Sunday 25 November 2012

Delicious Malaysian Cuisine Penang Style!






When talk about food, nothing can beat Penang. It doesn't matter what kind of food lovers you are as Penang will definitely have something that will grab your special attention. It's true that the variety of food that can be found in Penang has perplexed everyone even the locals.Penangites has one thing to say when it comes to food - "Chiak Si Hock" which means "Eat Brings in Prosperity"

Just walk along the famous Penang road or Chulia streets in George Town and get yourself prepared to be bombarded with scores of shops or restaurant selling delicious and hot Malaysian cuisine delicacies such as the famous char kway teow, the spicy nasi kandar, the sweet ice chendol and the tasty boneless hainanese chicken rice just to name a few.If you're not satisfied, proceed to Gurney Drive where you will able to find an open space hawker centre that sell almost any type of local delicacies be it sumptuous Chinese food, spicy Indian food or mouth watering Malay food.

Hmmm... I'm started to feel hungry already. How about you?As Penang built up the brand and reputation in their food,  it's no wonder some hawkers or restaurant in other states or towns have been known to pull in the crowd by simply advertising their food as hailing from Penang, irregardless of its authenticity or quality. Ex. "Penang Char Kway Teow" And you know what? It's really works!
It’s quite amazing that some local newspaper has even carried out news which says that -  You can spot a Malaysian in Penang easily. He will be eating lunch and already debating what will be for dinner!

Weird but it's true!

On this site, I'll share with you what are the famous and most sought after Malaysian cuisine in Penang at the moment as well as some brief info about the exciting local delicacies that can be found here.So... If you're ready, let us start with...Penang Laksa - The word of Laksa is believed to be originate Sanskrit word "Laksha" which means "many", referring to the abundance of ingredients that is being used to make the dish. It is made with shredded mackerel (Ikan kembung) and its main distinguishing feature is the assam or tamarind which gives the soup a sour taste. Other ingredients that give Penang laksa its distinctive flavor include lemongrass, cucumbers, onions, red chili, lettuce, pineapple, mint leaves & ginger buds. The aroma of Penang laksa is simply great. You can easily order another bowl to satisfy.Satay - A "meat on a stick" or Satay is a popular Malaysian cuisine. Pieces of marinated chicken or beef are skewered on bamboo stick and grilled over a charcoal fire where they are periodically brushed over with oil. The skewered meat is then served hot accompanied by a thick, mildly spicy peanut sauce, silvers of onions and cucumber.Char Kway Teow - One of the favorite Chinese dishes in Penang. The kway teow (flat rice-noodles) is stir-fried in a wok together with a bunch of other ingredients such as prawns, bean sprouts, garlic, chili paste some dark soy sauce. Also, it’s normal for the wok to be on fire for a while during cooking the dishes, so don’t be alarmed. Rojak - A delicious fruits and vegetable salad chopped into bite-size morsel and tossed in a bowl with the dressing (made form shrimp paste, sugar, chili and lime juice). It is the served with chopped peanuts and sesame seeds. Nasi Kandar - An Indian-Muslim cuisine in Penang that consists of steamed rice served with variety of curries and some other side dishes. Nasi Kandar derived its name from the shoulder poles (kandar) used by people to balance two containers in the past. This is the authentic Malaysian cuisine in Penang.  

Nasi Lemak - Steamed rice with pandan leaves and coconut milk which is a real appetite opener. It's added with some fried chicken or squid and egg (boiled or fried) and the all-important sambal (condiment of chili, onions and sometimes shrimp).Hokkien Mee - Also known as "prawn noodle". It is a dish of egg noodles and rice noodles in a fragrant stock, which is made from fresh shrimp and dried prawns, as well as pork or chicken. It is garnished with prawns, fish cake, leafy greens, pork ribs, squid, vegetables, crisp deep-fried shallots & spring onions. Served with the spicy sambal, the noodle provides a distinctive flavor of Penang