Tired of the Same Old Satay? (Try Pork Satay @ Xiang Ji, Melaka)

Some remnants from the Dec 08 Melaka stash ....

The stove(pit?) for grilling the skewers of porky goodness ain't big, which made me wonder how the guy's gonna cope with a large crowd?

In Melaka, there are a few outlets famous for serving satay (grilled meat on skewers with spicy peanut sauce) that's on the other end of HALALness meter. The highly acclaimed PORK Satay, proving once and for all, Melaka's NOT only famous for its Satay Celup.

The raw stuff .... perfectly skewered

A few doors away from Nadeje Patisserie, was a satay restaurant named Ming's Sate Hut. But the place was rather dark, empty, and isolated, therefore we cancelled the thought and ended up at Nadeje's.

Then on the last day, we were stumped on whereto for lunch. It was either Nyonya food, or Pork Satay for us. After the rather heavy Chicken Rice Ball at Chung Wah for breakfast, followed closely by Jonker 88's Durian Cendol dessert, we opted for the 'lighter' (somewhat) choice. :)

The usual condiments - Ketupat (sticky rice dumpling), cucumber and onions

So we ventured to Xiang Ji Pork Satay, which was closed the night before. The concept of eating here is different. More to Ipoh's Kong Heng's satay style, whereby they'll place a certain amount of skewers on your table ala buffet style, and you eat to your heart's content (or til your bottomless pit can't hold) and the remaining skewers returned untouched. No, don't ever take into account the hygienic factor, or the possibility of someone biting into your satay before it's placed in front of you. Hahaha ....

BBQ to perfection, with limited grease and burnt edges ....

Marinated intensely, more than your usual chicken/beef satay in Malay 'warung', the pork meat was surprisingly very tender, with a cut of FAT sandwiched in the middle.

The tangy, sweet and spicy satay sauce

The peanut sauce was slightly different, as it was a bit sour, thanks to the chopped pineapple bits added. Yup, only at Melaka's satay outlets. But personally, I prefer Kajang satay's peanut sauce, with spicy sambal for that much-needed kick!

Yup, the middle block belongs to the FAT ... the juicy, guilt-ridden portion

But really, the satay needs NO gravy or condiments. Eaten on its own, the meat was flavourful and succulent enough, and I ended up downing more that I intended, for a 'light' lunch. Whoops. At a mere 55cents per stick, who can blame me?

Location : Xiang Ji Pork Satay @ 50, Jalan Portugis, Melaka. Very near to Jonker Street, opposite SRJK Pay Teck, a Chinese school. Got MAP !!!

For other's take on the glorious pork satay .....
Teckiee's, Makantrip's, KY & Bangsar Babe.

Melaka - Durian Cendol @ Jonker 88 & Largest Pineapple Tart in Malaysia?!

YES !!! Another 7 days to CNY !!! To kick off the 7 days countdown, here's something sweet (again?!) to tempt your tastebuds ..... all the way from Melaka !!!!

A sense of festivity already in the air ....

Notice the grave for a prominent warrior WAY back then? Hang Jebat's the name.

For a brief introduction of Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), here's an article. A stroll around the streets will bring back memories of days of yore, .... not to mention heatstroke, if you're not careful. =P

Feeling dehydrated? Here's the perfect antidote ....

Jonker 88 Desserts @ Jln Hang Jebat

Right smack in the middle of Jonker Street, this outlet selling various type of desserts (mostly ais kacang and cendol in various forms) and some savoury options eg. laksa, is a popular spot amongst the tourists.

Sitting on those wooden benches, surrounded by antiques, ornaments from yesteryears, and a charmingly ancient ambience

Cendol with Gula Melaka

Being a generally skeptical 'cendol' fan, after countless unimpressive experiences, I find the cendol here a tad, ordinary. But what sets this apart from the other imitators (so to speak) is the gula melaka (palm sugar syrup) being drizzled liberately on the surface of the shaved ice.

Very thick, sweet, and prominent, the gula melaka is overwhelmingly delightful, shadowing the lacklustre strips of cendol and red beans.

Wondering if those are valuables ... or nothings.

Durian Cendol

Or indulge in a bowl of sinful Durian Cendol, with the same ingredients as the original one, but with additional durian puree. If only they had thrown in real durian flesh, then the bowl of cendol would be heavenly. A tad artificial, and strictly for durian-lovers only.

Location : JONKER DESSERT @ 88, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka. Here's their official site.

LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House - 4 branches in Melaka alone

Wondering what to buy back as souvenirs? Or craving for a bite to ease the journey back home? Try Melaka's pineapple tarts, for good measure.

Notice the LARGE tart on the top-left corner? It's even listed in Malaysia's Book of Records!

Previously, I've had a rather dismaying experience with pineapple tarts from Melaka. Another outlet (won't name it though, to avoid defamatory suits .... LOL) situated around the area was a household name in producing those sweet, delectable delights.

But lo and behold, the end products were nothing like the fresh ones promoted as samples to fish for potential buyers. Hard and tasteless, we left the boxes of tarts unattended until the next spring cleaning session.

Fast forward a few years .... and I found myself standing at LW, an even more famous joint, with 4 outlets in Melaka alone. Actually, the hugea$$ tart on display kinda attracted my attention. Then realised the other branches also displayed the same gigantic replica, a feat that's rather astounding. And no, it's NOT made from plastic, but do refrain from taking a bite, as it seems that the giant tart has been lacquered, to prevent crumbling and naughty hands. =)

Tastewise; not bad. Not the most out-of-this-world pineapple tarts I've tasted (I'm a fan of a homemade one, that's perfectly crumbly, with strong buttery pastries, and REAL pineapple jam .... cannot disclose the location/contact, sorry!)

Location : LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House @ 95, Jalan Kubu. 75350 Melaka

Three branches at : 41-A-1, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75300 Melaka, 86, Jalan Tokong (Jonker Walk) 75200 Melaka, and 62 Jalan Tokong, 75200 Melaka.

A Ball of A Time? (Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball @ Melaka)

Melaka is synonymous with heritage, the Baba's & Nyonya's, and of course, food. What types of food you ask? Ever heard of the (in)famous Chicken Rice Balls?! (Nope, NOT Chicken Balls Rice, pls try not to get the wrong idea .... =P)

One of the oldest, yet most popular around .... Chop Chung Wah attracts tourists from all corners

If you're a Malaysian, and have yet to visit Melaka, or heard about Jonker Street, well .... you're probably one of the minorities. Jonker Street (or Jalan Hang Jebat) is THE most popular (read : tourist spot) street in Melaka, housing a good number of colonial buildings, souvenir shops, bakeries and confectioneries, as well as restaurants and coffee shops.

When it comes to good ol' chicken rice balls, 3 names came to mind. Famosa, Hoe Kee and Chung Wah. Each has its own legion of fans, a 3 corner fight of sorts, much akin to Ipoh's dimsum brawl, or Nga Choy Kai (tauge ayam) free-for-all.

Perfectly shaped balls, scoring in terms of aesthetic values, and flavours .... 30cents each

All of the chicken rice balls outlets are opened from morning onwards. Yup, you can have chicken rice balls for breakfast even. And highly recommended as well, if you wanna beat the crowd. Come lunch hour, and brace yourself for the wait over at Chung Wah.

On a side note, on that day we went for breakfast at Chung Wah, we passed by Famosa and Hoe Kee as well, as all 3 are located within walking distance from each other, on Jonker Street. Surprisingly, the batallion of gluttons chose Chung Wah over the other two, in a dominating manner. If only Chung Wah occupies a space larger than the rivals, as after we were done, the crowd swelled to an intimidating number, queuing OUTSIDE of the slightly congested shoplot.

Steamed Chicken with Soy Sauce

On to the food .... simple enough menu. No distractions, no starters or side dishes to dizzy that mind. Eating here = Order fast, Eat fast, Leave fast. Steamed chicken ONLY, so don't act smart and ask for fried or roasted varieties.

The rice is shaped into a lump of ball. Given the structure of the balls (=P), you'd think that the rice would be lumpy, sticky and yucky, so that it can stick together, and not creating a mess, or rather, become a plate of the usual chicken rice. But no, one bite into the ball revealed soft, fluffy, and fragrant rice with a light hint of ginger (thankfully not overwhelming), and perfectly complemented by the accompanying chilli with vinegar sauce. Yup, the chilli sauce goes well not only with the chicken, but with the rice as well. Five balls per portion, but not too worry you diet freak-cum-carbo haters, as I downed one ball in one mouthful (not exactly the size of a tennis ball, rest assured!)

Reasonably-priced .... more or less RM5-8 per person.

As for the steamed chicken, I found it tougher than I'd preferred. Not as smooth as Ipoh's Tauge Ayam's versions though. And without the usual garnishing of chopped spring onions, the plate of chicken looked rather .... normal.

The shop at the junction of Jonker Street and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock

Overall, this was WAY better than the chicken rice balls I had many years ago. At some place in a mall if I recall correctly. Recommended, for the authenticity and the rice balls, but not really something you can stomach day in and day out, given the limited menu. :)

Location : KEDAI KOPI CHUNG WAH @ 18, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.

Got MAP !!! It's at the junction after the bridge connecting The Stadhuys (red buildings) to Jonker Street. The shop is opposite OCBC Bank.

Seafood @ Portuguese Settlement, Melaka

Here's something on Melaka .... again. Continuation from tea break at Nadeje, and popiah with lard & Chee Cheong Fun at Newton, we took a break from all the stuffing. Later in the evening, we proceeded to dinner at Portuguese Settlement over at Ujong Pasir, a short distance from town.

The revamped Portuguese Settlement seafood stalls over at Ujong Pasir, Melaka

Few years ago, the place looked different, with the stalls all arranged in another manner. Naturally, to get the best view while dining, everyone would patronize the furthest stall, right by the sea, hence affecting the other stalls' business. And of course, Choosing-A-Restaurant 101 : Pick the stall with the MOST customers still rang true.

But this time around, the whole stretch of stalls have relocated to the newly-built court, facing the sea, with paved walkway, and al fresco dining area as well as lighted ones. No prize for guessing which is the preferred choice.

We picked stall number 4 (there are 10!), with the name "88 Sea Front Restaurant" as it was the most crowded that evening

Some have commented that the Malay seafood and 'ikan bakar' (grilled fish) over at Umbai area (way further than this) are better. Even my aunt (who visits Melaka about a gazillion times per year - she's a tour guide, btw) recommended the 'ikan bakar' over at Umbai. But there's always another visit, right?

Steamed Lala (clams) with Garlic and Chilli Padi, Kangkung (water convolvulus) stir-fried with Belacan (fermented shrimp paste?) and Batter-fried Squids

Parking's a breeze, as a spacious area is allocated. But RM1 per entry. Peanuts, right? Once alighting from your vehicle, brace yourself with the ahem, "Promotion & Publicity" activities thanks to the stiff competition among the stalls there. FYI, every stall sells the SAME stuff, basically Portugues Grilled Fish, and typical seafood dishes. Talk about originality.

I decided not to order the grilled fish this time around, as previous experience revealed the bland, tasteless, and lacklustre Ikan Bakar was not something up my alley. Fortunately my dining companions agreed to this autocratic choice.

The wait was relentless. The sheer number of tourists eating there, plus the slower than ideal cooking pace, prolonged our torture to a good 45 mins. Yup, either sip your coconut juice or beer, fiddle your thumbs, or take a nap.

But the wait was worthy, as the seafood was fresh, succulent, and CHEAP! The meal costed each of us about RM15+ only, plus rice and drinks. Affordable, considering this being a tourists' haunt, after all.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year .... Portuguese style?

The 2008 National-level Christmas Open House was held here, with the PM gracing the event. The decorations around the place were fascinating, with colourful lights on display, in every house, and hovering above the roads. A feeling of warmth, spirit of neighbourhood and festivity was definitely in the air, with residents from every household sitting in their porch chatting, relaxing, and children playing with firecrackers.

(P/S : Kinda got me thinking .... How long has it been since I talked to MY neighbour? Hmm ... )

Location : Stall No 4 (88 Sea Front Restaurant) @ Portuguese Settlement, Ujong Pasir, 75050 Melaka. Got MAP! Lazy to read map? OK, the area's easy to go. From Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka, use Jalan Parameswara towards Ujong Pasir. The signboards in Melaka are good, btw. When you're on Jalan Ujong Pasir, look for a sign on your right, indicating Portuguese Settlement. Not too obvious though. There's a coffee shop named Ming Huat on your left, directly opposite the entrance to the Portuguese settlement.

Melaka - Thousand Layers Cake?! (Nadeje Patisserie) & Popiah (With Lard!)

After the carnivorous meal at Jalan Bunga Raya, we (pathetically) tried to shave off the pounds and calories (as well as guilt!) by strolling around, amidst the rather sunny weather. Melaka is a small town, perfect for walking around leisurely, appreciating the nostalgic ambience of the classical town. Penang's Georgetown's the other classified World Heritage site, bearing a striking resemblance in terms of architecture and influences.

The battered and rebuilt fortress of A Famosa - THE epitome of Melaka

Random shots of the town and the river

This time around we skipped most of the tourist spots, as our main aim was to eat and shop. OK, more to the former than the latter. :)

The much-hyped about Nadeje Patisserie @ Plaza Mahkota

If you google Mille Crepe, either the name Nadeje, or Food Foundry (in Section 17, PJ) would appear. Mille Crepe is a type of French cake, made from many layers of crepe, intermittently spread with fresh cream, or any of the other flavours available.

At RM8.50 per piece, the slice of cake may look like nothing much, but the thin layers after layers of crepe, stacking atop one another, and manages to hold the cake in place was a rather astounding feat. Tastewise? The Original Mille Crepe tasted simple, fresh and clean, but lacking in terms of oomph. The Chocolate Banana Mille Crepe had an awkward 'rum-like' flavour, which was not entirely bad, but the alcoholic nuance may be due to the (over)ripen bananas used. The other flavours include Strawberry, Cheese, Chocolate etc.

Location : NADEJE PATISSERIE @ G-23 & 25, Jalan PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka. Tel No : 606-283 8750. Another branch in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, which is situated on the other side of the main road. Got MAP !!!

Forms of transportation .... over the ages

After tea break, we walked some more, as driving around in Melaka requires much patience and self-control. So many one-way roads, plus the abundance of vehicles on the road, equals flaring tempers, honk-a-mania, and unleashing chapters after chapters of the almighty "3 Ji King" aka 3-Words-Bible.

Newton Hawker Centre on Jalan Mahkota, within the vicinity of Dataran Pahlawan

Passing by the rather newly-built Newton Hawker Centre (Perkampungan Makanan Tradisional Newton) on Jalan Merdeka, a short distance from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall and Menara Taming Sari, we took a peek and found quite a number of stalls.

Naturally we were skeptical, memories of unpleasant experiences at such tourist-traps/food courts came washing over me. But the sight of the Popiah stall, manned by a rather, erm, "round" man caught my attention. Still remembered some popiah stall around Jalan Bunga Raya owned by a fat man that's supposed to be popular, because the incorporation of PORK LARD in the roll.

The Popiah and Chee Cheong Fun stalls, side by side in Newton

A roll at RM2.50, not cheap by hawker's standards. But bearable seeing the 'explicitly' renovated premise, exuding a very village-like atmosphere. The portion was rather generous, with lots of shredded yambeans, and those crunchy bits (or rather, chunks) of fried pork lards. But the Chee Cheong Fun (rolled rice noodles) was surprisingly, the better choice. Served with some curry, and shrimp paste, with fillings of prawns and char siew, the plate of CCF reminded me of Hong Kong CCF commonly served in dim sum outlets, albeit with a spicier and sweeter twist. Not bad. Only RM2.80 for a regular serving.

The relocated Eye On Malaysia

Menara Taming Sari - 360 degrees view of Melaka at RM20 per ride

(30% discount promotion available though)

Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka

And Malaysian's favourite pastime (aside from eating!) ensued .... SHOPPING lor !!! (what else can girls do anyway?! =P) We guys went around in circles though, unsure of what's for dinner ....

Guess what's for dinner? :)

Seremban & Melaka - Of Missed Chances, And Everything Porky ...

Here are my other posts on Melaka's food :

Nadeje Patisserie (Mille Crepe) and Popiah with Lard+Chee Cheong Fun

Portuguese Settlement Seafood

Chung Wah Chicken Rice Balls Restaurant

Jonker Dessert 88 (Durian Cendol) and LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts

Xiang Ji Pork Satay

Muahaha ... I'm back on track, after starting the day off with a dreadful mood, and grumpy mind. I've been skipping work since Xmas. With all four limbs stifled, and brains rusted, 2008 zoomed out in a flash. Of lights, a sea of humanity, artificial snow spray, 5 mins of fireworks, and horrendous jostle at the station. Man, Malaysians CAN be rather ruthless/rowdy at times !!!

Anyway, let's rewind a few days before the craze, and recount on a short trip down south. While on the way to Melaka, we stopped by Seremban for brunch, having heard much about the famed beef noodles, siew pow, etc.

Yup, located right above the wet market of Seremban .... oooh, this is gonna be GOOD!

Exiting Seremban toll, my vague memory had recollection of passing by Seremban town (which was congested, no thanks to the year-end rush and festivities), the Seremban main bus station, and some random malls. Just follow the road (Jln Sungai Ujong) to Seremban town, and turn left into Jalan Tuanku Munawir, once you reach Terminal 1 Shopping Centre on your left. Then from there, go straight along Jln Tuanku Munawir, until nearly the end, when you'll see the PASAR BESAR SEREMBAN on your right.

All good? OK, let's go. :)

The grand daddy of all disappointment. =(

They close on Tuesdays. A very expensive lesson to be learnt. OK, not exactly $$$, but in terms of expectations, hopes, and unappeased hunger pangs. Now you know .....

Location : 748 Seremban Beef Noodles @ Pasar Besar Seremban, Jalan Pasar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Thankfully .... GOT MAP !!!

Then off we went for another famous Hakka noodle stall somewhere along Jalan Yam Tuan, if I'm not mistaken. ALSO closed. Geez ... does anyone still do business here?!!

But I kept my cool, and off we went for the last resort. And what's a trip to Seremban without a taste of their signature snacks, the Seremban Siew Pow (Baked crispy bun with BBQ pork filling)? There are a few in Seremban town, and one VERY obvious mega-structure of an outlet named EMPAYAR, sighted along the highway. But we chose a rather obscure one along Jalan Rasah, simply named Warong Seremban Siew Pow.

A bakery-like shop right before the entrance to Kampung Baru Rasah .... ask the locals if you're lost.

A confectionery easily missed, had it not been the rather faded signboard, and good directions from a guide. Other than their famed Siew Pow, the outlet sells various snacks as well, from pineapple rolls to curry chicken pow (also crispy crusted), etc.

The Siew Pow of course, was noteworthy, best eaten when fresh from the oven. I can't really differentiate between bad, good and great version, mainly growing up with Siew Pow from Ipoh, from stalls also dubbed 'Seremban Siew Pow'. But the Salted Egg Cookie (Ham Dan Sou) was rather tasty, akin to Shanghai Mooncake. The Curry Chicken filling one is best avoided though. Nothing spectacular. Oh, and one can choose between pork or chicken filling for the original Siew Pow. But go for pork, I'd say.

Siew Pow at RM1.2o per pc, Salted Egg Cookie at RM1.50 per pc.

Location : Warong Seremban Siew Pow @ 1607, Jalan Rasah, 70300, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Sorry, NO MAP. =P

The place in Melaka for good cuts of roasted meats ... @ Jalan Bunga Raya

Then we proceeded to Melaka for lunch. Yeah, stomach still grumbling from all the missed opportunities, we reached Melaka town. Traffic was daunting, probably owing to the festive crowd and tourists like us. Last minute recommendation from Jason brought us over to Jalan Bunga Raya, a congested one way street. Come to think about it, which road in Melaka is TWO-ways, anyway? ;)

You can even opt to sit directly in front of the people manning the stall, and chopping away. Make sure your finger's not in the way though ...

Situated at a lane connecting Jalan Bunga Raya and Jalan Bendahara, the Medan Makan Bunga Raya houses a few stalls selling almost the same food, from roasted pork (Siew Yoke) to BBQ Pork (Char Siew), and various other side dishes. The 1st stall has the most customers, hence natural instincts took over, and we were seated at a table next to the stall. Somehow, we felt like school students ....

Siew Yoke Rice @ RM3.50


Char Siew and Siew Cheong (Pork Innards Sausage) Rice @ RM3.50

A glass of fresh sugar cane juice (RM1.20) to wash away the slime, grime, and grease. Not overly-fattening, the Char Siew was rather good, with those burnt edges for that kick. Nothing special about the Siew Yoke and Siew Cheong though. And white rice was served, instead of oil rice.

A stroll down memory lane indeed .... If you can forgive the downright annoying traffic, smogs and hazards along the way. More to come ....