79
{
}
click away, making suitably impressed
sounds, until we remember to quickly
feel our faces for what might still
remain of our eyebrows. No cause for
alarm — all intact.
If we seem a bit jumpy, it’s
because attempting to sample such
a varied spread in three days can be
overwhelming. Malaysia is well known
for its melting pot of cultures, each with
its own formidable culinary tradition
—
Malay, Chinese, Indian. A lot of its
distinctive qualities, its flavoring and
spices, come from unique blends of
several, if not all, of these influences.
Fortunately, our jolly guide, Bin
Teong Chew — Chew for short —
has trimmed our to-eat list down to
something manageable, following
a series of what sound like his
own hardcore foodie credos:
no distance is too great in
the pursuit of flavor (hello,
PJ), variety equals happy
tastebuds, good food surely
has some interesting
backstory, and quality
über alles
.
Because of the
last requirement, a few big
chains in malls fall away
from the list.
I would take food
recommendations from
someone named Chew any day, but it
helps that later on, as we hop from one
establishment to another, he would also
dispense practical eating advice with
the same reverence as he might when
sharing life lessons. Take time to savor
each small bite; the more you share,
the more variety you get to taste; and
“
You know how I know a place is good?
By the quality of their sambal.”
Like elsewhere in Asia, local cooking
traditions make good use of the bounty
of the land — a lot of spices, coconut
milk, rice and noodles, seafood and
Makan yourway
round town
Ah Wah Hokkien Mee (66, Jln
14/48,
Petaling Jaya).
Open
only in the evenings.
Pelita Nasi Kandar (149, Jln
Ampang; tel: +60 3 2162
5532)
This downtown food-stall
complex, one of the many
branches in a big chain, can seat
400
and stays open 24 hours.
Yut Kee Kopitiam (35 Jln Dang
Wangi; tel: +60 3 2698 0108).
Closed on Mondays.
Khadijah’s Kitchen (21 Jln 1,
1/2,
Jln Bukit, Petaling Jaya;
tel: +60 3 7960 1079).
Owned
by famous Malaysian singer
Khadijah Ibrahim, who often
cooks at the restaurant. If you’re
lucky and she’s in the mood, she
might just serenade you while
you dine.
Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa (7C,
Jln Raja Muda Musa, Kampung
Baru).
This stall opens from 6pm
to noon the following day.
O N T H E F O O D T R A I L
Clockwise from
circle: Khadijah’s
Kitchen serves
all of Malaysian
performer Khadijah
Ibrahim’s favorite
recipes; a selection
of curries, rice and
veggie dishes at
Pelita Nasi Kandar;
green curry and a
spicy fish dish with
okra at Khadijah’s
Kitchen
