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.

Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant in Ipoh - Old Is Gold?

If you're an avid follower of this blog (OK, don't puke), you would've noticed the lack of dim sum reviews in Ipoh. This, although Ipoh has been established as, and probably still is one of the BEST destination for a sumptuous, hearty yet reasonably-priced dim sum breakfast.

The perennial favourite of many, even if not for the dim sum alone, it has to be the charming, nostalgic & authentic breakfast experience

The dim sum scene in Ipoh revolves mainly around the BIG 3, namely Foh San, Ming Court, and Yoke Fook Moon. Of course, there are other newer ones, and some old-timers which sadly never really took off. For those in the dark, dim sum is one of Chinese's (or Cantonese, actually) most famous cuisine, typically eaten for breakfast and served with Chinese tea. Literal translation means "Touch heart", the delightful morsels are either steamed or fried, and served in small portions, thus one can avoid over-eating (yeah, right) yet sample many different varieties.

On a weekend - Notice the vultures? =P

This post arrives in a rather timely manner. Why, you ask? Because Foh San is moving away to a new location next month. For a good many decades, this dim sum restaurant at the junction of Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar and Jalan Mustapha al-Bakri has been serving hundreds to thousands of customers on a daily basis. The rich history of Foh San can never be rivalled, just ask any of your parents or grandparents, and they'll probably be nodding in agreement.

On a weekday - SLIGHTLY better, hence leave the crutches at home.

I'll reveal the new location at the end of this post. For now, let's concentrate on the food. But wait, before you go thinking that you can simply waltz in, grab a table and order away, think again. The two photos above differ ever so slightly. The first was taken on a Saturday morning, and the second on a Tuesday's. Truth is, the crowd swells to its fullest capacity on weekends and public holidays. So either come early (VERY early), very late (but risk being served with fewer choices of dim sum, as the good ones tend to finish rather fast), or avoid Sundays/public holidays altogether.

What separates a routine dim sum meal, from a memorable, complete experience?

Firstly, I must show my utmost/heartfelt/deepest gratitude (suddenly so formal, eh?) to CK Lam & Hubby for the wonderful meal, and inviting this small potato (OK, large potato ..... happy yet?) for breakfast on a Saturday morning. They were on their southern escapade, all the way down south, yet allocated a little of their precious time for breakfast with yours truly. Aww ... so sweet right? Thanks again CK, and really glad to meet you in person, and your personal photographer too. =P

Har Gau - Prawn dumplings

The second visit was 3 days after, with KYT and FCOE. Though we've been working together for nearly 3 years now, we have NEVER gone for a dim sum breakfast. Given the convenient white coffee fix very near to our office, we never ventured further/drive out for breakfast. A shame, really, with so many territories unexplored, and tables unturned. Wait .... wrong metaphor there. Hehe ..... OK, let's see why Foh San manages to deliver time and again, and remains a favourite among locals, and tourists alike.

Yeung Ngai Kua - Stuffed Brinjals with Fish Paste

Their Har Gau (Prawn Dumplings) has no flaws, so to speak. Thin, translucent & pleated skin, enveloping around a dense filling with moist, succulent and almost crunchy prawnS, the combination of flavours is almost intoxicating (for a prawn lover, at least). Of course there's the scallions, water chestnut (if I remember correctly, sorry I gulped the morsel whole!) and seasonings that rendered every bite a delight.

The other favourite of mine is the stuffed brinjals with fish paste, a type of Yong Tau Foo commonly served with noodles. Of course these are not true blue dim sum, but Foh San does their stuffed brinjals really well. The accompanying sauce (a mixture of soy sauce, and Lea & Perrins, I think) omits the need for chilli sauce.

Clockwise from top left : Siew Mai (Pork dumplings), Fei Chui Mai (forgot the real name, sorry - Prawn + Pork fillings with mushroom), Yue Mai (Fish paste) and erm ... Solid Yellow Pork Dumplings with Black Pepper seasoning.

The steamed items overshadow the fried ones, with many choices on the trolley being pushed by the workers. But just like what vkeong has reviewed lately, the choices may not be comparable to other dim sum outlets. True somewhat, but not wholly. Foh San periodically comes up with NEW dim sum, and without proper menu nor promotion, you have to ask the staff for what's available. And some being grumpier than the others, they may not attend to your queries.

But hope's not lost. You can actually walk over to the trolley you're aiming for, and seek for the types you prefer, then hand-carry to your table. I even opened the covers of the dim sum baskets and shot queries, ala Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Or Slumdog's. Or maybe not.

Char Siew Pau - BBQ Pork Bun, and Sang Yuk Pau - Pork Bun

What's commendable about Foh San's dim sum is that most of the items come piping hot at your table; steamed freshly, and served on the spot. But of course there are exceptions, such as the case with the Char Siew Pau on the second visit, when it came lukewarm, almost cold to touch. But a rarity, really. And the Sang Yuk Pau was equally good. The other varieties they offer were the sweet ones, and Nam Yu Pau (pork with fermented bean sauce). Not sure about Tai Pau (Big Bun, literally) though.

Wu Kok aka Yam Puff

I've never been a fan of Foh San's Wu Kok, or Yam Puff, as I find them rather soggy the previous visit, and the quality rather inconsistent. The Saturday's Wu Kok was OK, but fortunately, Tuesday's version was far better, as they were freshly fried from the wok. Hence the crispy exterior, with oozing filling of chopped Char Siew (BBQ pork meat).

Left to Right : Ham Sui Kok. Fried Prawn Roll, Gyoza-like pan-fried dumplings, and Egg Tarts

Truth be told, if you order one of each of everything, you'll end up feeling really bloated and will probably skip your meals for the rest of the day. Other favourites include the Hor Yip Fan (glutinous rice in lotus leaf), Ma Lai Koh (steamed sponge cake), Hong Kong style Chee Cheong Fun, Loh Mai Kai (steamed glutinous rice) etc.

One of their special creation : Steamed rice roll (Chee Cheong Fun) stuffed with pork, prawns, and mushrooms.

This was very good, served with no sauce, but sprinkled generously with sesame seeds, and garnished with fried shallots and chopped scallions. Very tasty, fresh, and rightful combination of fillings.

Fried Loh Bak Koh aka Radish Cake

And last but not least, Foh San serves their Loh Bak Koh in a different manner. Whereas in most dim sum outlets, they simply pan-fried theirs and served plain in blocks, Foh San takes it a step further, and stir-fries them with bean sprouts, eggs, crunchy 'choy pou' aka salty,preserved radish and garnished with chopped scallions. A must try, although Penangites may notice the resemblance to Char Koay Kak.

On the whole, if you're sick of downing white coffee and toasts for breakfast in Ipoh, go for a dim sum experience. Trust me, you'll start your day with a bang .... though side effects include drowsy from all the food. But hey, that's when the Chinese tea comes to play! Wash them all down with a hot cup of tea, ponder over the dailies (though as of late, you'd better not spoil your mood or appetite with the power struggle, and H1N1 scare!), and unwind yourself before a hard day at work.

Location : Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant @ 2, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar, 30300 Ipoh, Perak.Tel: (605) 254-0308 Fax: (605) 253-5432. Here's a MAP.

NEW outlet : 51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak. Here's a MAP.

# Photos combined from 2 visits, on 2 different days #

# Relocation date unconfirmed, but sometime in June #

Otak-Otak Place @ Tropicana Mall & Nasi Lemak Panas @ Jln 223, PJ

# To be warped back to the good old days once more ....... #

Got Brains Will Travel (Cycle) ?!

Bountiful ornaments, display sets, from the wacky videotapes to the abacus, flasks & potteries and even a classic wash basin from days of yore ....... (P/S : Spot the menu?)

You wouldn't wanna be on the receiving end of the falling bicycle !!

Thanks be to foodies-extraordinaires; Jason & WMW (hehe), I relived my childhood days at Otak-Otak Place @ Tropicana Mall. Nope, not the darker side of my past (those dark, turbulent,scarring days of youth) but instead, referring to the simpler, happier times when politicians a-bickering did not reach cult status (=P), that black gold liquid was priced at merely RM1.20 or so, and picnicking by the lake/beach/river was not ridiculed at.

Teh Tarik @ RM2.50 and Cham @ RM2.50 - With a complimentary piece of buttery cracker

Otak-Otak Stick (Promo price : RM0.60 each, Usual price : RM1.10)



Happy Family - Though I've completely forgotten the rules of the game. Why don't they create a digital version for the third-gen consoles? =)


Rekindle .... Your Passion. Otak-Otak Roll @ RM5.50 per serving.


They really put in tonnes of effort, 'memerah otak' (pun intended) to reminisce the games, gadgets and utensils of Good Ol' Days

Purchase one of these, and suck away your sorrow ......

Otak-Otak Place is the brainchild of the people who run Pick & Brew, over at One Utama. Ironically, this outlet at Tropicana Mall is the second one, the first was opened at One Utama (where else? =P) last year.

Specializing in mostly Malay dishes and snacks, the repertoire of otak-otak (every variety imaginable, really) are impressive, from the rolls to the fried, and steamed to the traditional ones. Now they're running a promotion for the Otak-Otak Sticks, priced at only 60 cents each. Resembling Johor's Otak-otak Kempas (click HERE for the review last year), albeit spicier, with heavier 'santan' (coconut milk) taste. The other choice we picked was the Otak-Otak roll, fish paste with herbs and spices rolled in between thin egg crepes, then dipped into the sambal for that extra kick. Slightly oily, but a satisfactory snack nonetheless.

Location : Otak-Otak Place @ L1-58, No 3, Jalan SS20/27, Tropicana City Mall, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel No : 603-7728 0403.

But wait, that couldn't be our dinner, right? Fret not. Here's more, thanks to driver WMW, and pointer Jason .......

The much raved about Selera Jaya 223 @ Jalan 223, PJ - Packed with people late into the night .....


Contender #1 (Red Corner) - Nasi Lemak Panas Yati (Gerai 6)

The RM1.20 per packet nasi lemak at this place has almost reached legendary status. People from all walks of life, near and far, flocked to this unassuming 'medan selera' located opposite the Amway factory on Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya. And you'll be hard-pressed not to find any patrons indulging (obsessively) on their packets of nasi lemak, be it from the RED or BLUE corner.

You get what you give ..... stole a quote from you-know-who!

Fully prepared to down at least 2 packets of those piping hot packets of nasi lemak, freshly wrapped at the kitchen, continuously to cater to the crowd.

Once seated, just ask for the nasi lemak, and they'll bring them over in a jiffy. Take note that there are TWO brands from TWO different stalls, packing their products freshly, and dishing them out to the hungry crowd.

The RED one belongs to Gerai No 6, Yati - A preferred choice, with various positive reviews in general. Hence, I reached out for my 1st packet. Wrapped in banana leaf and newspaper, the heat could be felt from the outside, a positive sign surely. Who doesn't dread those cold, lonely packets of (possibly stale!) nasi lemak elsewhere?

Served with half a boiled egg, and sambal ikan bilis (anchovies), the portion could barely satiate a child, let alone a famished Motormouth. Tastewise? The sambal was spicy, the rice was steaming hot, but that was about it. A serious lack in fragrance & flavour, as I could barely detect a whiff of aromatic 'santan'. The sambal ikan bilis was fiery, but the anchovies were soft and chewy. And NO onions for that sweet taste and NO cucumbers either.

Contender #2 (BLUE corner) - Nasi Lemak Panas Suri (Gerai 2)

Uh-oh. Bad start. Let's see how the challenger fared. The BLUE corner belongs to Suri, with an appearance resembling Yati's, albeit with words stamped in blue.

Wetter and sweeter sambal, but same old crunch-less anchovies,and half a boiled egg

Also priced at RM1.20, Suri's version also arrived piping hot, almost scalding to the roof of one's mouth. Be cautious, spoon them slowly, and enjoy. Or NOT.

Suffering the same fate as Yati's, the nasi lemak had only a very faint hint of coconut milk, with a more watery sambal with ikan bilis. The sambal was sweeter, perfect for children or those not in favour of extra heat. The gravy reminded me of canned sardine's tomato sauce, really.

Otak-Otak Kempas also available as sides, but to avoid an overdose of otak-otak, we restrained ourselves

Verdict? Not something I'll be returning for. But the dirt cheap price, and the fact that the nasi lemak is freshly-packed, are reasons enough for fans to return again and again ......

Location : Medan Selera Jaya 223 @ Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya. The road's lined with factories, but the food court's situated opposite an Amway factory. You'll notice the abundance of cars lining the roads at night.

# And they retreated to their own chambers, & slept soundly thereafter ..... #