Monthly Archives: September 2007

We’re Going Live, Baby

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I thought I’d be able to blog easily while on vacation in London.I was so wrong.

Not having access to the internet has been utter misery, most of all because I am unable to blog. Bald Eagle isn’t complaining, as he is now able to see more of me!

Going to London is like going home. Hearing the words “Mind The Gap” is equivalent to a “Welcome Home” to us. 🙂

Y

As I read The Times this morning, I came across an article on Malaysian cuisine. I read on and spotted my friend, Adly’s name in that article. Adly – you’re famous now! 🙂 It’s a great article, and hopefully, Londoners will be tempted by the wonderful descriptions and gorgeous pictures of Malaysian food and make a trip to Malaysia to sample our diverse cuisine. Sounds like a sales pitch? Well, who wouldn’t be proud of our local cuisine? Malaysian food rocks.

Y

My friend in Norway, Gard Karlsen, has been constantly prodding me to work on a Google Map which shows the location of the eating establishments which I have been blogging about. Well, his nagging has paid off! This is the first version of the A Whiff Of Lemongrass Food Tour. It is not intended to provide directions to the location, but it will be useful if you’re looking for food in a certain area. Details of the restaurant and location can be found when you click on the flag. This map will also be included on the sidebar for easy reference.
View Larger Map

Nyok Lan Kajang Satay, Restoran Malaysia, Kajang

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chicken satayWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Looking at the crowd at Restoran Malaysia, I am convinced that Kajang folk eat satay every day of the week.

So this evening, we sat down to partake in an age-old ritual in Kajang.

mutton satay

The restaurant has been operating since 1971. That’s way before I was born *cough*.

And is the satay here any different from other satays in Kajang?

YES.

Why?

First, the marinade. I ate all the sticks of satay without dipping the satay in peanut sauce. I hear whispers of “she’s mad”. How can a true satay connoisseur not eat satay dipped in peanut sauce? Well, of course she can. She eats satay without peanut sauce when the satay’s good enough on its own.

You see, the flavours are exceptional. I love the sweetish flavour of the marinade on the satay which is enhanced when the meat is slightly charred.

The chicken satay consisted wholly of lean meat. No bits of fat and no chicken skin on the skewers. The only setback with this type of satay is that the meat doesn’t glide off as easily from the skewer. And naturally, lean meat is tougher than fatty meat, so if you have trouble chewing, this may not be the satay for you.

I normally refrain from eating mutton satay because I always have this idea that mutton satay is tough. So when the orders were made, I said I’d eat the obligatory one piece just to be able to give my two cents worth on it.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The mutton satay was sooooo gooooood. The meat was tender and was literally falling off the stick, and the flavour was sweet and spicy and masked the strong smell normally associated with mutton.

peanut sauce with chilli

Despite not dipping any of my satay in the peanut sauce, I’d have to say that the peanut sauce was good, especially when eaten with the sliced cucumber and ketupat (compressed rice dumpling).

ketupat

Cleanliness isn’t their forte, but if you’re able to look straight ahead instead of down, you’ll be fine. Just don’t step on the cat like I did.

Chicken and beef satay costs RM0.60 a stick, while lamb, mutton, duck and fish satay costs RM0.90 a stick.

Also check out:

Babe in the City – KL
Honey Star

Restoran Malaysia (near Metro Inn)
No. 31, Jalan Semenyih,
43000 Kajang, Selangor.

Tel: 03-8733 1160

Closed Tuesdays.

Char Siew at Soo Kee Restaurant, Ampang

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Char Siu from Soo Kee

The series on some of the best char siew in the Klang valley continues, and I present to you, Soo Kee Restaurant in Ampang. This char siew is legendary, and was once probably the standard by which other char siews were measured. Nevertheless, despite its years (The restaurant, that is. Not the char siew. Maybe the proprietors too…snigger) , the char siew at Soo Kee can hold its own against some of the best in town.

If you like dark and sticky char siew, this place is for you. Let’s just say that Bald Eagle and I couldn’t resist the warm sticky fragrant to-die-for char siew and wolfed down half of it while driving back with our precious cargo. I ordered a portion for one (for takeaway), and it cost me RM10. Certainly not the cheapest in town, but hey, I have absolutely no complaints. Mmmmmmmm!!!

Other char siew restaurants in the series:-

Also check out this most excellent Miss Char Siew pageant, my inspiration for this post.

Soo Kee Restaurant
No. 373-1, 4th Mile, Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-4257 0767