Tuesday 3 May 2011

MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur




There is one word that will become familiar when you spend time in Malaysia: makan. Makan means to eat and that you can plenty and usually very good. Food is part of the collective DNA and when it come to eating "we can be like a bulldog in a peanutbutter jar. We will get up at 3 in the morning to eat. Or drive 2 hours one way to eat at a restaurant that was recommended." Thanks for this insight Vishal!



Kopi is the Malaysian coffee and can be found in restaurants, outdoor stalls and kopi tiams. The beans are roasted with margarine or butter and sugar what gives it an almost caramel like taste. You either drink it black with plenty of sugar or with a dash of condensed milk.



Kopi tarik (tarik translates "pulled" in Mandarin) is also made with condensed milk but plenty more and extra sugar. Its name is derived from the pouring process of "pulling" the drink during preparation. The mixture is poured back and forth repeatedly between two vessels from a height, giving it a thick frothy top.






Roti canai is a type of flatbread found in Malaysia, often sold in Mamak stalls (Mamak refers to Tamil Muslims, who generally own and operate them). It is usually served with dahl and a great dish for breakfast.



Nasi lemak is a classic dish: steamed coconut rice, sambal, peanuts, egg (either fried or hard boiled), anchovies and cucumber wrapped in banana leaves. You will find it all over Malaysia.

1 comment:

burn66 said...

Honey I am drooling at all of this... Fuck muesli. I want roti canai every day for breakfast for the rest of my life!!! x