Iowan Eating His Way Through Malaysia

My three week trip to Malaysia last summer was amazing! So much to see and experience. One of the best parts of my trip was eating only what the locals ate. Malaysian cuisine is made up of various cultures from all around the world which gives it a symphony of flavors and makes it quite exotic. Being born and raised in Iowa, I hadn't really experienced different culinary cultures. Malaysia was the perfect place to start!

Pig Intestines was probably the most surprising thing I ate. I was originally tricked into eating them. After getting over my fear of something so unknown to me, turns out the intestines taste like chicken and are quite tasty! Luckily Malaysians enjoy having plenty of condiments available to them, some spicy and some sweet. Sliced birds eye chili in soy sauce or having a peanut sauce are perfect for dipping Pig Intestines!

Pig Intestines with Peanut Sauce on the right, fried egg oyster omelette to the left.

Another experience was eating with my hands. Indian restaurants serve banana leaf rice with assorted vegetables, and curried meat on banana leaves. Then you get dirty by eating with your hands. This proved to be difficult for me because I am left handed. It is considered rude to eat with your left hand as this is the hand used for personal hygiene (wiping).

Fried whole fish with spicy gravy.

Ever think of eating a fish whole? Malaysians think it is weird that we don't eat them that way. I ate my first fish whole there! In a separate experience, I almost swallowed fish bones that was in a curry I ate.

Without a doubt, curry based meals are my favorite. Dishes called "curry" may contain meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish, either alone or in combination with vegetables. They may instead be entirely vegetarian. Both dry and wet curry is guaranteed to stimulate the taste buds with the mixture of spices and ingredients an experienced Malaysian cook will use.  
                                                           

Durian

I really liked how everything was fresh! The butcher is still a very common fellow in Malaysia and the markets are always full of different fruits and vegetables, many of which I had never seen or heard of before. So much color and a huge variety of healthiness. One of my favorite unique fruits was the notoriously known Durian. It is definitely an acquired taste and unlike anything I have ever tried or smelled before. Durian smells so bad that it has been banned from certain public areas in Southeast Asia. .

A wide array of fresh tropical fruits.

If you visit Malaysia, street food is definitely something that should not be missed. Everything is delicious and the selection is endless. I enjoyed the meats marinated and placed on sticks for easy eating, and more pig intestines which are very common in Malaysia. There really are too many amazing dishes to name of.

Plan on going to Malaysia hungry because a huge part of the culture is eating. It's actually the food that made me take an interest in the kitchen! I consider it my soul food.

I am now blessed with having a roommate from Malaysia that is slowly teaching me to cook like a Malaysian and still introducing me to new Malaysian cuisines. His dishes are some of the best that I have ever had.  Hours of prep time are well worth it for one of these dishes.

Signing off.... MALAYSIA BOLEH!

Guest Blogger G-Love: Taste of Malaysia in Iowa

As an avid traveler one my favorite experiences is to get a feel for the taste of each culture and the best way to do that is through food. Recently (well, for about 7 years now), I have been studying and living in Cedar Falls, IA. Yes, you guessed it, most of the taste here comes in the form of meat, potatoes, salt, and pepper. Due to the financial constraints that come with being a student I wasn’t able to travel a whole lot. However, I was able to travel through the words, stories, and kinships I established with friends from all over the world. One of my dearest, most fabulous, loving, giving, and hilarious friends is Kenny.

When talking about an array of topics over a glass of wine, one topic almost always comes up and that is the topic of home. And with that the topic of food is always mentioned as a close second to family and friends. Kenny is a newborn chef cook who has delighted plenty of people with his love for Malaysian food and his enormous sense for hospitality.

Bak-Kut-Teh was my first Malaysian dish I tasted. It is a broth noodle soup with a variety of vegetables. Traditionally,  Bak-Kut-Teh is made with pork ribs, however, since I am a vegetarian Chef cook Kenny was able to modify the traditional recipe. Since I am generally fond of Asian cuisine, I jumped right in. With chopsticks in one hand and the spoon in the other, hints of anise, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, and mushrooms met my taste buds…and I was hooked.

Kenny explained that Bak-Kut-Teh is traditionally a Chinese-Malaysian dish. He also explains that Malaysia, especially Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot, which influences the cuisine of this country in tremendous ways. As we go for seconds, our conversation continues. A history lesson is usually included with each meal. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to sit, talk, and eat home cooked Malaysian food with Kenny – it made my heart, world, and appetite bigger! 

Love only,

Goerkem 

The Migrationology of Mark Wiens

I've been searching the web for videos on what people thought of Malaysian food . I found a ton of videos posted on YouTube about people's experience with Malaysian food while abroad. I came across this foodie and travel blogger who I found quite interesting (especially when one calls himself a Durian addict!) and is definitely worth talking about! 

Mark Wiens, who originally hails from Phoenix, Arizona, was uprooted from the States along with his family to France, Congo and finally to Kenya. He found his way back to the States when he attended college at the Arizona State University where he pursued a degree in Global Studies with an emphasis of Art and Culture. 

He eventually ventured to Southeast Asia and has apparently fallen in love with the region ever since. Mark is now based in Bangkok where is he working on building an online business allows him to travel and experience foods from around the world. He makes his living through freelance writing, blogging, food and niche websites.

The '11 Amazing Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia' video on YouTube and his '14 Malaysian Food Photos - Are You Ready To Drool?' blog post definitely won me over. I was very intrigued by the fact that someone from the other side of the world has nothing but good things to say about Malaysian food.

Besides eating his way around the globe, Mark maintains two websites where he writes and vlogs about his food experiences, Migrationology and Eating Thai Food. Check it out!

Follow Mark on Twitter @Migrationology

-That Malaysian Boy-

My Spring Break Food Escapade

While many spring-breakers were involved with copious amounts of alcohol and debauchery, I decided to treat myself to a 9-day getaway to the Bay Area of San Francisco. Being the second most diverse city in the United States, I knew Frisco's food scene would be unmistakably remarkable. I was as spoiled for choice when it came to the array of cuisines that San Francisco had to offer.

Upon arrival, my Indonesian friend Yanto, who I was visiting, brought me to an authentic Indonesian restaurant named Jayakarta, located in downtown Berkeley. It's namesake was probably inspired by the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The restaurant had a humble yet welcoming setting. Malaysian food has no doubt borrowed many of its flavors from the Javanese cuisine in Indonesia, so I felt very comfortable when it came to ordering the food that I wanted. The menu was even written in Indonesian, which is for the most part similar to the Malay language (the language I speak). We ended up ordering Nasi Bungkus and Nasi Padang.

Nasi Bungkus (Nah-See Boong-Koos)
Hot white rice served with various spicy entrees wrapped with banana leaf. 

Nasi Padang (Nah-See Pah-Dung)
Beef rendang, chicken petai curry and fresh cabbage shreds served with hot white rice and a side of fried anchovies and peanuts.

Day 3 was spent in the heart of downtown San Francisco where we decided to lunch at a Singaporean restaurant located inside the Westfield San Francisco Shopping Center. Straits Singaporean Restaurant and Lounge had a much classier dining ambiance with food catered to the sophisticated yet adventurous taste buds. Singapore used to be part of Malaysia until its separation in 1965, so the food Singaporeans enjoy eating, for the most part, originally came from Malaysia. The food we ordered included:-

Roti Canai (Row-Tee Chan-Nahye)
A type of crispy Indian-influenced flat-bread served with a side of chicken curry to be dipped with.

Char Kway Teow (Char-Kooway-Tee-Ow)
The best stir fried flat rice noodles with shrimp and bean sprouts is usually prepared in hawker food stalls and very popular among Malaysians, Singaporeans and Indonesians.

Beef Rendang (Beef Ruhn-Dung)
This originally Indonesian dish is very popular in the South east Asian region came in first place in CNN's 'World's Most Delicious Food' in 2011. Definitely one of my top favorites!

Chicken Curry
This humble dish can be found on the tables of many households in South East Asia, albeit versions of it vary according to region and household.

The dining ambiance at the Straits Singaporean Restaurant & Lounge

Fast forward to the day when I was making my way back to colder temperatures, we decided on a whim to stop at Malaysian restaurant in Arlington Heights in Illinois called Penang (Named after the Penang Island located in western coast of Northern Malaysia). Finally an authentic MALAYSIAN RESTAURANT, I was beyond ecstatic. Perusing the restaurant menu made my mouth water and made my heart melt. The owner of the restaurant, a sweet middle-aged Malaysian lady from Penang who has lived in the United States for 35 years, came over to take our order and this was what we had.

Malaysian Chicken Satay (Malaysian Chicken Suh-Taye)
An authentic Malaysian dishe that has won our very own Malaysian Airlines many awards for their in-flight catering service. They're marinated chicken skewers served with spicy peanut sauce. Perfect appetizer to start your meal with!

Beef Rendang
I couldn't leave this restaurant without having this favorite of mine!

Malaysian BBQ Steak
This one was new to me as I have not tried it myself. Thinly sliced steak meat marinated in a soy sauce concoction and roasted to an aromatic delight

How could I leave the restaurant before having a little dessert because there's always room for dessert!

Pulut Hitam (Pooh-Lowt Hee-Thum)
This dessert,served hot, is made from boiled black glutinous rice and with coconut milk added to it.

Ais Kacang (Ice Kah-Chahng)
Our very own Malaysian snow cone with a twist. It is shaved ice served in a bowl dripped with a mixture of rose and palm sugar syrup then topped with kidney beans coconut milk and worm-like jelly made from rice flour and green coloring.

Even the menu had me taking pictures of it.

Penang is pretty popular among the suburbians in the area as the setting is perfect for families to enjoy authentic Malaysian food.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, so does spring break. I had to leave the amazing weather and the smorgasbord of food delights with a heavy heart. Until next time!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and my hashtag #thatmalaysianboy for my updates on everything about Malaysian food.

-That Malaysian Boy-

Malaysian Winter Market in NYC

What better way to promote Malaysian food than by organizing a Malaysian food event in New York City's iconic Bryant Park? Big cities are perfect platforms to showcase Malaysian food to a multitude of people. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is a governmental body in charge of this promotional effort and I am pleased to know that the Malaysian government is taking effort to promote Malaysian food in the United States.

As I was going through my twitter feed, something caught my eye that read: "The Malaysian Winter Market at Bryant Park’s Fountain Terrace". As I proceeded to find out more about this Malaysian food event, I realized that the event will be held in New York City less than a week from today.

Watch the video below and you'll know that New Yorkers aren't all that unfamiliar with Malaysian food after all!

Malaysian Food Dictionary

Roti Jala (Roe-Tee Jah-Luh): This teatime favorite literally means 'Net Bread' due to its net-like appearance. The crêpe's batter is mixture of plain flour, eggs, butter, coconut milk and a dash of turmeric for color. It is then cooked on a hot greased griddle, folded or rolled and served with chicken curry on the side! Delicious!

Roti Jala (Malaysian Net Crêpe)

For updates on Malaysian food happenings in NYC make sure to follow @MalaysiaKitchen on Twitter!!!!

-That Malaysian Boy-

MOM'S FOOD: TO DIE FOR

The one thing I do not like about being half way across the globe from home is the fact that I can't have the luxury of eating a home-cooked meal. I am sure many of you crave for your mom's cooked-to-perfection pork roast or that made-with-love beef casserole from time to time, right?

That was certainly the case for me these past couple of days as I looked through pictures from home. I would kill die for a serving of mom's 'Devil Curry' or 'Pork Ambilla Curry' right now. It is only natural to crave for food that I grew up eating at home - Malaysian Portuguese Eurasian Food.

Within the pluralists cultures of Malaysia, Eurasians (also referred to as the Kristangs, pronounced 'Kris-tongues') form a minority group in Malaysia. Malaysian Eurasians are are mainly descendants of the Portuguese settlers who came to Malacca (a state in the southern part of West Malaysia) during the European occupation in 1511. These settlers married local women and created this unique community of mix-raced people. Even after generations of inter-marriages and the assimilation into the local Malay culture, the Eurasians have managed to preserve their culture and traditions till today. Many Eurasians in Malacca, like my grandmother and mother, take pride in their distinct culinary tradition.

Moving away from the mini-history lesson...

I am going to introduce you to a few Malaysian Eurasian dishes that are sure to whet your appetite. These dishes also happen to be my favorite ones!

Portuguese Debal Curry a.k.a 'Devil Curry'
This is a hot and fiery dish is made with mustard seeds, turmeric, vinegar, candle nuts and lots of fresh red chilies blended in a thick paste and -hence its name- and cooked with smoked pork or chicken and potatoes. It is usually served with hot rice or bread. This dish is heavenly for some but hellishly fiery for the feeble tummies out there.

Eurasian Beef Semur (Beef Suh-Moore)
Feeble tummies out there will love this hearty and peppery beef stew.  The beef is first marinated with  pepper, vinegar, ginger and garlic then it is cooked with potatoes and carrots to perfection.

Ambilla Curry (Ahm-bee-luh -curry)
This dish , affectionately known as 'Rain-Rain Curry' in my household, is usually cooked with beef and long beans. Other variations include cooking it with pork, luncheon meat and eggplant. Tamarind juice also is added to give this dish that appetizing sour tang.

Restaurants that serve Eurasian food in Malaysia aren't common, let alone in the United States. However, the best of this unique cuisine can be found in households that maintain this culinary tradition. I have definitely tried my hand at cooking Beef Semur just to satisfy my cravings and it turned out pretty damn good, I might add. I realized that looking at pictures of food and blogging about it also does not help my food craving in any way!

More deliciously Malaysian food to come!

-That Malaysian Boy-

SELAMAT DATANG!

pronounced {SUH-LAH-MAHT DAH-TONGUE}

As the title suggests in my native language - "WELCOME!"

Kuala Lumpur's City Skyline

MALAYSIA, a country you may have heard of but have never actually had an idea of where it is located or what it is about. Having been born and bred in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, I am no stranger to its land, people, culture and FOOD.

Land
Geographically,  Malaysia is almost as diverse as its culture because it is home to prehistoric rainforests and countless animal and plant species. Malaysia is located right above the equator in South East Asia and is separated into two parts by the South China Sea. The Western Peninsula is where its capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is located.

People & Culture
With a population of 29 million, Malaysia prides itself for being both culturally and ethnically diverse. The main ethnic groups include the Malays, Chinese and Indians, along with other indigenous groups. Malaysians are known for being very hospitable to their guests.

Food
Malaysia is undoubtedly one of the top food destinations in the world to satisfy any culinary yearning. Its food is an eclectic amalgamation of flavors influenced by Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian and even Western food. Any Malaysian or anyone who has traveled to Malaysia will rave about their Malaysian food experience.

"World's 50 Most Delicious Foods 2012" - CNN
"The World's Top 10 Cities for Street Food 2012" - Forbes
"The Best Countries For Food" - Lonely Planet

These are just a few mouth-watering Malaysian dishes...

'Bak Kut Teh' (Bah-Koot-Tay)
Literally translated as "Meat Bone Tea" where pork ribs are simmered in a concoction of Chinese herbs with Goji berries.

'Banana Leaf Rice'
Heavily influenced by Southern Indian food, this meal is a favorite among Malaysians during lunch time. Fried marinated chicken, lentil and chicken curry along with rice are served on a banana leaf. Preferably consumed by hand. 

'Nasi Lemak' (Nah-See Luh-Mahk)
A popular dish to start a typical Malaysian's day. It is rice cooked with coconut milk and served with chili paste, hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, peanuts and anchovies. Occasionally, it is served with chicken curry on the side.

It is no surprise that Malaysian food has found its way into American tastebuds. In my personal travels, I have encountered numerous authentic restaurants in New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis as well as Miami! This blog will bring your taste buds on a tantalizing (albeit virtual) journey as we explore Malaysian cuisine and its presence in the United States.

Watch this space for more to come!

-That Malaysian Boy-