FOOD!!
Be prepared for a gastronomical feast when visiting Malacca.
Malacca's rich Peranakan culture has given birth to a variety of delicious food that is spicy and sweet, referred to as 'Nyonya' food. The Nyonya style of cooking is the result of a fusion between Chinese and Malay ingredients and recipes, the result of Chinese traders in the past settling in Malacca and adopting the Malay way of living.
A group of us had a lovely short weekend getaway, taking advantage of the Good Friday holiday. We departed Singapore at 7.30am and were caught in a massive jam at the custom. We only managed to reach Malacca Hotel Equatorial at approximately 1pm! We were tired and hungry and it poured when we reached. We settled for a mediocre lunch that was'nt very impressive at all for a Malaysia food paradise standard. After lunch, we took a stroll to Jonker Walk where the famous Chicken Rice Ball stalls thrive. Tender chicken pieces with garlic and soy sauce are eaten along with glutinous rice, rolled in balls. Each person takes about 8 balls (equivalent to about one normal serving of rice) and boy they look like fishballs!
If you have the chance, try the Nyonya pineapple tarts. They are freshly baked and sweet tasting. 2 versions are available - butter or margarine made. Try the LW brand as they promise better pineapple tarts with better fragrance and taste!
Not to be missed are other yummy food like Assam Laksa (I took the Nyonya Laksa) and Chendol! Assam Laksa is sourish in nature, unlike our Singapore version of laksa. My Nyonya laksa is somewhat like our laksa, but it has a slightly different concoction of ingredients. Wasn't too bad. The laksa only cost us RM 3.50 each bowl.
Top: Nyonya Laksa
Bottom: Assam Laksa
Gula Melaka (palm sugar) originated from Malacca and Malacca is famous for their gula melaka desserts - dessert with sweet brown syrup. It only cost RM 1.70 for a normal serving of chendol and RM 2.70 for durian chendol. You can never get enough of this brown sweet syrup. We finshed every drop of our chendol and it was so delicious that we ate 3 bowls of chendols in our 1.5 day stay in Malacca. Mind your cholesterol level!
Our first stop - chendol at San Shu Gong - very commercialised and overpriced. Not recommended.
Chendol @ Jonker Dessert stall - it was always crowded when we visited on Fri and Sat despite the huge shop area We walked along the Jonker Street again at night as it became more bustling and crowded. The roads were closed for shoppers and stall holders. More savoury items can be sampled along the crowded street. We couldn't resist the temptation and we got ourselves a grilled stingray, muah chee and Min Jiang Kueh, all after our hearty meal of laksa and chendols.
Crispy min jiang kueh with fillings like sweet corn, red bean or peanut
Now I know what I can do with my packets of Gula Melaka stocked up in the kitchen......
6 comments:
Your post reminds me of my holiday to trip to Malaysia last December. HAAA~~ I want to eat those crispy pancakes!!!
Every time I go Malacca my itinerary besides eat is still eat. haha.
So what u going to do with the gula melaka? Making chendol?
Grub: its simply a food paradise that you cannot stop eating!
Cook Bake Love: You can melt the shredded gula melaka and drizzle over any desserts.. its sweet and so addictive! my friend bought a ice shaver and she made her own version of chendol with some azuki beans :) I did a version with shredded coconut and baked a bun with it. my bun failed but the coconut is ok
You make me want to go Malacca again!
I've been to Malacca!! And I too loved the Nonya kitchen. I can't remember where we went to at the time (it's years ago) but I do remember it was delicious!!
HHB: I would love to go back there again to eat their chendol!! yummy
Junglefrog: Yes its a good food paradise! but a pity i didnt get to try their authentic peranakan dishes :(
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