Foodie Friday: Sticky Candy

Sticky candy: handmade Malaysian candies My Malaysian relatives got the kiddos some handmade candy. They come in a cute jar and have various designs. These hard candies feature smiling happy faces as well as some more intricate designs of animals. The flavors offered range from regular fruits, like strawberry and watermelon, to more unique ones like lychee and passionfruit. I wasn't there in person to see the store, but I hear that they make the candy in front of you. They even offer more … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Satay Tofu

Satay tofu: grilled tofu smothered in spicy peanut sauce This one's for my vegetarian friends! Satay tofu features crisp tofu with soft insides, doused with a good amount of delicious peanut sauce. I love satay with its fun skewers and grilled meats (or tofu, in this case). I'm also a big fan of peanut butter (which was why I was so dismayed in Spain), and I'm addicted to the traditional satay sauce. So satay tofu is a winning combo for me! Fun fact: Satay is known as sate in Malay. … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Roti Revisited

Curry roti with beef: roti stuffed with ground beef One of my favorite Malaysian treats is roti canai. I recently tried a new version of it: roti filled with beef. Kind of like a Malaysian calzone. Sadly, I was underwhelmed--even with the winning curry sauce. It's because the meat ends up overpowering the flavor. Also, the filling reduces the light and flaky texture that's a key element of the flatbread. Next time, I'm going for the original! Fun fact: Roti is also known as "flying … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Penang Sizzling Chicken

Penang sizzling chicken: tender chicken flavored with belacan, served hot on the platter I love sizzling platters because they give the meat a hearty grilled flavor and ensure that the food is quite hot. Also, the aesthetics of a bubbling sauce excites me. (Kind of like how I still enjoy those volcano shows made from onion mounds at the teppanyaki restaurants.) Anyway, the sauce is key to this dish. It's actually not a proper Penang curry, which is spicy with ginger and cumin undertones. … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Satay

Satay: skewers of grilled meat, served with a peanut dipping sauce I've eaten different versions of satay, but I like lamb the most. There's something about the tender, slightly gamey taste that I enjoy. My dad first introduced me to the dish, and what's not to love? There's the heady scent of grilled meat, combined with a sauce made from peanuts. Mmm. I'm a big peanut-butter lover (which is why I was sad in Spain.) But back to my great father, who being Malaysian, loves satay. When we … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese chicken rice: chicken simmered in broth and served with flavorful riceHainanese chicken rice originates from Hainan, a province in China. However, it's very popular in Malaysia and Singapore. The dish boasts chicken with silky skin, accomplished by steeping a whole chicken in bone-based broth at sub-boiling temperatures and dowsing it in ice water at the end. The chicken meat inside remains soft and smooth. (Sometimes younger birds are selected for the dish for an even tenderer … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Shaved Ice

Shaved ice: a mound of crushed coolness drizzled with sweet syrup and tasty toppingsMy first experience with shaved ice came from one of those stands that distribute foam cups with ice chunks and watered-down fruit flavors. Later, I discovered the joys of shaved ice, Asian-style. This means not just one flavor but multiple ingredients piled on top until the goodness threatens to overflow the bowl. In Malaysia, they serve ice kacang. Typically, four to five ingredients (I personally like corn and … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Beef Rendang

Beef rendang: A Malaysian curry dish bursting with spices and coconut milk goodness This is one of my all-time favorite curry dishes. When done properly, the meat is so succulent it seems to melt in your mouth. Look at the photo, imagine its deliciousness, and then hunt down your nearest Malaysian restaurant (or invest a few hours and make it at home). … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Roti Canai

Roti canai: a Malaysian flatbread, often served with curry Malaysian street vendor making roti canaiRoti canai, an Indian-influenced flatbread, boasts crisp, flaky flayers. Here in America, restaurants offer it as an appetizer. In Malaysia, it's served as breakfast food. Pair the bread with a steaming mug of pulled tea (teh tarik, the hot boba-less cousin of bubble tea) for an unbeatable combo. … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Curry Puff

Curry puff: curry wrapped in a pastry shell   I think of the curry puff as a type of ethnic sandwich. There are crispy layers of dough surrounding tender and flavorful meat. Malaysians love spicy food, and curry puffs are the perfect on-the-go solution. I have great memories of my dad buying these as treats for me :) You can make your own quickly with this shortcut of using Pepperidge Farm puff pastry. … [Read more...]