735.