Ye Olde Smokehouse @ Cameron Highlands - Of Scones, Tea & Life on the Slow Lane

Continuation from the first part : Cameron Highlands - OK Tuck & Strawberry Park Resort ....

The simple 2 pages-Tea Menu from The Smokehouse .....

I've been to Cameron for a good many times over the course of my life. Yet the thought of spending hours appreciating a good cup of tea, paired with fresh warm scones did not cross my mind, as opposed to the more prominent steamboat meal, or DIY BBQ dinner.

Sip on your cup of English tea amidst the lush, green garden .....

Since this visit to Cameron was solely for work (initially, of course), we skipped all of the tourist destinations, namely Cactus/Rose/Flowers/Butterfly/etc Farms, the night market at Brinchang, and even the perennial favourite spot of many; the Tea plantations.

Classic, charming Tudor design dominated the cottage-like settlement, exuding such warmth and cozy feeling you'll feel as though you're transported to 60 years ago (the Hotel opened in 1937) !!!

Hence we dropped the thought of scuffling with the crowd, but instead indulge in a leisurely session of tete-a-tete over high tea, at The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant at Tanah Rata.

One can even choose to sit beside the fireplace ....

The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant (www) overlooks the golf course, and right along the main road between Tanah Rata and Brinchang towns.

Ornaments, chandelier, candle stands and blowing yer own trumpet? :)


The restaurant is divided into several sections, each with its own theme & design, from a candle-lit dining area to lounge area with plush sofas & fireplace.


Hot Chocolate (RM14.50) - Very thick & rich, and English Tea (RM8.90) - Complete with filter!


Cappucino (RM14.50) and Cafe Latte (RM15)


Devonshire Cream Tea - Pot of Tea & Two Warm Scones with Homemade Strawberry Preserve and Cream (RM25)

It was drizzling slightly that evening. The cool climate, accentuated with droplets of water painted an idyllic & soothing picture of the classic cottage, from the exterior. And to cap the experience off, we proceeded indoors, and were courteously ushered to our seats at the verandah, with natural sunlight over our heads, merely barricaded by the glass ceiling.

The warm, crumbly scones were indeed magnificient stuff. Soft, moist and crumbly, with a moderately rich, buttery accent. The base of the scones was slightly crisp, and the accompanying homemade strawberry preserve complemented the scones almost to a tee. Not cloyingly sweet, with real strawberries, they sell the jam at RM19.80 per jar as well.

Of course, paying a premium price for the set which nets you 2 scones and a pot of tea may be more of a luxury than a routine tea time.

Nostalgic influences at large. Reminiscence of the ancient British era.

Aside from their scones, they serve various cakes, sandwiches, and savouries for tea time as well. For main meals, they dish out various delightful dishes, from steaks to pies, as well as salads and soups. But bear in mind, a complete meal (with appetizers, main, desserts and wine) may set you back for more than RM100 per person!

The lush gardens - where else can one embrace the fresh, cool air while sipping on a cup of tea, with a good book at hand?

Since the rain got heavier by the minutes, we stayed as long as possible, soaking in the ambience, and taking life a step at a time.

I REALLY would treasure any form of rest and relaxation as of now ......

Location : The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant @ PO Box 77, Tanah Rata, 39000 Cameron Highlands. Tel No : 605-491 1215.

Cameron Highlands - OK Tuck & Strawberry Park Resort

The previous visit to Cameron Highlands was some time in August 2008. Almost a year ago. What better way to release pent-up frustration (with life, work and everything else ...), & escape from the sweltering heat of the lowlands, than a getaway to the Highlands located about an hour from Ipoh?

For a comforting meal to warm the tummy, and appease that hunger pang. Don't you realise one gets hungry REAL quick at higher altitude?

Truthfully, the weather up in Cameron Highlands is far from the idyllic, chilly one from yesteryears. With rampant development, most hills and forests had been paved for plantations, various Valleys (flowers, veges, cactus), hotels/resorts, etc.

Beer Pork Ribs, Belacan Asparagus, Stir-Fried Mixed Mushrooms, and Crispy Roasted Chicken (Kam Heong Chicken)

Arriving at lunch hour, after a tedious drive up the hills, our tummies were growling (no thanks to the spiralling ascend + early breakfasts!) and screaming to be fed.

From Simpang Pulai way, you'll reach the towns of Tringkap, then Brinchang. Since for the 2 previous visits have been T Cafe all the way, we decided to stop at Brinchang before reaching Tanah Rata for lunch.

Little Wok Beancurd with Mixed Vegetables

OK Tuck is more or a less a household name in Cameron Highlands. Serving delectable steamboat sets for lunch and dinner, they can literally whip up a storm with their 'dai chow' dishes as well.

We ordered 5 dishes to be shared amongst 3 of us. A little gluttony at work, but what the heck. We're not keeping our fingers crossed in anticipation of GREAT hotel food anyway. (Which, surprisingly, made me ate my words, as the food at our hotel was beyond our expectation).

The Pork Ribs with Beer tasted almost generic, as with most dishes cooked with beer, stout, or marmite. Sweet-ish, glistening outer coat, with dense meat in the centre. Worth complimenting were the Little Wok Beancurd (at least I think that's what it's called), with lots of greens thrown in for good measure, the gravy was perfect to drench the white rice. Kam Heong Chicken was also commendable, but suffered the harrowing fate of over-generosity in seasoning on behalf of the cook, rendering the dish saltier than desired.

OK Tuck @ 26, Jalan Besar Brinchang, 39100 Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
Tel No : OK Tuck (the boss, of course) - 019-647 7757, or Ling - 012-46105126.

The meal came to Rm56.40 for the three of us. Reasonable, given the location and dishes served. But bear in mind these were small portions. Rather easy to find this restaurant in Brinchang, as coming from Simpang Pulai's directions, you'll see this restaurant on your left, in Brinchang town. You'll know you've reached Brinchang town when tall buildings (and civilization) surround you!

Strawberry Park Resort @ Cameron Highlands - Equipped with an indoor pool, and comfortable rooms with cool, crisp air

Accomodation for the 3 days? The charming Strawberry Park Resort located on a hill (really isolated from the towns) between Tanah Rata and Brinchang. Locating this resort was a breeze, given the multiple signboards along the way. But to reach the resort is hidden from clear view, and one has to drive up the hills to reach this destination. The path is not as treacherous compared to the one leading to Sungai Palas Boh Tea Plantation.

A larger-than-life bathroom, with a bathtub in the midst, Rustic, wooden furnitures, and a Balcony with bougainvillea flowers

The neo-Tudor design of the resort depicts heavy influence from the British medieval era, preserved until this very day. The slightly off the beaten track location has its advantage as well, with a serene surrounding, cleaner/unpolluted air, and a generally more soothing and cooling environment.

The Lobby, The Bar, The Lounge and the Spa

To imagine a hearty breakfast overlooking the lush greeneries, with cool/fresh air .... Bliss?

All the meals were included in our package (we were attending a Seminar there, in case you're wondering), and served at Jim Thompson Terrace, the resort's in-house dining outlet.

Breakfast to jumpstart the Day

Fire a-blazing - Free show while tucking into one's meal @ Jim Thompson Terrace ....

BBQ Dinner on the Second Day - More Misses than Hits, sadly.

The Sweets to complete the Experience

An interesting note about the meals at Jim Thompson Terrace; They varied their selections from day to day. For instance, for the 1st day, we were served with a Thai-style dinner, with delicious choices such as green curry chicken, tom yam, tab tim krob (yup, that famous Thai dessert), and even sweetened pumpkin & sweet potatoes.

On the second night, we were treated to a feast of BBQ meats (satay, prawns on skewers, otak-otak) pasta cooked on-the-spot, grilled cuts of lamb/beef/chicken, etc. However, the BBQ dinner paled in comparison to the usual offerings, as the meats were not cooked to perfection, with some raw parts (oozing blood), while some overcooked. The pasta (fettucine or spaghetti, cooked with either tomato paste or creamy carbonara) was forgettable as well. Stick to their cooked items, I'd reckon.

The Perilous Journey for RM5 a pop. We were NOT sold.

The Flora & The Fauna

Our stay at Strawberry Park Resort was a thoroughly enjoyable one, the beds were clean and comfortable, carrying us deep into slumberland for both nights, while the food was generally tip-top, with us going overboard most of the times with the servings.

A strange phenomenon happened on the second evening though, when almost the entire Cameron Highlands was engulfed in darkness no thanks to a power trip. But a blackout atop the hills does not sound so bad, as we embraced the non-existence of technologies anyway. With such chilly weather (it rained on the second day), I was tempted to off all the lights and electrical equipments and declared Earth Hour there and then!

But of course, without the Hot Shower, I retracted my thoughts. :)

Still to come - The (Almost) Perfect High Tea .....

Teluk Intan Nasi Pulut & Buntong Beef Noodles @ New Weng Fatt, Ipoh

Some might be wondering why there's a vacuum, a dearth of sorts, in posts on Teluk Intan food. While Sitiawan's/Manjung's food got the MOST coverage as of late (for reasons undisclosed), even Ipoh's very own lip-smacking goodies took a backseat.

Come to think of it, there's probably NO post at all on Teluk Intan's food here on Motormouth From Ipoh. Hmm ... I gotta repent for my sins. Someday.

Meanwhile, feel free to submit your recommendations for any yummy Teluk Intan food (EXCEPT for Gulam Rasul, THAT famous Liew Kee Chee Cheong Fun, Ah Chai Rojak, and Mastan Ghani) that I may not have knowledge of.

Here's KC in action. Glorified.

That's why I'm making it up with this combination of a post. Killing two birds with one stone, if you will. Firstly, hands up anyone who have heard about Teluk Intan Nasi Pulut (Glutinous Rice) with Prawn, Barbecued Pork (Char Siew), and Curry?

If your hand (or hands, in fits of excitement) shot up faster than Schumacher's adrenaline-charged acceleration, then I can almost guess your age. LOL. I said almost, ok?

Glutinous Rice with Prawn, Char Siew (BBQ Pork Slices), and Curry @ RM3.00

With a strong, long-standing history of dishing out hundreds, thousands, and probably millions of packets of this Nasi Pulut since ~50 years ago (yup, FIFTY!), the stall in Teluk Intan opens daily for business for a mere 2-3 hours only.

From 4am-6am, no less. UnGodly hours eh? Who in the right mind would wake up THAT early to get their fix of sinful glutinous rice?!! But KC (the proprietor for this stall in Ipoh) mentioned that the Nasi Pulut there usually get snapped up within a blink of an eye, literally.

Fried Bihun (Vermicelli Noodles) with Curry Chicken and Char Siew @ RM2.50

Thankfully, this much-loved but under-rated Teluk Intan's delight came to Ipoh not too long ago. Location? Restoran dan Kafe New Weng Fatt in Ipoh Garden South. Sounds familiar? This is also the place for good yet reasonable Western fare come night time, and the capati stall was even featured in the Star last Saturday (click HERE for Alexandra's guilt-free indulgences).

Crispy Fried chicken from KC's stall as well

The first visit to this stall was an un-fruitful one. The Nasi Pulut got sold off real fast, especially on weekends, as it's served for breakfast only. Perseverance paid off, and I went for a second visit not long after, and rewarded with an opportunity to try almost everything KC has to offer.

The Nasi Pulut is served with accompaniment of his brand of caramelized barbecued pork, a whole prawn, and the whole ensemble drenched/drizzled (your call) with curry. Most praiseworthy is the Char Siew here, being a little sweet and roasted to perfection. But more to lean cuts, rather than melt-in-mouth fattier (sinful, albeit unhealthy) versions. The glutinous rice is unlike the sweet nor savoury version, being a cross between both, in fact. Without the curry, the rice is rather bland, therefore the gravy's a must.

KC also serves "Economy Bee Hoon", to be served with curry chicken, with/without Char Siew, or even an extra side serving of fried chicken. Which was no mere pushover itself, being crispy and fragrant, bearing resemblance to Poh Lee's version.

Famous Buntong Beef Noodles

For breakfast at New Weng Fatt, you can also opt for the famed Buntong Beef Noodles (seemingly a branch of the popular one in town; Srimaju Beef Noodles). The wait may be relentless come peak hours (breakfast on a Sunday, for example), but rest assured you'll be served as they're rather organized with their ordering system.

Hearty, warming, and downright Beefy !!!

Sorry, forgot the pricing for this one, but should be in the realm of RM4, if I'm not mistaken. Flavourful broth, with tender slices of beef, and offals, one bowl of this and definitely your day will be perked up in an instance!

Still craving for more? Their Yong Tau Foo (stuffed fish paste) is rather commendable as well, priced from 50cents onwards.

Grab them while you Can!!!

To down all the grease, the guilts, and for that shot of caffeine to start one's morning, go for the Teh C Special, or 3-Layered Milk Tea. A Sarawak import of sorts, I still think the version served here is the BEST, amongst all the others around Ipoh. For RM2 per 'shot', you get a layer of tea, a layer evaporated milk, and a layer of Gula Melaka segregated; awaiting their fate. Of being mixed, and of being slurped. Very milky, a little sweet, and satiate that craving for a good glass of cold milk tea.

But be warned, as there were times when they messed up the tea, sometimes too little milk, sometimes overly sweet. Therefore, cross your fingers and hope for the best. :)

Restoran dan Kafe New Weng Fatt (MAP)

Next change ..... Cameron Highlands Getaway - A Lethal Combination of Work + Play !!!

Motormouth ... disciplined in Port Dickson?!

Back from Port Dickson yesterday. A short 3 days 2 nights vacation .... not. It was another course to instill those integrity/morale values/team building kinda thingie. You know, when one's chomping his face off every corner he goes, while working some more, one REALLY is in dire need of some discipline. Or spanking.

PNB Ilham Resort @ Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (Here's their SITE)

Unabashedly, I'll admit that it's my first visit to Port Dickson. Yup, throughout the 70 years of my life. Bearing in mind the beach ain't that worthy compared to cleaner ones out there, (or maybe, everywhere?) I did not even bother bringing a swim trunk nor any beachwear. For which I did not regret, as the low tide revealed all the ..... scums, litters, and dirt underneath the murky waters.

Which reminds me of the 2008 GE. Somewhat. =P

A 3 bedroom apartment with breakfasts - FOC. Muahaha ....

Locating this resort ain't a daunting task, given the almost end-of-the-world location. Or rather, the very end of Cape Rachado ('Broken Cape'), or Tanjung Tuan. The resort is about 18km away from Port Dickson town, hence if you're loving the isolated, far from civilization type of getaway, this may be just the place for you.

Charming ornaments, architecture, and ambience, with influences from the olden Melaka Sultanate era

They have apartments with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. Rates from about RM290 onwards for the 2 rooms unit, our 3-rooms apartment came with 3 double rooms with air-cond, 3 bathrooms, a living room, basic kitchen amenities (though you're NOT allowed to cook), and a TV set in the hall, with cable channels (though rather limited options).

The buffet spread. With Negri Sembilan's Minangkabau style Malay cuisine, mostly. A compulsory 'Masak Lemak Cili Api' dish is served at every meal!

Since we're more or less constrained in the resort for a good 12 hours or more per day, we dined in at the cafeteria (food's included in OUR package, therefore why not?) most of the time. Selection of dishes may not be aplenty, with about 2 meats and 2 vege at most, but their Masak Lemak Cili Api (a richer curry dish with lots of santan/coconut milk, but fuelled by lots of spicy chillies/bird' eye chillies, hence the moniker Cili Api).

Guess The Fauna?

View atop Menara Ilham, the resort's very own towering structure


The trail to the lighthouse on the hill at the tip of Tanjung Tuan/Cape Rachado

Recreational activities include hiking to the hill atop Cape Rachado. Legendary folklore spoke of the famous Malay warrior of the 15th century, Hang Tuah acquired his strength and knowledge by meditating at Cape Rachado. The legend further claims that his footprint, which was left embedded in a boulder, is visible to this day. (Taken from PNB's website).

But of course, mythical stories conjured up may be misleading,for I'm damn sure whatever footprint that was left has been washed away, IF there ever was this footprint in the first place. Anyway, who doesn't like mysteries, myths and deceits? Hehe ....

You can either choose to run up the tarred roads to the top, OR hike your way. But I was left with the easy way out (or up), as I was decked in mere slippers and shorts. =P



The posers. And the lighthouse, which was gated by the way.

The climb to the top, the gated area, and the lighthouse with a MEASAT satellite!


The area around Cape Rachado - Popular with hikers, as well as bird-watchers. But the place closes at 7pm daily, hence do not push your luck! Free entrance, by the way.

View atop the hill. Nothing spectacular, and the climb was nothing either. Mere steep slopes, and lotsa mosquitoes!

"I Will Follow You ....."

Prison Break - From endless curries assault, to a delightful seafood spread

Enough with the curries, we ventured out slightly, to a seafood restaurant along Telok Kemang, about 5-10 minutes drive from our resort. Mutiara Seafood Village has even been reviewed by Bangsar-Babe before, and seemingly a reasonable and excellent choice for seafood, amongst the restaurants along Jalan Pantai.

Butter Prawns (RM45)

They have a one page menu, bilingual, hence no sweat if you're at lost on what to order. But the staff there were rather accomodating with their recommendations on what's fresh and what's not so, as well as their signature dishes.

Topping the list of must try is the Butter Prawns, or Nai Yau Har, with sinfully rich gravy so addictive, you'll be sipping, drinking, drenching your rice with it, and walloped off the whole serving in no time. Seriously, lip-smacking stuff. The prawns were not of the largest variety, anywhere between M-L sizes at most.

Batter-fried Squids, Kam Heong La-La, Stir-fried Sweet Potato Leaves, and Kung Pou Mantis Prawns

Other noteworthy dishes include the Kung Pou Lai Liew Har, or Heh Koh, or Mantis Prawns. At Mutiara's, the mantis prawns were crunchy til the last bite, glistening from the dark, sweet and slightly spicy sauce, with the usual spring onions, onions and dried chillies.

The clams (La-La) were a bit off, but thankfully we ordered the Kam Heong version to mask the slight fishy taste, indication of not so fresh supplies.

The deep-fried squids was disappointing though, with very thick batter, overwhelming the thin slices of squids beneath.

Steamed Red Snapper (RM45)

The fish can be cooked in a variety of ways. One very novel way of cooking their fish is the depp-fried fish with lotus leaf, or something like that. But fresh fish should NOT be fried, or so I was told all this while. Hence we opted for the plain, soy sauce steamed red snapper, or grouper, based on the lady boss' recommendation for fish of the day.

Indeed, the flesh was firm, and tender, with not a hint of unpleasant stale/fishy taste. Needless to say, this was polished off to the bones.

The meal came to RM170 for the 7 of us, with the fish and prawns priced at RM45 each. Other dishes came in LARGE portions, priced at about RM12 - RM18 each. Rather reasonable, except for the prawns, but given the fact that the Butter gravy was literally; To Die For, the dinner was an overall satisfying one.

Location : Mutiara Seafood Village @ Lot 90-E, Batu 7, Jalan Pantai, Telok Kemang, Sirusa, 71050 Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan. Tel No : +606-662 8928.

With that, we bid Port Dickson farewell .... before the next destination tomorrow

Meet The Floggers (Chapter 3) : Right Round Gunung Rapat in Ipoh

Third time's the charm they say. Thus, this 3rd instalment of Meet The Floggers will round up the saga nicely. Where else to conclude the chapters, but in my hometown of good old Ipoh itself?

Come early, else risk standing around waiting for empty seats @ Kwong Hong

Since Jason and Citygal were both back in Ipoh for an early Father's Day celebration (how filial!), I took the opportunity and dragged myself and Jason over to Gunung Rapat (Citygal's territory .... not mine. So NOW you know whom to call and ask for help in this area!) for that elusive Yong Tau Foo. OK, slightly exaggerated here, as the shop is in fact, ON the main road, in clear view, but me and KYT missed the shop not once, but twice.

Talk about lost sheeps. We might as well audition for a role in Lost; no artificial panicking necessary.

Yup, you're NOT seeing super-imposed images of Yong Tau Foo. They practically stuffed those fish paste into ANYTHING imaginable ....

This legendary shop was recommended by Citygal in an old post of hers, and recently mentioned by Alexandra as well. Been in business for a rather long period now, ask any Ipohan staying in and around Gunung Rapat, about that famous yong tau foo (or 'Liew', as we Ipohans call them) shop near to Gunung Rapat wet market, and guaranteed most would point you to the right direction. Probably 9 in 10, with the tenth being a blind.

The FRIED varieties - My preferred choice, of course.

The shop sells ONLY Yong Tau Foo, and a heck of a lotta choices at that. I lost count, but probably in the realms of 20 types? Or maybe more? From stuffed broccolis to baby corns, as well as brinjals and bitter gourds. Pick one of each, and risk over-indulging, which may lead to unnecessary take-aways at the end of your meal.

We skipped the noodles, initially, as there were way too many choices of Yong Tau Foo to be picked! But somehow relented, and ordered a bowl of noodle near the end of lunch.

Citygal warned, or rather, planned for a second meal back-to-back after this one. So we held our horses and restricted/straight-jacketed ourselves from going crazy at the counter. (Yup, you choose your favourite pieces, then order your noodles and preferred way of serving them).

But two hungry (and greedy + gluttony) souls could not comprehend orders that easily. With two bowls overflowing with Yong Tau Foo (one bowl arrived much later due to mixed up in orders ... I wonder, who would risk their lives stealing MY bowl?!!), we proceeded to chomp them down. But without noodles, the experience was somewhat lacking.

Just like sex without climax. =P

A sinful bowl of curry flat rice noodles (sar hor fun) with added 'paku choy'/paku-pakis/fern

Citygal recommended the curry noodles with extra greens, in the form of 'paku choy', a type of fern commonly stir-fried with belacan, and a staple of Malay cuisine. Weird combination, but worked wonders. Much like munching on kangkung (water convolvulus) in prawn mee. But the slightly 'kelat' taste (sorry, no direct translation here) may put some off.

A chilling bowl of Leung Fun aka Grass Jelly to tamper that heatwave

End that meal with a cool, chilly bowl of 'Leung Fun' or grass jelly in syrup, or any of their herbal tea of the day. The Water Chestnut drink ('Ma Tai Kang') was equally thirst-quenching as well.

The meal came to a mere RM17 for all 3 of us. Yup, including drinks. Every piece of Yong Tau Foo costs about 50 cents only. Compare that to Ampang's over-rated version at RM1 apiece, and you'll be chomping yourself over to Ipoh in no time. Though I still prefer the Pasir Pinji's Big Tree Foot's version myself, as I like my Yong Tau Foo fried. But Kwong Hong is certainly a healthier choice than most.

Location : Kedai Kopi Kwong Hong @ Jalan Gunung Rapat, Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. Map at the end of this post.

Kee Poh Laksa @ Kedai Kopi dan Minuman Kean Seng, Jalan Gunung Rapat

Next stop? A hop and a skip away (but of course, we wouldnt wanna risk dehydration, heatstroke nor falling into auto-napping mode after the meal at Kwong Hong, hence we drove!) is this very low profile, unassuming yet famous shop selling laksa. The renowned Gunung Rapat laksa, for that matter.

For Rm2.20, you get a bowl of goodness. Tangy, spicy, and yummy. To laksa-lovers, that is.

I'm not one who drools, begs my way through, nor hunts specifically for laksa. Not even in Penang, hence you'll randomly (or maybe never before) see posts on laksa in Motormouth From Ipoh.

Each piece @ RM0.50 again. Wow .... inflation clearly has NOT hit this part of Ipoh, yet.

But this Kee Poh Laksa (pronounced Kei Poh, not Kai Poh like I initially thought) is so popular with locals and tourists alike, I gotta see this to believe it! Or rather, taste a spoonful of the soup to believe the hype.

Comparisons to Penang's versions notwithstanding, this laksa can be considered delicious in its own right, with chunks of mackerel, onions, garnished with mint leaves and the compulsory (or optional, depends on your likes) spoonful of shrimp paste. But Jason commented the lack of julienned pineapples in laksa nowadays, something which I duly noted in other servings in other states, even Penang.

Location : Kee Poh Laksa @ Kedai Kopi dan Minuman Kean Seng, Jalan Gunung Rapat, Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. Opposite the Gunung Rapat wet market. Map to come at the end of this post.

And the treasure trove amongst the treasure troves, hehe ......

House number 177, Lorong Gunung Rapat 3, Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. What's hidden in there? Another famous Kacang Putih dealer?

Nope! It's the most traditional method of making Heong Peng (or Hiong Piah, or whatever way you recognize those famous biscuits from Gunung Rapat, Ipoh) @ Seng Kee Food Trading

When I was small, I was an avid fan of Yee Hup's Heong Peng. Not the current version commercialized and manufactured by the thousands, but rather, the true, original method of preparing these tasty biscuits; In HUGE clay ovens, ala making naan-style.

Then as time went by, Yee Hup grew from sprouts to branches, from branches to trunks. And the old way of baking this Hiong Piah has ceased, making way for modern way of utilizing ovens. But I tell you, the taste is so much different! Though marketed rather well, with people from outstation, even overseas falling head over heels in love with the mass-produced version.

Words cannot describe the combination of flavours, textures ... and memories these simple biscuits possess

Then Citygal miraculously saved the day! She brought us to this house on Lorong Gunung Rapat 3, numbered 177, for she claimed that the company (Seng Kee), STILL makes and sells Heong Peng, the traditional way!

Note that Yee Hup's previous production house (though not sure if they're still manufacturing them using the original method) is on the same road, in a house numbered 32 (if I'm not mistaken).

Delicious, addictive and crunchy Hiong Piah ... and the biscuit resembling Hap Tou Sou, aka Crumbly Walnut Cookie, but it's NOT.

As soon as I reached home, I tucked into a piece instantly. And memories from days of yore came flooding my palate ..... The coconut husks infused aroma (yup, they used the husks to roast the biscuits inside those clays), the smooth, almost flawless layers of pastry, and the sweet, chewy filling of molasses sugar.

I'm on to my last packet now. And still lovin' every single piece of it !!! ;)

Here's a MAP for all THREE places, combined into one. To get to Gunung Rapat, exit Simpang Pulai toll, and go towards IPoh town. As you pass by Sam Poh Tong caves on your right, go further until you can see the Drive-Thru McDonald's on the right. Turn right at the traffic lights BEFORE McDonalds with Klinik Bhajan at the junction. You'll turn into Jalan Gunung Rapat.

Meet The Floggers (Chapter 2) : Of All Things Indian in Penang

Thanks to CK Lam, I was duly introduced to Ken of Foodpoi, and Lingzie in a food crawl session of sorts when I was back in Penang. Deja vu? Yeah, two floggers gatherings back to back, in the same week. (click HERE for the one in KL few days before this one)

Intricate details, alluring decor, & classic ornaments creating a warm, homely ambience

Initially planned for TWO restaurants, the session was subsequently shorten to accomodate a lengthier chat, without the need to rush and gorge/choke on our food.

We ventured to Market Street in Penang, an area populated by the Indian community. Hence no prize for guessing what we had for dinner.

Karaikudi Restaurant @ Market Street, Georgetown, Penang - Such splendid colours

Karaikudi Restaurant was featured in many, many Penang food blogs sometime ago, when the floggers were invited for a joint-review session. So if the name does ring a bell, you know where to look for the other reviews!

Chettinad Filter Coffee (RM2.80) and Masala Tea (RM3)

Serving a delectable mixed selection of Northern and Southern Indian cuisines, Karaikudi has two outlets on the island, one being this one on Market Street, while another supposedly 'higher-ended' one at Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Chilli Paratha (RM5)

The filter coffee (akin to Madras coffee from Ananda Bahwan) at Karaikudi's was smooth, but that was all to it. Not milky, creamy nor even strong, the coffee served its purpose as a teaser, at best. Especially to one who's accustomed to caffeine shots day in and day out, this one was mild enough to be drank sans the sugar.

The Chilli Paratha was way out of our expectations. Or possibly mine only. Ken did all the ordering, and we merely did what floggers do best ; Snapping photographs & Eating. The paratha was chopped finely, together with the chillies, tomatoes, onions, etc, then stir-fried with a hint of sour, slightly spicy sauce. And served together with 2 accompanying sauces, one being the classic yoghurt, another was a creamier coconut chutney-like gravy.

Mutton Masala (RM18), Roti Romali (RM4), Ghee Tosai (RM3.50) and Chicken 65 (RM9)

Mutton masala was intensely flavourful, but lacking in the love-it-or-hate-it gamey taste. Which, may be a blessing in disguise for most. Romali roti is a healthier choice than the usual roti, or even cheese or garlic naan. Rolled up in a spring roll-like manner, the soft, fluffy bread was almost devoid of any flavour, perfect as complement to the stronger tasting curries and condiments.

The Thosai was shaped like a cone, typical of mamak-style servings of Roti tisu (Kayu's towering version comes to mind!), but at the end of the photo session, the cone sagged a little, and we had to prop the bread up for more shots. As no one likes saggy stuff, right? Tastewise? Not something that'll jump at you, nor tantalize that tastebud.

But the Chicken 65 here is good. Even better than Kalai's version, with more meat and juice in tact. Served on a metal plate, in bite-sized form and garnished with fresh onions, this dish can be a snack on itself.

Easily noticable from afar

Location : Karaikudi Restaurant @ 20, Market Street, 10200 Penang. Tel No : 604-263 1345 or 263 1359. Another branch at 1K, Jln Sungai Kelian, Taman Sea View, Tanjung Bungah, Penang. Tel No : 604-899 6466. Opening hours : 11am til 11pm.

Other reviews include : Ck Lam, Lingzie, Stevengoh, Penangtuapui, Crizlai, and many more. Pardon me, I'm rushing for time as I'm typing this!

Some good old milk to drown the sorrow .... i meant, calm the fire.

Ken brought us on a joyride after the meal, making rounds in Georgetown (hey,that rhymed!), painstakingly introducing good finds in every nook and corner. CK Lam and Lingzie are seasoned foodhunters as well. Made me felt a little dwarfed and insignificant, at times. ;)

For a taste of traditional milkmen's REAL cow's milk (aka Susu Lembu), with extras in the form of additional milo powder, or an egg, or even better, their signature Almond/Badam Milk (Susu Badam) with miniature grapes/raisins, and cashew nuts.

The cauldron with thick curds swirling .... Badam Milk, only at Kapitan, Chulia Street

CK Lam was the culprit, and now I'm the addict. Being a fresh milk fan, I'm sold at the thought of drinking a wholesome, hearty glass of milk, what's more with addition of grinded almond (at least I think that's what it is, with a tinge of yellowish hue), and some bites in the form of raisins, mini grapes (real tiny but sweet ones) and soft cashew nuts.

The Badam Milk (RM2.50) and the Original Fresh Milk (RM1.50)

Don't look down on that unassuming glass of milk. After one glass, you'll probably wished a bed was provided on the sides, so you can reach slumberland in an instance! Haha, you know what they say bout a cup of warm milk before bed.

To those wary of almond tea, almond milk, or any almond-flavoured beverages at all, don't fret. Unlike the usual almond tea served in Chinese kopitiam, with a heavy scent of erm ... cockroach's droppings (or so they said, not me), the Badam Milk here is thankfully devoid of that annoying, acquired taste.

If you lurve your milk, you've got to try this!

Location : Kapitan Restaurant @ 93, Lebuh Chulia, 10200 Penang. Opens 24 hours per day!

Read more from The Star's blog, StevenGoh, vkeong. Kapitan's famous for their Tandoori chicken, Naan and Briyani as well.

Sapped my energy's more like it .... slept like a baby thereafter!

With that, I'd like to end with gratitudes all around, to CK Lam, Ken and Lingzie for the wonderful tour around Georgetown in few hours. Hahahaha... let there be more gatherings in the near future, ok?

Meet The Floggers : A Precious (Pea) Story

June 6th, 2009 : Thanks be to the Precious one, who's on such tight schedule recently, warping around eating, gorging, bingeing, swallowing, rampaging, and demolishing every bit of delicious food in sight. And yet STILL remembered her promise on delivering the Hairy Berry to the doorsteps (or rather, vicinity) of that famous Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee in Taman Sri Sentosa.

The icing on the cake? She tagged along not one, not two, not five nor even ten, but FOURTEEN (yup, more than a dozen!) floggers for the event! A not-too-modest breakfast crawl .... of gargantuan proportion's more like it!

Kung Fu Smooth Ban Mee - Even the holy ones flocked to da place for pan mee ..... wait, anchovies/minced pork's not sinful meh?! Or they're there solely for the KUNG FU part?!

And out of the 13 floggers (yours truly not included), I've only met a handful before this. Therefore it was officially my FIRST acquiantance with the other celebrities from the blogosphere.

The Dry version of the famed Kung Fu Pan Mee - Before and After tossing with chilli sauce with a squeeze of lime

Of course, to imagine myself crawling over to this well-hidden outlet in Taman Sri Sentosa is a near impossible task, being a rather lost soul and all. Hence we gathered at SS2, whereby out of the many potentially hazardous-cum-daredevils, 3 were appointed as drivers/chauffeurs to carry the team safely to the desired destination.

The Wet/Soup version of the Pan Mee

Unlike the average version of pan mee (flour noodles) commonly in the form of strands, or uneven blocks (from the 'pinching' action), this version here is as unorthodox as it gets. The noodles is in fact, about an inch or more wide, smooth (hence the given moniker), and very long. Almost too long to be eaten in one slurp. The accompanying bells and whistles ensued; Minced pork, chopped mushrooms, crispy anchovies and tapioca leaves.

Served in either soup or dry version, one can opt for the BIG (RM6) or SMALL (RM5) serving. Condiments include the compulsory chilli sauce and a squeeze of lime.

Pandan Chicken

Of course, one can't be banking on pan mee alone, and wish to satisfy the crowd. They do offer other noodle dishes (which was creatively displayed in their 'menu' of sorts, with photos INSIDE a small album), as well as pandan chicken. Yup, heard that right, the famous Thai signature dish of Pandan leaf-wrapped chicken meat marinated, and deep-fried to perfection. Of course, rather loosely used term here, as looks were deceiving.

Not the most authentic nor delicious version out there, but with a chunkier piece of boneless chicken meat, albeit lacking in flavour.

The lady performing the KUNG FU part of the Kung Fu Pan Mee

Indeed, one might get slightly curious, how can one perform kung fu while cooking a harmless, mild-mannered bowl of pan mee? Of course, the secret Shaolin technique of cooking (or rather, whipping up a storm?) the almighty Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee lies in .............................................

The Stretching Part. Or so it seemed. Since she mentioned that the cooking area's off-limits to nosy, pestering kids (read : us), I could only stood from miles away and watched intently. The dough (yup, the flour noodles were rolled up in a block of dough-like material) was prepared beforehand, then rolled out, stretched, and erm, 'kung-fu-ed' until became flat, long & smooth slabs of pan mee to be cooked in the broth.

Location : Red Tea Junction aka Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee @ 28, Jalan Seri Sentosa 9A/133, Taman Sri Sentosa, Bt 6 1/2, Jln Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +6016-288 3911 (Jesmond Molly).

Dry Beef Noodles

This being a breakfast crawl (aptly titled : Kung Fu Moo Moo Cow by Pea herself), it was a no-brainer where we headed to next. Yup, something beefy, something stocky .... Beef Noodles.

A wiser choice of Lou Shu Fan (rat's tail noodles/short rice noodles), Bowl of beef balls and offals, and Stewed Beef Brisket with Radish

A thoroughly disappointing affair, save for the beef balls, tripes etc. The mee was a bit off, losing the bouncy/springy texture, and even admitted by the lady boss to be such. The stewed beef briskets with radish looked promising; Rich, dark broth immersing chunks of tender beef briskets and radish. But once again proving looks are NOT everything, the bowl of briskets lost the previous Midas touch, according to Pea. Thankfully, we did not order another bowl to be shared.

Yang Kee Beef Noodles & the Pricelist.

Location : Yang Kee Beef Noodles @ No 52, Jalan Hujan Rahmat 2, Taman OUG, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +603-7784 3739.

Business hours : Tuesday - Saturday 8.30am - 6.00pm. Sundays & public holidays 8.30am - 4.00pm. Mondays are off-days.

So what's NEXT after the double breakfasts?! Let's 'Butter Up the Mic, and Yodel Away?!!

The simple, yet satisfyingly rich butter cake from the OUG wet market. (Thanks Simon! Muahaha .... The consequences of too busy jivin' away to Jai Ho to see his cake disappearing in a flash!!!)

Since Pea and wmw had been giving sc the jitters PRE-karaoke session (hehe), I can't possibly miss a star-studded FREE concert, attended by not only the aforementioned stars, but the localised Jackie Cheung (now exported to Singapore on weekdays) as well!

Only at Neway, baby. And the butter cake from OUG market (click HERE for thenomadGourmand's raves and directions) cleansed the palate really well. With intermittent roars of laughter and rounds of applause courtesy of those 'priceless' performances, one just couldn't help but wished that the curtain did not call.

And after much screaming and screeching, we adjourned to our last stop, the Otak-Otak Place at One Utama. The half an hour wait for their 3pm Tea-Time Specials was hilarious, with us spending time playing Happy Family (bet some of you techies have no recollection whatsoever of this classic card game) while waiting.

And that's a wrap, folks.

List of Attendees (in no particular order) :

Precious Pea - The organizer, the celebrated and the one with 2 dogs, and soon a kangaroo.

wmw - Don't scold me for my Houdini disappearances. Least I stayed til the END that day?

Boo-licious - The idol. Nuff said.

Jason - Ipoh Mali, and far from Sombong. P/S : Rmbr the CENDOL post ok?!

Citygal - one half of that cute couple, kampungboycitygal, and from Ipoh as well.

Nic - Extraordinaire of a photographer, striving for perfection in every shot.

Simon Seow - Wacky guy, with flawless just-wake-up hair!

Unkaleong - ANOTHER Ipoh guy, and far from being an uncle, nick's misleading sometimes.

Rebecca - The nomad gourmand, who discovered the butter cake.

Foodcookies - Serene whom I first met in Cheras ages ago.

SC - Savvy traveller/backpacker, serial when it comes to BKK. Help! Can't find myself a room lah, sc ... be needing your help REAL soon.

Kusashikeat - Another Ipoh guy! Wow ... I'm amazed. Now if I can only remember where's the dim sum restaurant he mentioned ....

Tankiasu - A sexy beast. on the Xanga platform.

Cheap Korean Delights from Ko Hyang @ The Gardens, Mid Valley City

So, what if you're fatigued from all the shopping at Midvalley or The Gardens (they're connected to each other, btw), and looking for a place to snack, but sick of the usual fast food, doughnuts, and pretentious food (you know, those charging triple the amount for a packet of nasi lemak, or those seemingly specializing in laksa but instead serving generic mediocre food + lacklustre servive?)?

The open dining concept may be slightly intimidating for those shy eaters, but who cares when you know you're paying for quality food, and prompt service?

Situated on lower ground floor of The Gardens, this place has received considerably positive reviews from all quarters. First read about this place from Boo, then wmw blogged bout this recently, and here's one from neko hime's.

Click on the picture for larger view, or believe in my superzoom eyesight. =P

This simple stall (not even a restaurant, nor shoplot for that matter) opened its doors ... wait, there is NO door. Erm, put it simply, started serving satisfied customers since the beginning of this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I clearly noted on my previous visit to Din Tai Fung, I was absolutely sure this corner was occupied by some other eatery.

Iced Coffee (white - with milk, not the Ipoh's variety!) (RM3.30) and Hot Sik Hye (Korean barley drink) (RM3.60)

The menu's far from extensive, but not too shabby either. Offering 20 authentic Korean dishes, from the perennial favourite of Bibimbap, Bulgogi to Pajeon, as well as lesser known noodle dishes such as Korean style Pam Mee (I think correlates to our Pan Mee), and stir-fried cuttlefish with rice.

Ban Chan (side dishes) - Free refills

Once seated, you'll be served almost instantly. The small lot houses an amazing 6 workers (at that time we ate there), performing their duties to utmost diligence, almost clockwork-like. You can ask for recommendations, but browsing the simple one page menu should not be a hassle.

Ban Chan (Korean side dishes) is complimentary, much alike other Korean outlets, and 3 types are served at any one time. Of course, the varieties may change from time to time. But the spicy and sour pickled cabbage (kimchi) is almost a staple. The side dishes can be refilled for unlimited rounds, if you ever feel like picking on some light snacks while chatting over a hot cup of Korean barley tea (Sik Hye), which was sweet, soothing, with a hint of smoky, roasted barley aroma.

Kimchi Pancake - Kim Chi Jeon (RM9.50)

Yup, the Kim Chi pancake is less than RM 10 per serving, which is a plus. The crispy sides of the pancake paired with the soft, chewy centre, flavoured with kim chi (yup, that famous Korean pickle again) and lots of chopped scallions. The accompanying tangy sauce provided much zing to the pancake, even a little too sour for my liking. But the pancake was indeed a great snack, or even a complete meal for light eaters.

Bi Bim Kuk Su - Korean sweet and spicy noodles (RM12.50)

Commonly eaten after a heavy, and heaty meal of barbecued meats, the cold noodles is supposedly cooling, and provided much fibres and balance to an otherwise carnivorous affair. But eaten on its own (without the BBQ cuts), the cold noodles at Ko Hyang was delicious, with just enough sauce (mixture of red pepper powder, vinegar, sugar and gochujang - Korean spicy/sour sauce)smothered around the thin, springy wheat flour noodles. The julienned cucumber and carrot added some bites, while a whole poached egg completed the ensemble for a balanced, and light meal.

Toss them up real good ..... and slurp away.

Korean cold noodles are usually eaten during summer, which ironically, best describe current Malaysia's weather. This permanently scorching/blistering weather will last for another 3 months, forecasted. Wow ..... I may just go for another round of cold noodles, or even cendol or ABC in days to come .....

Location : Ko Hyang Korean Country Delights @ LG-K05, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. Located in front of Justlife organic supplies, and Cold Storage on the lower ground floor of the Gardens, by the escalator.

The Original Claypot Chicken Rice - Heng Kee @ Kampar, Perak

Sorry folks, for the lack of updates these past few days. I was down in KL for the weekend, and just got back to Ipoh a moment ago. But departing to Penang in about 12 hours, and will be staying put until the weekend. Time's really tight, hence I'll rattle off fewer words than usual. (A blessing in disguise, eh?)

Heng Kee Claypot Chicken Rice in Kampar - THE Original?

Since Kampar's in the news recently for being 'crowned' with the district accolades (previously Daerah Kinta Selatan, now Daerah Kampar), and highly probable to be in the limelight for months and years to come, I'll post a short review of one of Kampar's most recognisable food; The claypot chicken rice.

I wasn't lying, was I? Told ya they're THE original ....

With a history spanning over 50 years, Heng Kee has been dishing out thousands, or probably millions of those delectable claypots of goodness.

Claypot Chicken Rice with Chinese Waxed Sausages & Salted Fish @ RM12

Opens from 5pm onwards for dinner and supper only, the stall is located in Wing Lok Yuen Coffee Shop on Jalan Idris in Kampar town. Remember it's for DINNER only, hence don't come knocking during lunch hour and lodge complaints!

Mix them up REAL good ......

Ordering's simple enough. Either you opt for a small, medium or big pot, correlating to the number of people (or barbarians) on the table. For choice of ingredients, you can have waxed sausages (lap cheong) or/and salted fish together with your serving of chicken rice in claypot, or you can even have the Heng Kee Special with an additional egg. I saw this option on the signboard hanging above the stall rather late, thus I omitted the egg, unwillingly. Shucks ....

The Best part is at the Bottom; The Crackly Crust.

Fluffy grains of rice cooked in claypots fuelled by charcoal-fire, served with liberate amount of dark sauce (combination of soy sauce, dark soy sauce, probably a dash of wine, etc), chopped scallions, and cuts of marinated chicken meat, slices of wax sausages as well as blocks and bits of salted fish for that extra oomph.

Unlike amateur-ish version of claypot chicken rice out there, some with sticky/lumpy, overcooked rice or some with undercooked, tough-as-nails grains, Heng Kee's claypot chicken rice is really commendable, and worth the visit as the texture of the rice is just perfect. Eaten without chopped bird's eye chillies, or even an extra dash of soy sauce, the fluffy rice was a joy to be relished on its own, and when complemented with the meats, needless to say, the excitement was heightened by a few notches.

Selling confectioneries from CB (that famous Kampar confectioneries specializing in chicken biscuits), as well as some products from Teluk Intan as well

But the BEST part about Heng Kee's claypot chicken rice is the layer of hardened, crusted, & burnt rice at the bottom of the pot. Ask any claypot chicken rice lovers out there, and guaranteed most (if not all) would attest to the fact that the layer of crust at the bottom = Heavenly Treasures! Or something. But truth is, that layer of crust can only be achieved with certain level of technique, to avoid an overly-burnt aroma that mars the whole experience.

Wing Lok Yuen - Housing the Heng Kee Claypot Chicken Rice Stall

Verdict : Certainly earned its stripes as one of the BEST claypot chicken rice out there, even trumping that other one in Ipoh (K10). Minor gripe : Several more pieces of salted fish would do nicely, and the sauces may be a little underwhelming (read : bland) for some who prefer their rice with more flavours.

Location : Heng Kee Claypot Chicken Rice @ Wing Lok Yuen Restaurant, 123, Jalan Idris, Kampar, Perak. Opens from 5pm - 1am. Got MAP !!!

Grand Kampar Hotel (www) - From RM128 nett onwards.

Wondering where to stay, in case you're up for a food hunt in southern Perak, and dodgy guesthouses/motels not your preference? Grand Kampar Hotel opened its door for business about 2 years ago, and the exterior would probably blow your socks off. A figure of speech, of course. Do visit their site @ http://www.grandkamparhotel.com/en/aboutroom.html for promotions, room rates, contact and location.

With that, Motormouth's out on an excursion again ..... from the south, to the north this time !!!

Rojak Manjung in Sitiawan

This month of June had me in stitches. No, NOT the laughing spell/stomach-cramps inducing kind, but more of that with surgical nature; aka 'Wounds bleeding' with endless slew of work and activities, taking me round the peninsular, for a grand total of 19 days of travelling and away from home !!! That's more than half the month gone! That has to be a record of sorts ......

Notice the various ingredients to be chosen for your customized serving of Rojak?

Still wondering whether I've the time (and energy) to update this blog in coming days, hence I'd better post as much as possible, whenever and wherever I can. For today's post, let's take a look at one of Malaysians' favourite salad, the Rojak.

Rojak Manjung gained considerable fame ... as proven by various articles, featured stories, and of course, words-of-mouth

Rojak refers to a popular type of salad commonly found in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (known as rujak, refers to Selba's blog for various versions of the rujak), consisting of fruits and vegetables (and other ingredients occassionally), and served with accompanying sauce.

There are various intepretations of this simple dish, from the common Rojak with thick, gooey black shrimp paste and peanut sauce, to Pasembur-type of rojak with slightly different ingredients (cucur udang/prawn fritters, tauhu/beancurd, etc) and a sweeter yet spicy sauce. Of course, there's always other sensationalized versions, such as those with other not-so-common ingredients such as youtiao/yau char kwai/Chinese cruellers, cuttlefish (else known as sotong kangkung), cuts of papaya, etc.

Rojak Manjung @ RM3.20 (regular serving)

I've read about this place in Sitiawan (yup, NOT Seri Manjung, remember!) serving delicious and popular Rojak Manjung from THIS blog some time ago. Noted to self; "Gotta give it a try, seeing that Sitiawan's all about Hock Chew food, hawker fare, or seafood only." And of course, cendol as well. Come to think of it, if only this rojak can be served together with that cendol from James, then it's HOLY matrimony, people!

Seriously, this is the second time I tried Rojak Manjung in Sitiawan. (Don't you just love how they like to confuse you? Imagine Nasi Ayam Ipoh in KL, or Penang Char Kuey Teow in Ipoh. Or even Terengganu Nasi Dagang in Australia. Hahahah ... wait, two out of three ARE for real. Whoops)

Verdict? Lovely combination of ingredients, from their crispy and flavourful cucur udang (prawn fritters), a whole boiled egg, fish cakes and cubed potatoes, to other funky ingredients such as filament stick (or crab stick - another one of those bogus wannabes, fish paste masquerading as crabs?), peparu (cow's lungs!), tempe (a Javanese delicacy made from fried soybean - supposedly the Elixir of youth. Got doubts? Ask HIM), etc.

Coupled with that thick, spicy sauce with chopped peanuts, the platter of goodies was taken up to a whole new level .... of greater heights, should I say. Minor gripe? The small serving of sauce was far from enough to 'banjir' (flood) my plate of rojak. Additional sauce can be obtained at extra charge, should you feel like slurping on the gravy.

They serve rice with dishes as well. The Rendang Cendawan (curry mushrooms, literally) is one of their most popular dish, being covered in the media as well.

They operate from 9am til 7pm everyday, except Sundays. Aside from their famed Rojak, one can choose to have a more filling portion of rice and dishes for lunch here. The boss highly recommended their Rendang Cendawan, probably the first time I've came across such combination. Vowing to try the dish someday for lunch, I'll be sure to return for more.

Look for the D'Mara sign, in case you can't find this place

Location : Rojak Manjung @ No 6, Plaza Mara Sitiawan, Jalan Lumut, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak. Tel No : 6012-507 5453. Look for Encik Amer Zuraidi. HALAL.

And with that, let the Marathon begins .......

Proclaiming my Undying Love .... Curry Mee, anyone?

My undying love for anything remotely resembling curry mee, be it dry or wet, santan-full or santan-less, spicy/sour/sweet, from north to south and everywhere else, led me to this place near to Medan Gopeng in Ipoh, a hop and skip away from the famed cave of Sam Poh Tong.

DA boss himself in action .....

This stall is operated by the owner of the shop itself. Specializing in Hainan style curry noodles, as well as other items such as Hainan toast with butter + kaya, and steamed bread, it seems the husband to the owner of the shop (her name's Elise by the way) is a relative of Yee Fatt's, hence the specialty of Hainan curry noodles.

Curry Mee with Chicken, Potatoes, Cockles, and Prawns (RM3.50)

Mr Z had the soup version of the curry noodle, which came brimming with cockles (a LOAD of them, to be exact!), which were passed on to me as he's no fan of cockles. It's lucky to dine with people who don't take certain ingredients I tell you, like KYT for the shrimps/prawns he always gave up on. But I wonder what FCOE doesn't take and would forfeit to the Motormouth. Hmm .....

Tastewise? The curry is very thick, laden with coconut milk (santan), and redolent with spices, albeit a little sweet. A little oily and rich for breakfast, but there's nothing more satisfying than a bowl of luscious, filling bowl of curry noodles.

Dry Curry Noodles with plentiful of ingredients (RM3.50). Look at all those cockles !!!

No doubt I'd opt for the dry curry version. The gravy's different from the curry soup variety; thicker, but not too much santan. Equally potent, nonetheless. Reminded me a lot of Yee Fatt's version actually, which was a good thing. With beancurd (tau pok) as well, soaking up all the delicious gravy. But the sheer amount of tiny cockles was mind-boggling, I was practically munching on them throughout the experience. No char siew (BBQ pork) or siew yoke (roasted pork) though, which makes this a PORK-free version.

Other items they dish out include - Curry Mutton Rice, Nasi Lemak and Sizzling Noodles

Toast with Kaya and Butter (RM2)

A little greasy/messy from all the curry? Curry-phobic (hehe) from all the spicy/fiery food you've had lately? No sweat. They take pride in their Hainan toast or steamed bread with homemade kaya and butter.

Looks aside, the toasts was pretty good, with a REAL slab of butter (no margarine business), and generous pairing with authentic, homemade kaya, raised the bar a few notches. You can choose to have them with some half-boiled eggs, but between the two of us, after the curry noodles, we were filled to the brim; lasting us until lunch.

Teh C Ice & Barley drink

Beverage-wise, the Hainan milk tea, Hainan coffee, and even the Sarawak's famous 3-Layered Tea (tea + evaporated milk + gula melaka syrup) are the recommended ones. My glass of cold Teh C (tea with evaporated milk) was satisfactory, though I agree to fully enjoy the beverage, you have to order the hot version, undiluted.

Location : Pusat Makanan Medan Lapangan Lagenda @ 69-71 Medan Lagenda 1, Taman Lapangan Permai, 31350 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP !!!

From Simpang Pulai toll exit, towards Ipoh on Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, you'll pass by this row of shops on your left, before reaching Sam Poh Tong cave on your right.

UPDATED 4/6/09 = Opening hours : 7am til 11pm (the shop), 7am til 3.30pm (curry mee stall). Info thanks to Elise, the owner.

Lenggong's Loh Dee Wan Ton Mee - Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

Lenggong is a small town in Perak, to the north of Ipoh before reaching the towns of Gerik and Pengkalan Hulu. Sounds alien right? Fret not. Here's a short, short geography lesson; Motormouth style.

Perak has 10 districts. Previously 9, but Kampar has been granted the status of a district recently, therefore rounding up the total to a grand total of TEN. Lenggong, Pengkalan Hulu and Gerik are all towns grouped under the administration of Hulu Perak District, the northern-most district in Perak. If any of you remember vividly (or faintly), I blogged about Pengkalan Hulu in my Betong chapters last year. (Click HERE for the Over The Border posts)

It was only about 7.30am .... and the shack was crowded in mere minutes after we arrived!

Famously renowned for the legendary/mythical Perak Cave Man, Lenggong hosts a plethora of caves and excavation opportunities for the diggin'-savvies (archaelogy-wise, not the nostrils-kind!). You can refer to the incomparable Cumi & Ciki's discovery of the caves, journaling their experience before crossing over to the wartorn lands (hah! as if) of Betong, Thailand.

Or for a more concise history and overall impression of Lenggong, refer to the ever-reliable Wikipedia page on Lenggong HERE.

And that's a wrap, folks! For the 1st half, of course; The History lesson. Short eh?

In all manners of preparation ..... funky?

Now to the better half of this post. The Yummy part, referring to one of Lenggong's most famous yet hidden treasure of an eatery.

Most people would undoubtedly recognize Lenggong's best offerings as the bouncy, fleshy Lenggong fishballs. It's so popular, you can either eat them from the restaurants here, order them with accompanying noodles ala fishball noodles style, OR even take away the cooked & uncooked ones.

Deliciously red Char Siew atop the selfmade Wanton Noodle (RM3.00)

The main road of Lenggong runs through probably 20 shoplots on each side, at best. Or maybe slightly more, but covering the town on foot is not an impossible task.

Loh Dee Wan Ton Mee may be easily missed, had one sped across Lenggong town. The simple, unassuming shack on the opposite side of Shell petrol station had been doing brisk business come early hours in the mornings, since the olden days. OK, I've no idea how long they've been running the shop, but judging from the locals' reactions and recommendations, it's safe to assume the place has its history deep in the books. Or valley, as in the case of Lenggong town.

Springy, QQ egg noodles with no trace of lye water, and pork wanton/dumplings

Half-expected the wan ton noodle to be a mere pushover, being a small outlet in an obscure town, we were taken aback by the sheer quality AND quantity of the noodles! We ordered the small portion for only RM3, (single mee @ RM3, one half at RM3.70 and double at RM4.40), and the portion justified the amount paid, and more.

KYT skipped the Char Siew (a decision he probably regretted, judging from his reaction after nicking a piece of mine), and he got 10(!!!) pieces of wan ton instead, at RM2.50 only! The wanton (dumplings) comes with only pork fillings, and pleasantly marinated before wrapping them in those transluscent (though slightly thick, according to KYT) skins. Definitely not those generic, forgettable ones.

But the Char Siew is in another league altogether. One glance, and you'll be forgiven to think that it's just another run-of-the-mill offering, but that's where I was wrong. The Char Siew was marinated & roasted over charcoal; the traditional way by themselves, hence the smoky flavour imparted to the juicy and lip-smacking cuts of meat. I wished I had ordered extra servings of the sumptuous barbecued pork, but a breakfast's a breakfast. Can't go overboard now, can we?

Finish it off with a glass of frothy milk tea

The meal costed each of us less than RM5. Worthy, satisfied, and charged for the day. Now, if only the drive to Pengkalan Hulu is not THAT taxing ...... Sigh.

Location : Loh Dee Wan Ton Mee @ Main Road (Jln Baling-Kuala kangsar), Lenggong, Perak. Specifically? From the PLUS highway towards north, exit the Kuala Kangsar/Gerik Timur exit. Then proceed to Kuala Kangsar/Gerik direction. Follow the Gerik directions, and go along the trunk road, until you reach Sauk, and subsequently Lenggong. Turn right into Lenggong town at the intersection (there'll be a signboard, no worries), and explore the town along the main road. You'll notice this shop on your left, before you reach Shell petrol station on the right.