Sugar Layered Pau at Restaurant Ye Si (Perak)

  Located beside a busy street in Kg Koh, Perak, this old historical shop is one to go to for when you need a light tea-time snack. Yes, ask any locals there and they'll tell you that this is the place to get the best hot buns (called pau in Mandarin) in town!

  To get to this area, simply follow the Kg Koh signboard. After you pass by ACS school and an overhead bridge, drive straight on until you see Maybank on your left. The restaurant is just next to it. To get a taste of these wonderfully made sugar layered buns, you'l have to come early, and on public holidays, you'll have to book them. The buns are freshly made everyday and made within a limited quantity. I myself had to return to the shop 3times which only then could I get a taste test of it.

Great place for breakfast or tea-time!

Layered goodness!

  As proven by the long queue of locals at the shop, the buns tasted awesome. With rich grinded peanut paste and sweet melted sugar layer upon layer upon layer, this buns packs a whole lot of rich taste. The bun itself isn't too sticky that will get between your teeth, and it tastes sweet and spongy. Certainly worth a try for RM0.90 per piece! Do take note that they start selling this sugar layered buns at 3.30pm, but just to make sure, do come early.

Chopped into pieces of heaven!

  Besides this, the shop also sells with a wide variety of Chinese dishes. I would highly recommend the 'lin fan' (淋饭) . Topped with 'wat tan hor' gravy and mixed with minced meat and prawns, this is a meal to savour. Full of taste and priced at only RM3.70, must try!

Lin Fan

  The fried rice there is also of full taste. Could be one of the best fried rice I've tasted in a long time, also at RM3.70.

Fried rice

  Also, do try the fish beehoon, I felt it was quite tasty but it may vary between customers. But just for the info, it's RM7 per serving.

Fish Bee hoon

  Overall, this shop holds a wide range of mouh-watering dishes. Do come to explore but as the title suggests, make sure you get your hands on the sugar layered bun, totally awesome for mii!

Just like olden times!

Signing out: Nickel Low CJ

Famous Traditional Biscuits In Sitiawan (Perak)

San Yew Chay Tau Sar Piah

1. San Yew Chay Biscuit Shop

  This shop sells the famous Chinese Tau Sar Piah, coming in two types, black and white bean fillings. I would highly recommend the black bean and it is best when eaten when its still hot. It isn't the normal Penang Tau Sar Piah that you'll get. The fillings in this one is a little course, and is not easily smooshed when bitten into. A delicacy to be tasted at only 70cents per piece.

Hot from the oven!

Buisness hours: 9am to 2pm

Closes on Mondays of every two weeks.

Contact No. : 012-4645108, 017-5853119

Add: 67, Jalan Besar, Kampung Koh, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak.

Sin Lay Gong Piah

2. Sin Lay Biscuit Shop

  Most locals will point to you this shop, although Chong Cia (will be introduced later) is a hard-core competitor to the famous Manjung Gong Piah. These biscuits are not fried, in fact they are stuck down a fired up well to be baked throughout. Coming in two main types, minced meat fillings or onion fillings, to taste them you would really have to book them early on from Sin Lay as the moment they finish making them, they'll be sold out soon enough. I wasn't able to get hold of them either, but you guys could try your luck there, who knows? But one thing's for sure, the flies swarming around the dough used to make the biscuits made mii feel lucky not to have tasted them.

That's where they came from!

  For directions, do locate the Kg. Koh Wet Market (written as Pasar Awam Kg. Koh on signboards), head straight down and the shop will be located on your right along with many other shop houses. Drive slowly as this shop is small and quite miss-able.

At work.

Prices of each respectively.

Note: Closes on Sundays, finishes its last batch of biscuits at 1pm.

Lining up for biscuits!

3. Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian

  Some local would swear to you that this the most famous out of the 3 biscuit shops introduced here. And you'll have to see to believe it. They'll tell you that they start selling the biscuits at 4.30pm, but be advised to start lining up by about 3.45pm. Mostly because being the biscuits being sold out in a matter of minutes!

Dough at work

  As introduced at Sin Lay, the biscuits here are also baked down a fired-up well. I managed to get to know that this shop had a proud history of 23 years of baking! So expect the biscuits to be famous all and about. Same goes to here, having minced meat or onions as the main filling, be sure to eat them hot, because the taste and texture WILL change when it gets cold. They'll be like chewing rubber then.

Workers using sticks and hooks to get biscuits out of wells.

  The shop closes on Sundays and public holidays. So if you're free, make sure you'll be there early on. Unlike Sin Lay, bookings are not allowed here. This is to ensure a first come first serve basis, fair enough!

Signing off: Nickel Low CJ

Seri Manjung, Perak Coconut Jelly (Perak)

  On the way home from Sitiawan, I and my friend headed to a shop behind Kamdar Shopping Centre in Manjung to get a taste of some Manjung Coconut Jelly. Being claimed as Malaysia's 1st coconut jelly enterprise, it sells cooling and tasty coconut jelly, one of the best jellies I've tasted around. With coconut flesh to add to, it really is worth trying especially on a very hot day.

Well decorated

Certified!

Jelly sold at : RM3.50 per piece, 3 for RM10

Opens daily: 8am to 6pm, except Sundays, till 5pm.

Tel: 05-688 5654

Add: 45, Persiaran PM2/3, Pusat Bandar Seksyen 2, 32040 Seri Manjung, Perak.

Wobbly goodness!

Kg Koh Pasar Awam 'Kampua' Noodles (Perak)

  During my trip to Kg Koh, Perak, my friend Johnny was frantically (given that he kept asking every shop owner) searching for Kampua Noodles that morning, and the result was that all the locals hailed the Pasar Awam Loh Mee sold there. It wasn't that hard to find, a street opposite of Ye Si Restaurant, straight on, make a U-turn and you'll have the market on your left. There were a lot of people that morning, and everyone seems to be thriving on the famous kampua noodles.

Loh Mee

Kon Lo Mee

  I ordered the well-known Loh Mee while Johnny had the Kon Lo Mee. Both of these dished were made up of hand-made Kampua noodles. To mii, I didn't really get the hang of the taste. It wasn't the problem of the gravy, but the noodles itself. The noodles were stringy, and unlike the normal yellow mee used, they are quite tough to chew. Same goes to the Kon Lo Mee, but I swore it tastes better with a little famous Kg Koh chilly and sambal because it was quite tasteless before this. Looking around, the locals are just busy slurping away at their meal, I think I was just not used to Kampua Noodles that's all.

Sambal to add to taste.

Famous Kg. Koh Chilly Sauce.

  While everyone urges us to try the Loh Mee, I and Johnny noticed a dish that no one has told us before ~~ 'Dan Yan' 蛋燕。 Being curious, we decided to order a bowl to have a taste test of it. And my word, it was awesome! The mee was like Kueyteow, but this had an extra spongy feeling! The soup was excellent as well, full of taste. Hence, as a Kedahan, I would really recommend this to those who have a strong taste. It tastes so good without even having to add in any chilly! Best!

Recommended, Dan Yan!

Prices of each respectively.

Loh Mee RM2.60

Konlow Mee RM2.60

Dan Yan RM2.60

Oh yes, do try too the ice kacang there, it's a little different from the ones we usually have, but still, worth a try!

Closes on Mondays

Buisness hours: 6am to 4pm


Signing off: Nickel Low CJ

James Cendol, Coolest Cendol In Sitiawan! (Perak)

  Sitiawan is no doubt quite hot place, hence locals and visitors are frequently in a hunt of a heat killer. James Cendol was of selection as locals will call it the best Cendol in Manjung since founded in 1974! In fact, it has it's own branch in KL too! To get to this place, you'll have to locate 'The Store' in Sitiawan, beside it is an Indian Temple and in front of it ~~ cool, sweet, yummy icy goodness.

Cendol in the making.

Ingredients

Photo of fame.

  I would recommend that your Cendol be added with pulut, it tastes better that way. Together, it isn't too sweet, and the Cendol itself is fragrant and spongy. The black sugar tops it all and the base is somewhat very creamy. They also have ABC but as the name suggests, Cendol is the one you should be looking forward to.

Yummy Cendol!

ABC, a mix of taste.

Cendol : RM2.20 (RM2.50 with pulut)
ABC : RM2.50

Business hours starts at 11am (Sitiawan branch).

Tel: 016-545 9185, 014-602 3015

Poppers Bubble Tea, Sitiawan ~~ A Touch Of Creativi-Tea! (Perak)

  Something's poppin in Sitiawan! Yes, it's Poppers Bubble Tea, invading the streets of Sitiawan, Perak! Situated at Persiaran PM/1, Sitiawan, Perak, opposite of Tesco, this humble little shop serves up to about 40 different types of bubbly goodness! Be it blended or shaken, it is worth a try and it certainly gets you urging for more.

  Newly established about two months ago, it was started by loving couple Anthony and Jo Cyee. With the passion for milkshakes and a touch of creativity, there you have it people of Sitiawan, Manjung, Poppers Bubble Tea at its best!

Where it all started, Anthony and Jo Cyee.

  Being there for the first time, I was introduced to a few of their all-time-favourites. Well, if you are at lost of their menus, don't be shy to ask them. They are in fact very friendly people! I managed to try out one of their Naugh-tea Series ---- Peace (a lovely mixture of peach, passionfruit and pineapple). My friend Johnny had Flirty (a mixture of passionfruit, strawberry and lemon). On Peace, the taste was exquisite, unique all to say. Sweet and sour, it is really something to savour for those taste-buds. Flirty was somewhat a new taste to mii, it takes some time getting use to but after that, it was actually quite enjoyable as well. I would recommend the Peace though, but Flirty is nevertheless worth a try!

Menu of Bubbly goodness!

Meet Peace and Flirty!

The best! Roasted Oolong Milk Tea!

  I was also offered to taste their blockbuster milk tea ---- Roasted Oolong Milk Tea! Yes, this is certainly a MUST-TRY milk tea when you get to Poppers. The taste is almost like Chatime Roasted Oolong Milk Tea series, but you could taste an even better, more fragrant roasted milk tea at Poppers. For those tea lovers, this is something which will make you wanting for more!

Rock it or Spin it???

Naugh-Tea Series!

  Poppers provides you with a variety of choices of bubble tea. Be it with or without milk, fruit based, blended, sweet or non-sweetened, it's all available in the menus. Be sure to ask for their best bubble teas, they will be more than happy to help. The prices are also reasonable, RM3.90 for regular and RM4.90 for large (toppings are counted separately). Also, they do have their own Poppers' Hoarders card, get to 10 stamps and get one milk tea free!

A moment of fame!

Get 10, free 1.

  I was unable to try the blended tea there as I was almost filled up before my trip here. But I do urge you guys to try them out. On picture, I could tell they are simply awesome as well! Overall, this really is something to go for whenever you need a thirst quenching drink, and trust mii, you'll really wanna go back for more! Suck it up!!!

Buisness hours: Open everyday except Mondays
                          (11.30am till 8.30pm)

Location: Persiaran PM/1, 32000 Sitiawan, Manjung Perak

Tel: 010-460 9211

Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/PoppersBubbleTea



Signing out: Nickel Low CJ

Society, Ironic As It Could Get

  Few days ago, there I was having my lunch at my all-time favourite coffee shop in Dengkil. Food was great and sipping away a bowl of hot carrot soup concludes my appetite after a day's work-out. It was lunch hour and the whole place was packed with hungry folks. Seats were hence limited and everyone was practically having lunch with total strangers.

  I myself had to share out my table with a few other uncles. It was fine for mii though, considering the conversation had among-st those old folks giving mii somewhat entertainment throughout my meal. Shoving down another spoonful of rice, two men on the opposite side of my table started to make a move, leaving behind a neatly finished meal. Those empty seats stared at mii for a couple moments or so but not for long. Soon after, a couple in their mid 40's, well at least that's what they looked like to mii, came over looking for seats. Scanning about the whole area, they finally came to asking mii on the vacancy of those seats. And of course, a smile and a nod presented with them occupying those seats.

  Their food came and they were then eating and chatting in a Cantonese dialect. From my observation, they looked to be into the business line, and they looked not too happy with their seats at all.  Constantly keeping a lookout for empty tables, they made mii uncomfortable too by staring straight at the old folks beside them. Seems to mii they weren't too fond of sharing their seats with someone else. My instincts proved to be right as they soon took off to another unoccupied table behind them, and to make matters worst, it would seem to mii that they purposely left their bags and stuff on the empty seats around the table, proclaiming that they are not in the mood of sharing their table with anyone else. Inappropriate as it would seem, I could only look on in disgust.

  However still, those two empty seats were shortly occupied by another two more appreciating customers. Who they were then having their lunch whole-heartedly, grateful to have found a place to sit down and eat. All that happened in a matter of minutes. Though it may be of um-importance to many, to mii it greatly reflects the society that we are today. In life, there will be people who do not appreciate the things they have around them, be it family, friends, property or whatsoever. They take advantage of what others have, and thinking the world to be the one and only theirs. On the bright side, there are also people who appreciate things that they do have, knowing that to obtain something is to be of some task, and losing it is to be another mountain to climb.

  To mii, that scene really made mii think. All around us, there WILL BE people who are as described. Hence, it only takes a matter of time before we find out who our true friends are. In fact, that very person could be us ourselves! Be it or be it not, this society with tricks up its sleeves, it never fails to surprise us. We are all humans after all, with our own personalities, characters and stuff; the society as ironic as it ever is. But one thing's for sure, never underestimate the people around us, coz you'll never know that one day, you will be the one to get hurt in the end.

Signing off:
Nickel Low