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 Nyonya Specialities
Nyonya cooking is peculiar
only to the Chinese of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. “Nyonya”
is a word used to describe a Chinese lady who has adopted the Malay dressing
and cooking while maintaining the Chinese culture. Much of Nyonya cooking
is inspired by the rich spices of Malay cooking featuring local leaves and
fruits for that extra flavour. It is outstanding for its strong curries and
flavour some spiced salads like Acar and Kerabu. The nyonya deserts and cakes
are also hot favourites.
Cendol
Cendol is a favourite desert among locals. It is easily
identified – green pandan flavoured noodles in white coconut milk with
brown sugar and red beans. Sweet heavenly stuff, super cheap and ultra
good.
For the best cendol in town
(in no particular order): off Penang Road, opposite of the Police Headquarters;
Lorong Selamat; Swatow Lane hawker centre in the afternoons; Kek Seng in
Penang Road; and Gurney Drive hawker center in the evenings.
 Laksa
The famous Penang laksa
is extremely popular, especially among ladies for its spicy, sweet, and sour
taste. This is strictly a hawker fare, as one is unlikely to find great
laksa in any fancy restaurant. It is basically coarse rice noodles
in a sour based fish soup with assam, sprinkled with shavings of bunga
kantan (ginger buds), onions, sliced chilli, cucumber and pineapple;
topped with thick black fish paste.
There is a different variant
called the Siam laksa, which is made of a coconut milk based soup
with fish. A protein/vitamin rich and low fat dish, the laksa is normally
served as a snack.
For the best laksa
in town (in no particular order): Ayer Itam – beside the wet market
from 3:00pm to 9:00pm; Balik Pulau near the wet market from morning to afternoon;
Lorong Selamat in the afretnoons; Gurney Drive hawker stalls in the evenings;
and Lorong Kuching, Pulau Tikus coffee shop fom 6:30 to 10:00pm.
Time always for Laksa: The writer takes her discerning palate
stall-hopping to shortlist her top three choices for the best Penang Laksa.
Click
here for full story
Lobak
Lobak is rolls of pork wrapped
with bean curd skin and deep fried until crispy. The Lobak is usually accompanied
by companions such as prawn fritters, preserved century eggs, fish fritters,
octopus, fried beancurd, spring rolls, and cucumber with chili and gravy
for dipping. Suitable for snack or as an appetiser.
For the best lobak in town
(in no particular order): New Lane coffee shop off Macalister Road in the
evenings; Sisters’ coffee shop off Macalister Road, near Perak Road
junction from 9:00am to 3.00pm; Lorong Selamat; and Gurney Drive.
 Nyonya cakes
Nyonya cakes include kuih
talam, kuih lapis, thor tau kuih, ondek-ondek, kuih
koay see and koay beng kang.
For the best nyonya cakes
in town (in no particular order): Near the Ayer Itam wet market in the mornings;
Pulau Tikus wet market in the mornings; and behind of Penang Plaza in Burma
Road during the afternoons.
 Nyonya
dishes
Must try Nyonya
dishes are kiam chye boay, joo hoo char, otak-otak (photo
right), acar awak, perut ikan, asam prawn, asam
pedas and curry kapitan.
For the best nyonya dishes
in town (in no particular order): Jaws at Gurney Drive; Hot Wok, Gurney Plaza;
and Nyonya Secrets, Service Road.
Section Articles
•
Recipe: Acar Awak (spicy mixed vegetable
pickle):
Click
here for full
story
•
Recipe: Acar Hu (fish
pickle):
Click
here for full story
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