In continuation from my day 1 gluttony in the culinary rich scene of Melaka, I started the day with breakfast at The River Cafe, Casa del Rio Melaka. Since I’m hosted here for the next 3 days, I have planned out more exploration for the day; more food explorations of course.

Breakfast semi-buffet and was decent. It was something you can expect from a typical hotel buffet spread where you can pile up on the usual hot meals, cereals, fruits and so forth. Apart from the usual offering, there is a ala-minute menu for you to choose from for your eggs, which appealed to me because the eggs are prepared to order, rather than being prepped in advance and held for service.

We took the usual stuff for breakfast. Bread, pau, muffin and a bowl of cereal. They’re all decent. Nothing to complain but nothing spectacular to rave about either.

A big fan of poached eggs and spinach, I ordered the Egg Florentine. It was served with a slice of toasted English muffin, topped with spinach, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce. I was really looking forward to it, only to be disappointed with poorly done eggs. Suffice to say that the Egg Florentine was rather bland and the eggs was overcook. Urgh! That’s a sin! The yolk was supposed to be runny, not nearly full-boiled with pudding-like texture! And to add salt to my wound (no pun intended) the Hollandaise sauce was rather lacking in flavour too!

Guess it was just not my day. Kevin’s Big Breakfast was alright, though.

The local fare was a saving grace I suppose. The River Cafe served Nasi Lemak in packets and the condiments are displayed separately on the buffet. My choice was spicy sambal, tiny fried anchovies, fried peanuts, hard-boiled egg and a chunk of rendang chicken.
The Nasi Lemak was nicely done; fluffy grains infused with screw-pine leaves (pandan leaves) aroma and the rendang chicken was marvelous.

The congee was decent and served its sole purpose of warming our growling tummies that morning.

Last but not least, a cuppa before we set out for MORE FOOD! :D

1. The River Cafe
For reservations, please call +606 289 6888
Email: reservation@casadelrio-melaka.com
Website: casadelrio-melaka.com

First we went to the Mods Cafe in Jonker Street. This cafe is pretty fancy and one of a kind, so it’s pretty hard to miss. There’s plenty of homey and quaint cafes in the vicinity of the area that practically screams for foodie exploration, but I could only manage one that morning.

It was still early but Jonker Street was already bustling with locals and backpackers alike, going about their business in the morning. There’s ample small hotels and traveler hostels in Jonker Street so do check it out if you’re looking for a clean and decent accommodation at a reasonably cheap price.

One word of advice, though. Parking spaces are almost non-existent during peak hours. And watch out for summons. Don’t go around parking without displaying parking tickets on your car’s dashboard as the authorities gives out summons pretty actively here in Melaka. Parking tickets can be obtained from most sundry shops along this road.

This is the place that we’re looking for; Mods Cafe.

This greeted us at the entrance – antique vehicles on display.

As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted something that inspired a smile on my lips. The uniqueness of Mods is this. The coffee work station is creatively decorated in a classic Volkswagen van. Cool isn’t it? You don’t get this anywhere else in Malaysia. :D

Another shot from inside out.

All shots are pulled here, in the classic Volkswagen van. The coffee machine is attached in it like a bar.

Take a look at this. The big roaster.

Quirky decor that will send you down the memory lane and back. :D

Pachinko machine hanging on the wall, strictly for decorative purpose only, though.

The atmosphere in here resembles a quaint coffee house one would find walking down the old streets. I love the ambiance here, blanketing me with a sense of comfort with the light toned furnitures,unique wall decors, tiled marbled floors and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee.

Daniel wasn’t in the mood to go for anything fancy, so he went for his his usual – the Iced Caffe Latte (RM11).

And here’s a picture of me, enjoying Kevin’s Piccolo Latte (RM8). Slightly nutty, balance, medium blend roast.

But the best drink for me is the Hot Choc (RM11). Not your usual cheap Cadbury; nor Valhorna. The owner didn’t divulge much about their drinks when we asked , but say it was their very own blend.

It’s good to have Kevin around for coffee. He normally orders a minimum of 3 shots. Here’s his next one; the Indo Sulawesi (Toraja RM12). The cup of coffee was hand poured and was filled with light-bodied goodness. Low acid and bittersweet, it was really pleasant to drink.

In a good mood, the owner and a friend of Daniel joined us for a cuppa. The owner specially brewed one of his single origins for our tasting pleasure.

2. Mods Cafe
Address: 14, Jalan Tokong, 75200 Malacca
Tel: +6012-756 4441
Opening Hours:
Mon – Tue: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thu – Sun: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
GPS: 2.200158,102.245623

On caffeine high, we rushed back for our Peranakan Lunch date with Chef Baba Nyonya of Case del Rio. You can read about it in detail HERE.

3. The River Cafe, Peranakan “Tingkat” Set Lunch by Chef Baba William @ Casa del Rio Melaka
Address: Casa del Rio, Melaka
88, Jalan Kota Laksamana 75200
Melaka Malaysia
Tel: +60 6 289 6888 Fax: +60 6 289 6999
Email: info@casadelrio-melaka.com
GPS: 2.193438, 102.246086

After a long chat and a good lunch we retired to our rooms to rest. It wasn’t long before we felt peckish again so we headed out for the Melaka famous mille crepes cake at the outlet that started it all – Nadeje.

For those in the dark, mille crepe cakes is a classic French cake that translates to “thousand crepe cake”. Traditionally, the crepes are layered with maple-scotch pastry cream to form a layer cake, and the top of the cake is covered in a thin layer of crisp caramelized sugar.

We ordered an alcoholic rum & raisin and another Royal Milk Tea. Quality remains consistent. Each slices were creamy but not cloying. The crepe was dense, creamy and moist with a delightful array of textures in each bite.

4. Nadeje Jaya 99
Address: G-01, Bangunan Jaya 99, Block A, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100 Melaka.
Tel No : 06-2277750.
Operation Hours: Daily : 11:00am – 10:00pm
GPS: TBU – 2.189539, 102.246419

We walked back to Casa del Rio after that. Taxis in Melaka are as bad as the ones in Ipoh and Penang. :(
The drivers simply refuse to use the meter and their asking price starts from RM15 for very short distances.

Along the way we passed the famous pohpiah on Jalan Bunga Raya. Since the queue wasn’t long, I joined the queue for 2 lard-laden rolls of pohpiah. You can see my comparison of other pork lard pohpiah – Bunga Raya, Pohpiah Lwee and Oriental Cafe on Jalan Tengkera HERE

5. Bunga Raya Pohpiah
Address: Jalan Bunga Raya,
75200 Melaka
Business Hours: Opens Mon – Sat from 1.30pm – 8pm and Sun from 1.30pm – 5.30pm.
Pork Free: No
GPS: 2.199685, 102.251347

I held on to my purchase til we reached Sun May Hiong Satay House.

It was around 6pm + and there wasn’t much choice of satay left. The intestines and other spare parts were already finished for the day so we contended ourselves with the basic satay offerings.

I have always love Melaka satay – for one they use pork. Satay is traditionally a Malay dish. And since most Malays are Muslims and abstain from pork, pork satay is rarely found outside Melaka. The ones here in Sun May Hiong are nicely charred and crisp at the sides.The combination of a coat of this delicious, tangy sauce on the properly charred, tasty, salty pieces of skewered pork is a gastronomic bliss. The satay was marvelous enough on its own so I didn’t see a need for the accompanying peanut sauce. But much has been said of this sauce, and it is one of the reason why Sun May Hiong is so popular. The peanut sauce was thick and nutty, with tang thanks to the pineapple added. Overall, the sauce was mildly spicy, but nothing I couldn’t tolerate. :D

I washed my cholesterol fest down with the drink uniquely or popularly found in Melaka; the 925 preserved plum drink. Those sticks of satay and the drink cost us only RM9.00. :D A very satisfying treat indeed.

6. Sun May Hiong Satay House
50/50A Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/1
Taman Kota Laksamana
75200 Melaka
Malaysia
Phone: +606 281 7281
GPS:N2 11.523 E102 14.655

You might be surprised but right after this we had dinner barely an hour after. As part of my ground work before a hotel review, I browsed the net and flipped through the brochure of Casa del Rio for an idea about the place. My attention was diverted instantly with the claim ” we serve the best steak on town”. As you guys would probably know, I’m a blood thirsty carnivore so I was curious on how good it is and couldn’t let that opportunity to sample the “best steak” pass. In between chowing down kuey teow, laksa, cakes, satay and spring rolls, I set aside stomach space for a rib eye steak.

Here’s our parmesan cheese in balsamic 7 bread for starters as we contemplated on the menu.

There is a parmesan cheese wheel here.

Salmon blinis – amuse bouche.

Steaks at The River Cafe starts at 300 g per serving. For RM85 it’s considered reasonable; considering the fact that it tasted as good and even better than some of the ones we had before in KL.

When the plate is set down on our table my eyes widened at the sheer size.

A few quick shots later, the 3 of us chewed on perfectly medium rare and flavorful Angus beef.

As expected of rib eye, it was a good cut of lean meat and fat.

We enjoyed the sides as well. As advertised, the steak is good. I’m not in the position to pass judgment though, as I have we not eaten any other steaks in Melaka. Vincent, a local Malaccan said it’s good, but not the best.

To further satisfied our carnivorous side, there’s the Crisp Mediterranean Lamb (RM40++) with roast pumpkin purée, dates, almonds, coriander, and paprika yogurt. The meat was tender but served without much gravy and this was on the dry side so we find the rib- eye steak was much more enjoyable.

A drink smoothie for yours truly, a red for Kevin & soft drink for Vincent to wash down our meal with.

With the meat digesting in our tummy, we hit the streets of Melaka for its wantan noodles.
What is so special about eating wantan noodles in Melaka, you ask? Well the uniquely Malaccan wantan noodles is very different from our Penang or KL version. You’ll notice the difference, as shown in the pictures below.

We started off with one recommended by Vincent. This no-name coffeeshop has only one stall and limited drinks for order. It’s one of those take it or leave it type. To locate this shop its simple just look for Medan Makan Boon Leong where the crazy queue for oyster omelet is.

The interior of the coffeeshop.

Medan Makan Boon Leong.

Perpetual queue for the fried oyster despite of the late hours.

This Melaka wantan noodle was added with chili sauce at the bottom, quite different compared to the ones generally sold in KL.

Jalan Bunga Raya wantan noodles (RM4.50 large) The flavour of this plate of wantan noodle is more subtle. The accompanying dumplings was also rather bland and less tasty. The soup, on the other hand was lighter in flavour. All this is in comparison to the Bukit Cina Wantan noodles later.

8. Wantan Mee next to one shop beside the Bunga Raya food court
Address: Medan Makan Bunga Raya Boon Leong
Jalan Bunga Raya
75100
Melaka
GPS Coordinates: N2 11.895 E102 15.068

Next up for our gastronomic pleasure is the Bukit Cina wantan noodles. Daniel joined us at this juncture.

Packed with patrons patiently waiting for their wantan noodles.

I had better opportunity to take a proper look at the stalls this time around. The Bunga Raya one was at the roadside and it was pretty dark for proper inspection.

The Melaka, Sarawak and Penang Charsiew – the red lean type versus our KL BBQ, charred and glazed with sugar type.

Here’s the things that’s supposed to go with the wantan noodles; Soy sauce, sesame, pork lard, chilli boh, vinegar, sugar, minced ginger and of course, the minced pork broth.

Jalan Bukit Cina wantan noodle costs us RM3.00 per small bowl.

I’m pleased to say that the accompanying dumplings tasted much better than the previous one. It’s tastier and much more generous on the meat. The soup was also thicker and richer in flavour.

The striking red char siew was soft and sweet.

Overall, this particular bowl of noodles is much more satisfying. There’s complexity of flavour and tastier overall due to the myriad of broth, sauce, and condiments added.

The thing about KL soy sauce wantan noodles is it’s hovering on just savoury and salty while the Melaka version is much more complex in flavour with the addition of chilli tang and flavorful pork broth.

9. Kedai Makanan Dan Minuman Hong Sheng
Jalan Bukit Cina,
Kampung Bukit Cina,
75100 Melaka
GPS: TBU

One of my friends/reader told me of “a very good” duck noodle that’s only sold at night in Melaka. Now, not only wantan noodles is uniquely different here in Melaka, but this Peranakan state is also famous for its duck noodles, namely a few shops.

However her directions was confusing and both my local guides Vincent & Daniel wasn’t familiar with the shop she was referring to, so we ended up in an entire different shop in the end.

I’m not certain of the allure of Melaka duck noodles as yet because honestly, the one we had here certainly didn’t live up to its hype. But not to worry, I’m planning for more food hunt trip in Melaka and I’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on where to eat some good duck noodles. :D

9. Restoran Mei Wei Xuan
Address: 115, Lorong Temenggong, 75000 Melaka.
Phone: 012-8869189<
GPS: TBU

I was completely exhausted but there was one last stop to make; to hunt for some Roti John somewhere in Tanjung Kling. This famous Roti John is way out of the city area. You can read all about our meal at Barkat Roti John HERE.

The Roti John in this place is quite extraordinary and not exactly similar to the KL version.

Then it was back to the wonderful Casa del Rio. I was so glad to sink into the comforts of the firm, cushy bed. The next day our Melaka food adventure continues for Yong Tau Foo, Char Kuey Kak (fried radish cake) and lots more. I will be publishing the next post on that soon! In the meantime – take some clues of what to eat in Melaka here –> post 1 and post 2.

Last but not least; leave me a suggestion of where I should visit in Melaka – especially for good Nyonya Laksa, Duck Noodles and whatever else you think it’s worth a post here on www.RebeccaSaw.com! :)

I’m not a big fan of Nyonya Chang/Nyonya Dumplings actually. It’s just that when you’re in Melaka you have to do the Nyonya thing; eat Nyonya food and seek the local popular delicacies.
And since I haven’t ate rice dumpling; specifically Nyonya dumplings for a long time, I decided one is not enough and bought myself 3 on a recent trip and 1 more on a separate outing.

Since Baba Charlie is so famous for their nyonya kuih/pastries, I bought one here. Another was at Pohpiah Lwee because I enjoyed her laksa and pohpiah so that I figured that her nyonya chang should be decent.
Then at Sin Yong Seng (coffeeshop on Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho) because Daniel said their kaya (coconut jam) is good and the nyonya changs were just right beside the cashier counter.
Lastly was one that David ordered when we were having lunch at Nancy’s Kitchen.

Other than the blue colour, the fillings for a Nyonya chang is very different from the ordinary savory rice dumplings. The presence of candied winter melon and coriander powder are one of the main factors for the variation of taste. Another is that pork fillings are cooked with different seasonings as well. The size of each is generally smaller than the usual rice chang.

See the brown, slightly translucent cubes? These are the candied melon.

Price of each chang is usually about RM3.50 – RM4.50. The ones I saw sold in PJ/KL are usually about RM4.50 or more.

Out of the 4 that I sampled, the worst is the one from Nancy Kitchen. There was some meat in it, no candied melon and the only nice thing I can say about it is that the glutinous rice was at least well cooked.

The best (conclusion based on these 4 changs that I have tasted) is from Sin Yong Seng followed by Pohpiah Lwee and then Baba Charlie.

Well, I’m heading to Melaka again soon. So I’ll try to buy more Nyonya changs and I’ll let you know if I find any better ones alright? Meanwhile do share if you know of any good Nyonya changs in Melaka/PJ/KL? I have to buy some soon for my friends coming from abroad.

Locations of the shops:
Sin Yong Seng
101, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho
75000 Melaka
o12 – 681 5858/019 666 7588

Pohpiah Lwee
14 Jalan Kubu
75200 Malaysia
(Near Jonker Street)

Nancy’s Kitchen
7, Jalan Hang Lekir, Off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock,
75200, Melaka, Malaysia

Baba Charlie Nyonya Cake
72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2,
Melaka.
Phone : 06-2847209/6019-6662907
Business hour : 10am-4pm Daily except Thursday

Kevin Judd is a busy man. Legendary for his involvement in New Zealand’s iconic Cloudy Bay, of which I fell in love at the first sip back in 2011 during a Cloudy Bay wine pairing dinner, Kevin produced the first 25 vintages at Cloudy Bay, and introduced the world to the fantastic Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough.

He left Cloudy Bay in 2009; but he must have pinot noir running through his veins instead of blood, for instead of retiring or settling down in another vineyard, Kevin decided he wanted to continue wine making, but now under his own label, Greywacke.
It’s one thing to be involved with an established vineyard, but quite an entirely different ballgame to set-up your very own wine brand, beginning from selecting the best grapes from around the region to aging and bottling every bottle.
Then it’s the marketing and education; making the world accept your brand, a new brand in this business where “old, vintage” are the accepted norms, and yours is just beginning to make its mark.
No doubt Kevin is a veteran in his field, but venturing out on your own is a big step nonetheless considering he could have retired with wine photography, travel the world (which incidentally what he’s doing now) and take long walks with his dog.
But no, it is a fulfillment of a long held dream and Kevin is seeing it to fruition.

We met and spoke over New Zealand beef and the famous Kapati cheese recently. The wines are pleasant, very easy to drink; somewhat a characteristic of New Zealand vinos and it’s definitely my kind of wines.

Tongues and tense muscles loosen in the beautiful resort of Casa del Rio Melaka. Chef Allan Ho prepared a scrumptious dinner. Most importantly, the wines flowed freely.

We begin with the Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, a very lively refreshing wine with good crisp finish; a good choice for a dinner starter. This was matched with a Vietnamese inspired rice rolls with naked vegetables, which on the other hand dry and uninspiring. Not to worry, the Sauvignon Blanc makes one forgiving.

My favourite of Kevin’s Graywacke is the Riesling. No doubt the Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay are the highlights, but I’m a strange woman, with a peculiar wine palate maybe? :)

The Riesling is sweet and liquid nectar on the tongue. Smooth down the throat, melodious and delicate with strong hints of caramel. Yes, this is the wine of the night for me, paired with the 2nd course, Tartar of Baby Abalone, flavored with Spring Onions and Tarragon.

Food begin to be a bit more palatable by the 3rd course. I love scallops and eagerly wiped the plate clean, taking sips of the next wine – a personal favourite of Kevin’s, the Chardonnay.

Kevin said the Chardonnay is a wine close to his heart. It displays a nice savouriness and it’s not just fruity. It’s sharp, intense with concentration of flavour and crisp acidity. He went on to share a bit about the winemaking process; hand-picked grapes at high ripeness levels and whole bunch pressed before being left in 20% new and 80% old French oak barrels with little control or checking. The juice are allowed wild juice fermentation and it ages nicely with smoky characters from the barrels.

The main of New Zealand Wagyu Sirloin matched the red Greywacke Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir shares the same smoky characteristics as the Chardonnay since the grape juice were fermented in the same barrels.
This red is full-flavoured with dark fruit richness and fortunately, not dry nor does it give that astringency mouthfeel. It uses 100% wild yeast during fermentation too.

I won’t be surprised if Kevin is planning to cultivate his own grapes soon. That man is a dynamite. Soft spoken and affable in person, but the passion is very much on the surface where the topics of wines are concerned. It was nice to be able to share a table with Kevin and his good-natured wife Kimberley for dinner that evening. They are currently touring countries hosting wine dinners so if you do hear of them at a location near you, do grab the opportunity to meet them! :)

Dessert – Burnt Kapiti Mascarpone Cheese; Vanilla poached Turkish Dried Apricot. Truly fabulous. I love it!
We have Kapiti ice cream now in Malaysia (check out my post HERE) but not so much Kapiti cheeses. I did saw Kapiti cheese in Jaya Grocer at The Intermark but it was only one variety. I hope to see more Kapiti cheeses in our supermarkets soon!

Venue: The River Grill
For reservations, please call +606 289 6888
Email: reservation@casadelrio-melaka.com
Website: casadelrio-melaka.com

I have tried a few chendols in Melaka and few (if any) can beat this one at Justberrys. Even the locals think so (namely my Malaccan friends) and had sadly admitted that most local nyonya food and chendol are not what it was before.

It’s surprising that it is not an old stall by the roadside (for nostalgia sake) that takes the title of “best chendol” but a modern, air conditioned, sterile shoplot.
Yes, the venue is clean and it is comfortable, but but…

BUT let’s not complain. At least I could still get my chendol fix here in Melaka. All hope is not lost.

I had loved Justberrys when they were still known as Pinkberrys back in 2011 at their 1st outlet in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall (you can see the review here: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/pinkberrys-cendol-dataran-pahlawan-melaka-megamall/) and I’m glad that the chendol is just as lovely as ever.

On this recent trip it was one pure chendol and another the Durian Ice that came with small sago pearls and pomelo flesh.
The durian is of good quality; creamy and sweet with a slight bitter edge. The vital ingredients – fine ice, thick fragrant gula melaka and pure coconut milk – the very recipe for a great chendol is obviously understood here at JustBerrys.
That, and fresh chendol strips (not mushy ones!) and soft, well cooked red beans.

Do you like your red beans small or big (the kidney beans)?
I prefer mine small but hey, one can’t have everything I guess?

I look as happy as the Justberrys mascot here! :D
Yups, that’s what a good bowl of marvelous chendol does to you!

Justberrys Dessert House
No. 89, Jalan KL 3/8, Taman Kota Laksamana Sekysen 3, 75200 Melaka, Melaka, Melaka 75200

This is truly a great Nyonya kuih recommendation by Daniel.
I missed it on my previous trip so I made sure I was there by 3.30pm this time. True enough, even at that early hour (operational hours are 3-5 pm or when all are sold out, whichever earlier) on a Friday evening, business was brisk and supply was already running low.

I used to visit Baba Charlie by default but I’ve switched camps since discovering the kuih stall at Yummy Food Court (also on Jalan Ujong Pasir). Now that I had sampled Bibik Ong’s I don’t think I’ll return to Baba Charlie anytime soon.
I must stress again that Baba Charlie is understandably popular as it is so convenient to visit since it is open from the morning til late evening.
The variety offered is also unrivalled. So many types of kuih in one venue!
However, the nyonya kuih at Yummy Food Court (pictures & directions HERE ) and here at Bibik Ong does taste so much better!

Bibik Ong’s kuih are priced at RM0.50 to RM0.70. We bought 1-2 pieces of EVERYTHING that was sold.
Here’s my verdict:

Apom – spongy and delicately aromatic from the brown sugar used. I still prefer the durian ones at Baba Charlie.
Kuih Dadar/ Ketayap- fluffy, toast-y, fragrant grated coconut and light (not the greasy or thick, wet piece of dough kind) crepe. The coconut filling was not sweet either.

Peanut Balls – Chewy and thick skin. Decent about of peanut inside.
Kuih Lapis – It’s alright. Sweet and creamy enough with a nice elasticity (try pressing on it to test the “bounce” or pull it apart layer by layer to eat and you’ll know what I mean :D )

Ondeh Ondeh – Very nice! Soft, chewy glutinous rice balls encasing thick, fragrant gula melaka within and dusted with steamed grated coconut. Everyone who adores this usually particularly love the part when each ball yield and burst under the pressure between the tongue and the teeth!
Kuih Koci – (the kuih wrapped in leaf in the image above)  – Delicious! This is a must buy.
The skin is chewy with a good resistance between the teeth before melting on the tongue. It’s tasty as it has a slight hint of unami from the salt added. The grated coconut inside was fine and delightful moist.
Seri Muka – sweet custard on top and soft, chewy glutinous rice at the bottom. No complaints at all, striking the just balance between richness and sweetness as how a good nyonya kuih should be.
Kuih Keria – sweet potato doughnuts crusted with sugar. I love sweet potatoes and this version could do with more sweet potatoes but that could just be me nitpicking. It does pack more sweet potatoes than most commercial versions already!

Ang Koo – This was the only one that was disappointing. The skin was rather thick and unpleasantly chewy while the fillings are too sweet and clumpy.

Ok, make that 2 kuih that I won’t be a repeat buyer.
The curry puff is awfully greasy but the sweet potatoes used for the fillings made it just about edible.

Kuih Kosui (brown kuih in fresh coconut) – this was absolutely delish. The soft kuih has an unexplainable aroma (marked by the sweet and lovely aroma from palm sugar) and complexity to it. It was very, very fragrant and creamy. A must buy! :)

I’m really really happy with the kuih sold by Bibik Ong. Anyone else has other recommendations? Please do let me know! :D

For more of my nyonya kuih discoveries check out the links as below:
1. Baba Charlie – great for variety and long daily opening hours
2. Yummy Food Court – great nyonya kuih as well, open from 6pm onwards til night. Kuih are sold in packs of 4 pieces.
3. Malay Kuih – Perhentian Kuih Kampong – Jalan Sg Ujong: Wide variety of Malay kuih, Malay food and even roti. 

Bibik Ong
Open: 3 – 5pm
Stall outside Hilir Garden Ice Cafe at the junction of Jalan Low Hee Kong and Jalan Ujong Pasir.

Becky’s 1 Minute Summary:
What: Banquet style dining as Hatten Hotel doesn’t have a Chinese restaurant. Pork free.
What to order here: This review is particularly for the 2014 CNY set menus so do refer to the menus and prices in the attached menu below.
I love every dish served this evening.
Overall experience: This is my 1st time savouring Chef Kelvin’s chinese dishes and I’m impressed!
Price: RM99.80++ to RM138.80++ per pax. 
Valid: 25th January 2014 – 14th February 2014.

For the long story, read on.

*************************************************************

From KL/PJ I had the good tidings to lou sang all the way to Melaka town.
The Hatten Hotel Melaka is a 700+ rooms property located right smack in Melaka town. The view from my room on the 20th floor looks over the azure pool and the shopping malls within its vicinity.

After checking in, I got ready for the feast that awaits me in the banquet rooms on Level 22 of the hotel. Hatten Hotel has a coffee house and a sky lounge, but no Chinese restaurant per se.
But the management had the good foresight to make full use of Chef Kelvin’s skills and culinary forte and tasked him to create CNY menus starting this year for the hotel.
And to begin our culinary adventure with Chef Kelvin Chua, we tossed for prosperity, for more money, for health, better business/career and for a better Malaysia.

The yee sang was followed swiftly by individual servings of double boiled chicken soup, generous with fish maw. The soup is one of my favourite course during such dinners and I wasted no drop of this one.

Chef Kelvin’s skills surfaced as I bit into the crackly skin of the Special Marinated Roast Chicken. The flesh was juicy and tender and nothing else was necessary to enhance the meat though the requisite plum powder was provided.

There were double fowl play that night and the duck scored against the chicken. Perhaps it was the gravy, perhaps the additional sea cucumbers and dried oysters intensified the flavours for this dish, but yes, the braised duck is my pick.

Psst…try to spot the duck.

Besides the all-time favourites as above, Chef Kelvin added a touch of grandeur and luxury to the menu with selected premium ingredients. For seafood, promfret and the soon hock are favoured this year. Even the desserts has a touch of gourmet with the use of hasma.
For the simple vegetable dish, Chef Kelvin used imported US asparagus and quality abalones. From years of sampling CNY menus I had found that not all abalones are equal. Most has a hint of metallic taste (perhaps from the can?) but these babies served that night were bouncy, sweet and cooked to the right degree of doneness so it was such a pleasure chewing on each one! :)

Steamed Soon Hock in Soya Superior Sauce.

Braised Abalone with US Asparagus and Northern Mushrooms.

Stir-Fried Prawns in Taiwanese Honey Basil Sauce. This was another superb dish enhanced with the clever use of sweet basil leaves and honey. The basil imparted a nice fragrance to the prawns rather than just plain sweet from the honey so it was really finger licking good!

Fried Seafood Mee Sua Noodles. This was so so good! For someone who usually would only take a spoonful of this 8th course (rice or noodles), I took several helpings of this fluffy, delicious mee sua and enjoyed every strand.

Chilled Hashima with Quail Egg and Snow Pear Tea. So lovely. Crunch from the snow pear, soft gelatinous hasma for collagen and chilled sweeten tea.

Menu for 2014:

Thanks Chef Kelvin for such a lovely spread. I do hope to visit Hatten Hotel and Chef Kelvin again soon and this time in a chinese restaurant within Hatten Hotel. I’m sure Chef Kelvin would be good with dim sum as well. :D

Last but not least, much gratitude to Hatten Hotel again for its superb hospitality. I had a short but delicious and fruitful journey exploring Melaka!
You can refer to my Melaka To Eat List –> Melaka – Where & What To Eat as suggested by the locals.

Hatten Hotel Melaka
Hatten Square, Jalan Merdeka, Bandar Hilir,
75000 Melaka, Malaysia.
Tel: +606 286 9696
Fax:+606 281 9696
Room Reservations: reservations@hattenhotel.com
Sales & Marketing: sales@hattenhotel.com
General Email: info@hattenhotel.com

Melaka will be welcoming me again soon! :)

As you guys know I have been visiting Melaka pretty often and I even have a “Melaka What To Eat List” (link) which I compiled since I have been to this sunny but interesting town so often.

And what do you know, I’ll be back again next week for the launch of Pacific Coffee Company Melaka at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. This is Melaka 1st Pacific Coffee Flagship Store and the official launch which will be joined by Pacific Coffee Ambassador, Mike Yung.

In celebration of its launch, there will be a promotion of Buy 1 Free 1 from 4th March 2014 – 6th March 2014, valid only at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall.

I’ll be updating you with pictures of the launch event as well as a short review of what Pacific Coffee has to offer in their flagship outlet here in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall next week.
Meanwhile grab a delectable looking chocolate notebook just by leaving a comment here! I have 10 to giveaway and the FIRST 10 commentators will win. No duplicate allowed. :)
You can comment on anything but a good idea would be to congratulate Pacific Coffee perhaps? :D

Since I’m on the subject of yong tau foo and best fishballs in Melaka (have you read my latest post – best fishballs in Bee Bee Hiong ? It’s HERE if you haven’t! :) ), I decided to keep the momentum going with this yong tau foo in Restoran Dong Fung on Jalan Temenggor which I had visited last month.

I was warned that the queue is long but worth the wait. Anyhow my obsession with good fishballs would make me wait anyways.

This yong tau foo has been in business for over 40 years, but was only selling from its current location for the past 16 years or so; Vincent, a local Malaccan boy had told me.

I was there on a weekday morning and business was brisk as forewarned. But the freshly made, springy and suitably fishy fishballs was certainly worth trying.
We love the kuey teow here too; thicker, slightly chewy and delicious tossed in oil, shallots and garnished with spring onions.
I sipped on the clear, sweet soup and felt my insides warmed up. What a wonderful simple meal for breakfast; I thought. High protein, low fat and low MSG.
As expected the fishpaste was made from wolf herring (also called ikan parang, or sai toh fish 西刀鱼) and all items are made in-house, including the chilli and sweet sauce.

Besides the yong tau foo, a stall on the right side of this coffeeshop is busy churning out fishhead noodles, fried noodles and ‘loh mee’, a starch based thick noodle dish.

We ordered one each and loved both, even more for the fishhead noodles.
The soup was marvellous; spicy with a sharp sour kick from the tamarind and preserved vegetables. The cut small green chillies stirred into the soup fired up the soup nicely.
Oh my god, it is so appetizing to sip the soup and and we enjoyed generous slices of fish too.
Other than the ingredients mentioned above there were ginger, tomatoes and soft tofu.

The Loh Mee wasn’t overly starchy so it was just a pleasant consistency and almost soupy. The eggy broth came with shreds of Chinese long cabbage, pork slices and fish cakes.

Both the Nyonya laksa and pai tee were disappointing, especially so the laksa. Thin, almost bland gravy with sparse ingredients of fishcakes, shriveled cockles, bean sprouts, shredded cucumbers and bean puffs. Urgh!

The beverages were decent, not overly sweet and the barley drink were freshly boiled.

A lady walked from table to table to sell her homemade kuih and we bought the pau (steamed buns) and some kuih from her. It wasn’t cheap and tasted pretty terrible. So much so trying to be charitable huh?

Prices:
Kuey Teow and Fishballs set about RM3-4.00
Fishhead noodles and “Loh Mee”  – RM5 – RM7
Curry Laksa – RM5.00
Pai Tee – RM3.00

So if you’re in Melaka early enough in the morning, you can drop by here for the fishhead noodles and the yong tau foo. Else Bee Bee Hiong yong tau foo is a good bet too! :)

Restaurant Dong Fung
Address: 119, Jalan Temenggong 75000 Malacca
GPS: To be updated.

In 2010, Pacific Coffee first entered Malaysia and I was at the launch at IOI Boulevard Puchong.

BELOW: Alexander Leaw, Director of Perfect Cup Coffee (M) Sdn Bhd which is the franchisee of Pacific Coffee Company in Malaysia at the launch with COO, F&B division, Pacific Coffee (Holdings) Ltd, Mr Jonathan Somerville.
BLOGPOST –> www.rebeccasaw.com/pacific-coffee-opens-here-in-malaysia/

Today, 4 years later, I stood and watched almost the same people cutting the ribbon at the launch of Melaka 1st Pacific Coffee Flagship Store @ Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall! :)

However the Melaka outlets are under the Hatten group; SkyWin Brand Management which plans to open 5 more Pacific Coffee Company outlets in the city centre of Melaka within the next 3 years.
SkyWin Brand Management also aims to establish Pacific Coffee as one of Melaka’s top favorite coffee house.

ABOVE: Edwin Tan, Hatten Group’s CEO said in his speech during the launch; “At Hatten, besides developing Melaka’s retail and lifestyle landscape, we strongly believe in contributing to the community by enhancing the local way of life. By bringing Pacific Coffee into Melaka, Hatten hopes to spread message in support of the consumption of organic free trade coffee beans.”

After the launch formalities, we treated with the guest appearance of Pacific Coffee coffee ambassador, Mike Yung who gave a demonstration of Pacific Coffee’s Crema Scura blend made from 100% organic, fair trade coffee beans sourced from Costa Rica and Guatemala.
This blend is popular as it is well balanced and full-bodied. It’s nutty aroma and creamy caramel texture plus a warm dark chocolate finish makes it an excellent single shot (espresso) beverage or as a base for added milk drinks.

The Pacific Coffee Company flagship store is located along the tree-lined boulevard of Jalan Merdeka, Melaka’s main business and entertainment avenue, a perfect location for both leisure and business people.
The duplex cafe offers a lovely cozy ambiance with plenty of sunshine for both its indoor and outdoor seating.

An outdoor-sy person, I chose to sit outside facing the open field of Dataran Pahlawan as I sip my coffee and tuck into some pastries during the launch. It was tranquil and I can imagine myself lost in my writing for hours here.
Yes I know where to chill on my next trip to Melaka now!

And of course, great service does make all the difference in the Pacific Coffee experience.

Congrats again to the Hatten Group on their latest project and thank you for having me during this auspicious occasion! :)

Pacific Coffee Melaka Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
BX-001A & G-003A
Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall,
Jalan Merdeka
75000 Bandar Hilir Melaka, Malaysia
Telephone Number : +06 282 1812
Mon – Thur : 10am -10pm
Friday – Sunday/Public Holiday : 10am – 12am

Pacific Coffee Hatten Square
G-001 & G-001a
Ground Floor, Hatten Square,
Jalan Merdeka Bandar Hilir,
75000 Melaka
Telephone Number : +606 2821 436
Fax Number : +606 281 6920
Friday – Sunday/Public Holiday : 10am – 11pm

After numerous trips to Melaka, I finally tracked down Grace from East & West Rendezvous Café. Though her shop is in the Jonker vicinity it is off the more popular stretch of Jonker and hence the difficulty of finding it.
I had to call her personally many times for directions and was near giving up but the need to try her famous Nyonya chang (glutinous rice dumplings) kept me motivated to go on yet another circle around Jonker to find her shop. LOL!

When I finally got to her shop (which was pretty non-descriptive and that didn’t help at all) I sat down heavily in exhaustion. The Melaka traffic and heat could really get on your nerves.
Grace was quick to suggest a chendol to cool down and I couldn’t agree fast enough.

But the real reason why I’m here is for her Nyonya chang. I had blogged about 4 “famous” nyonya chang in Melaka  (Read about it here –> http://www.rebeccasaw.com/nyonya-chang-nyonya-dumplings-in-melaka/)  and I had remained unimpressed.
There were another 3 that I sampled on a previous trip but the pictures went missing so til I locate them I won’t be able to share them here.

But all other Nyonya chang cease to matter for now.
The one here by Grace is expensive even for KL standards at RM5.00 but it is excellent.
It is medium-sized but the contents are generous so the price is justified (for me at least it is). It very well made too, the rice is soft throughout and it was packed with meat, mushrooms and yes, the must-have ingredient – wintermelon.

I had called her earlier to place my orders for the dumplings and I would suggest to you to do the same.
Grace only makes a certain number of these each day and once it is sold out, you would have to return for it another day.
The same goes to her Nyonya kuih, which goes on a rotational basis. On the day we were there, we got to sample these 2 only – ang koo and kuih koci (RM1.00 each).

I have developed a new-found respect for Grace. She had obviously perfected the art of making these dainty, delicate but delicious kuih. From the skin to the fillings, there wasn’t anything to fault.

Let’s not forget her famous Chendol (RM3.00).
Unfortunately after all that photography the chendol had melted and thus was rather diluted by the time we dug into it.
Still we could taste the strong gula melaka (palm sugar) and we loved the fine texture of the ice.
There is a durian version as well and I look forward to trying that in my next visit.

Impressed with her nyonya chang and kuih, we figured that her pineapple tarts could be worth a shot.

We had sampled almost 10 different pineapple tarts around Melaka so we do know what we are looking for in a good pineapple tart.
You can read about the previous pineapples tarts here –> http://www.rebeccasaw.com/pineapple-tarts-in-melaka/.
It will give you a heads-up on which NOT to buy! :)

The round open face ones are typically made from margarine (the crust) while the rolled version (as above) are made with butter. I usually prefer the butter ones but for Grace’s I actually liked both.
The pineapple paste is slightly fibrous with real pineapple bits and it is neither too sweet or sticky. The crust is soft, crumbly and wonderfully fragrant.
Butter pineapple tarts – RM14.90. Original (open face) – RM10.90. 

Seriously I think East & West Rendezvous Café deserves more recognition than the other overrated outlets in Melaka. Grace’s Nyonya chang, kuih, chendol and pineapple tarts are so much more superior and better value for money compared to many other outlets that we have tried.
Do pay East & West Rendezvous Café a visit if you’re ever in Melaka! :)

Directions:
Walk along the small alley between the famous “San Shu Gong” shop and Chung Wah Chicken rice. Go straight, you will pass the entrance to Hard Rock Cafe’s car park on your right and walk on till you see this Cheng Ho Museum.
East & West Rendezvous Café Melaka is right opposite it.

East & West Rendezvous
60, Lorong Hang Jebat,
75200 Melaka.
Tel.: 016-634 6283 (Grace Tan)

Hoohohoo! It’s Christmas soon!

As expected most malls are spectacularly decked out in festive blings and colours.
Giant Christmas trees, flashy lights and loud Christmas carols.. sigh.. everything is so beautiful!
It is also during such festive seasons that I could feel my spirits lifted immediately if I step into a mall.

I guess that’s the objective of the malls as well. Thousands of ringgit are spent each year to make their properties look better than previous years, and whether we realize it or not, it does play a part in injecting the festive cheer and making people happy.
CSR projects are often carried out then too, for as humans we should always remember those in need.

During a recent trip to Melaka, I was at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall during the launch of their Whimsical Christmas 2014.
The launch saw a larger-than-life festive wonderland set up. A ‘Christmas Village’ was created by
decking the entire mall with large, quirky festive baubles.
Striking features include a sparkling forest of whimsical Christmas trees, adorable elf bobble-hats, twinkling fairy lights, enormous gift boxes 2 and the giant ‘WHIMSICAL CHRISTMAS’ display spelled out in light-bulbed letters.
Santa’s hot-rod sleigh is also parked out front at the Main Entrance in Santa’s Grotto, which creates an awesome photo opportunity for the mall’s patrons!

And because this is the season of giving, DPMM is giving shoppers a chance to give back to society with the ‘Wish Upon A Star’ Charity Drive.
The charity chosen is the Hopehaven Centre for Children with Special Needs.
DPMM has invited the special kids to write down their personal Christmas wish list and the
wish lists are displayed at the Main Entrance where generous shoppers can help make a child’s wish
come true by sponsoring a gift.
On Christmas Day, DPMM will deliver the gift to the child as a special surprise!
This initiative started on 15th November 2014 and the charity drive has already received an overwhelming response from the public with nearly all the wish lists taken up and sponsored by generous shoppers.
The event will continue with more wishlists collected from the children.

From families to tourists, young or old, whether you are shopping for gifts or just relaxing during the holidays, DPMM ensures that the ‘Whimsical Christmas’ campaign has something for everyone to enjoy this festive season.

Some of the activities in the mall to look forward to are aerial acrobats perform amazing sky high feats, Christmas caroling, Art & Craft workshop for kids, Meet & Greet with Santa, Christmas Tea Party and while you’re there grab the Christmas Advent Calendar which offers best bargains from the mall’s tenants, everyday during Christmas!

For more information on the ‘Whimsical Christmas’ campaign, please contact our Information Counter
personnel at +606-281 2898 or visit www.dataranpahlawan.com.

Psstt.. I’m heading to Melaka again. Hook me up with some super food ok? :)

Over the weekend locals and foreigners thronged the latest shopping mall in Melaka, The SHORE Shopping Gallery. The launch event treated guests of the mall with an aerobatic lion dance, lucky draws, fashion show and some speeches by the who-&-who of Melaka.

The Shore Melaka is owned by Pelaburan Harta Berhad (PHB), who also owns Nu Sentral KL.
It is also an integration of a comprehensive development that consists of The SHORE Shopping Gallery, The SHORE Resort City, The SHORE Service Residences, the 4-star Swiss Garden International Hotels and the world’s longest Oceanarium Complex.

I slept a night at the 4-star Swiss Garden International Hotel and thought the room was modern, spacious and comfortably enough. The going rate is RM228++ for weekdays (Sun – Thurs).
I’ll cover more on the room later in a separate post (just some images since I didn’t get to use the facilities and was in the hotel for barely more than 10 hours) but I can tell you that the breakfast is decent and the location is central.

Back to The Shore Shopping Gallery.
What exactly is here and what form of recreation are available?

For shopping there is departmental store TANGS, which is a good move considering that other malls within the city has Parkson and Metrojaya.
Brands such Guy Laroche, FOS, Al-ikhsan (fitness), BLUSH, some local stores and ASIAN ONE which offers quirky, presumably hip, local items.

The mall has achieved full occupancy since its soft launch in December 2014 & has 3 major anchor tenants – Hutong Food Gallery (same as Lot 10 KL), TANGS and The Shore Oceanarium, the world’s longest aquarium tunnel & coral reef besides SEA’s maiden 360 degrees view perspective.

This lifestyle-tourism focused shopping space is pretty family-centric, home to over 100 stores, some food and snack stores as well as fun-filled activity-based outlets such as escape room, 6D motion rides and games, all within an area size of 300,000 sq ft.

Foodwise, Sushi Zanmai boast of a perpetual queue (as usual), while Purple Cane offers healthy Chinese dining options. La Bodega, Starbucks, Ninja Joe leaned towards the western variety.

Other attractions include the Promenade by the Melaka River, which will have a landscaped musical fountain, an amphitheatre for both outdoor and indoor events and eateries.
Then the “Broadwalk” is another new feature; a solid pedestrian footpath for visitors to walk along the riverline, serving as an alternative path to Jonker St and other historial sites.
This will be alongside mangrove walkway where visitors can view the mudflats and hopefully sight its occupants; crabs, cockles, shellfishes and small animals.

Address:
The SHORE Shopping Gallery’s location is right on the river cruise/monorail route and opposite the Eye of Malacca, just a short drive away from the heart of Malacca’s historical sites, the well-known Jonker Street and Chinatown where tourists throngs.

No.193, Pinggiran @ Sungai Melaka Jalan Persisiran Bunga Raya,
75100 Melaka.
+606-282-2666
+606-282-0333
info@kerjayaprospek.com
Opening hours: 10.00 am – 10.00 pm
https://www.facebook.com/TheShoreShoppingGallery

Right after I witnessed the launch of The Shore Shopping Gallery, I hopped over to Melaka Alive at Dataran Pahlawan.
Not visible from the main road, this man-made area, stage and constructed ship host a venue specially for local plays.

The aim of the show was to depict the rich history of ancient Melaka but in a interesting manner via voices, dance, clever use of light rays and in full regality of colourful costumes.

For RM35 (adult) and RM20 (kid), you will be entertained with a full 45 minutes theatre play complete with music, decent enough backdrops, clear dictation from the main actor and actress (well at least it was for the one that I watched), music and colourful lights.

If you sit at the front, it also involves a refreshing spray of water several times during the show.

Sounds exciting?
Well, buy your tickets and support these local performers!
I could feel genuine enthusiasm in their performance and they are truly above average (don’t expect Mamma Mia or Puteri Gunung Ledang standards please) in executing their role.

All in all, it is an activity suitable for those who is curious about our local history, which includes both locals and foreigners.

I would recommend it as a family past time, for the young would certainly be intrigued for a good 45 minutes. At the end of the play, a magician showed a few tricks and a few lucky ones from the crowd would be called up to participate.

Melaka Alive currently offers 1 show; Winds of Melaka.
The show is performed nightly for about 45 minutes.

Synopsis of Winds of Melaka :
Set on board a ship inspired stage, the tale of Panglima Awang is brought to life in a play, centred on his life and the invasion of the Portuguese. Combining carefully studied historical facts, live theatre, and the traditional Malay dance with theme park know-how, the play will show the importance of Melaka in Asian trade as well as the invasion of the city.

I forgot to snap a picture but let me attempt to visualize the sitting area for you.
Imagine tiers of benches in an open space with a roof. The unforgiving Melaka heat is dissipated by a gentle breeze. No doubt it would be unbearable in the afternoons but since the show begins daily at 7.30 pm and 9.00 pm, the weather won’t be an issue (unless it rains of course).

I felt that it is quite comfortable for a short performance as the seating arrangements are just plain benches with no back to lean on.
The sound system was adequate to carry the voices til the back of the last row from stage.

All in all, the play refreshes the mind of our local history and done in way less painful than picking up a history book.

More info:

Venue: Melaka Alive, Jalan Parameswara, Bandar Hilir, Melaka, Malaysia.
TICKET: http://www.melakaalive.com.my/ticket.php
Adult: MyKad RM35, no MyKad RM45
Child: 4 – 12 years RM20 (MyKad), RM28 (no MyKad)
Child 3 years old and below or 90 cm below is free.

More info:
http://www.melakaalive.com.my/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Melaka-Alive/

‪Melaka‬ today has more to offer than merely food and Jonker Walk.

Both may still be the first and foremost focus when one plans a trip to Melaka, but I’m telling you now that your itinerary should include the Nyonya Memoirs IF you are in the historical city on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

I’m a cynical 30+ old woman, whose interests are solely shopping, food and sports. As a popular influencer I’ve had my fair share of media trips to numerous countries, and had sat through countless theatre shows.

Nyonya Memoirs is not The House on Dancing Water, nor is it Moulin Rouge or Nanda, but for the ticket price and within the budget and limitation of talent and space, Nyonya Memoirs certainly hold its own.

Expect the unexpected, for this isn’t your typical sit-down show and may require a bit of moving about.
Fret not though, for if you are prone to wearing high heels like me, or just feeling plain lazy, movements can be minimal.
Should you wish to remain inert, no one would chastise you either.

In fact, you are even invited to have tea halfway through the show!

BELOW: Beware of some touching and painful scenes that will leave you with a lump in your throat.

I have had low expectations, yet found myself intrigued with the show nonetheless.
The plot is almost cliche; the ending predictable, but the set up, the flow of the performance as well as the ernest execution of roles by the actors are commendable.

I enjoyed myself during the 45 minutes (thereabouts) performance, and walked away with a sense of pride that this is locally produced show and is certainly not a bad way of spending a hot afternoon in Melaka.

Besides, one has to stop eating at some point right?

Take a break and stroll the 600 meters set of Nyonya Memoirs, beginning with a walk down memory lane just right after the ticket entrance.
It is designed to take on the look and feel of old town Melaka and the decor, lighting, furniture and props are centered on the tradition and customs of the Baba Nyonyas.

The performance itself is played out in a mix of Mandarin and Peranakan dialect. I’m a banana (Chinese with no knowledge of the language) but I managed through the facial expressions of the actors and the subtitles provided on screen.

I won’t spoil it further for all of you but rest assured that it is sufficiently entertaining for the young, the very young, the old and the hipsters.

Nyonya Memoirs is Hatten’s Group 1st foray into the Art and Cultural sector and this RM8 million project aims to highlight the local culture as well as to promote appreciation for Melaka’s Peranakan Heritage.

The Hatten Group is certainly transforming tourism for both locals & foreigners. The inspiration for this project is in line with the State Government’s goals to promote Melaka as a historical city and is expected to draw in an estimate of 500,000 additional tourists to Melaka, supporting Melaka’s 2015 State Tourism plans.

BELOW: Sneak peek of the Nyonya Memoirs set:

So do come to enjoy the 1st ever fully interactive live theatre production Nyonya Memoirs; and cap off the entire Peranakan experience with a stay in Estadia by Hatten, a luxury Peranakan home-style boutique accommodation.
Estadia is connected to Hatten Hotel, which is in turn linked to Terminal Pahlawan as well Melaka’s biggest mall – Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall.
Terminal Pahlawan is relatively new for now, but I see the potential of it being an air-conditioned Jonker Street, with most of its outlets offering popular local delicacies, local souvenirs, traditional wear and knick-knacks similarly to the infamous street.

The new Terminal Pahlawan:
Check out the Teddy Bear Cafe!

What to buy: Food, clothes, traditional garb and modern wear.

Another aspect of Terminal Pahlawan that I like – there are Peranakan decorative elements along the Melaka’s first indoor ‘heritage street’ connecting Estadia to the mall and each of these traditional item includes a short narration/backgound which really helps to instill better understanding of them.

Personally I think lighting should be less dim and hopefully more shops are opening soon to transform the entire “heritage street” to be as lively as it should be.

There is a food court within as well, and I look forward to it being fully operational soon. It would be great if it offers good Peranakan food and snacks under one roof – mayhap something like our Hutong?

Sypnosis:

Nyonya Memoirs spins the a fateful tale of a young couple where (female lead) Bao Zhu, who hails from a wealthy, established Nyonya family fell in love and accepts the proposal from the love of her life, Zhang Min, a poor, common Baba.
Their engagement was frowned upon as Bao Zhu’s powerful and prominent family forbids the union.
Divided by their social differences and driven to the deepest depths of heartache, can the true love between Bao Zhu and Zhang Min rise above to conquer all?

Nyonya Memoirs:
Showtime: Every Fri, Sat, Sun 4pm or 8pm
Tics: Adult: RM98 (promo 66)
Child: (7-15 yrs) RM49 (promo 33)
MyKad holders: Adult RM52, Child RM26
VENUE: Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall

Out of the many cafes at Melaka one that is worth visiting is The Huskitory Cafe.

Its location isn’t as convenient as Taman Asean is quite a drive away (about 20 minutes from Jonker area) from Malacca city but its unique disposition makes it a novelty.

After all, how many dog cafes are there in Malaysia?
Maybe 4 -5 in the Klang Valley but none are huskies-specific. And for Melaka, this is the only pet cafe (no cat cafes as yet) in the state.

Huskitory is primarily a pet store and pet grooming salon.
There are 9 huskies here for patrons to play with they are on rotation. Reservations are a must for weekends/PH (heard it is fully booked for weeks now), but it is quiet on weekdays, which makes it the best time for visits as you do not have to jostle with the other patrons for your playtime with the dogs.

I was there on a Wednesday and only 3 tables were occupied, including ours.
There is no minimum order imposed and food and beverages options are limited to cakes and drinks/coffee.
We ordered a drink and added a peanut butter & jam mille crepe (mille crepes are everywhere in Melaka!).
I’m not a fan of Nadeje, but these were not any better.

But we are not here for the cakes. The coffee is Nespresso which it is of acceptable standard.
Food on the menu is for dogs, which I’m assuming that if you bring your furkids, that would be your kiddo’s meal.

I posted some pictures on my FB and Instagram and some of my friends/ followers asked if the huskies are for sale.
Well, they are not. Privately owned, the huskies are just playmates for the patrons of Huskitory Cafe.

Feeding time is 5-6pm or 7-8 pm daily. This is the time you can see all the huskies at once.
We were there at 12 pm to about 2pm so we missed the feeding hour. The huskies are not running freely in the cafe though.
The first session is 1.30pm where one husky was released into the cafe. Yes, only one.

This is Candy, a 2 year old female Husky. She isn’t excessively playful but friendly enough for you to hug and give chest rubs. This is obviously a safe playground for kids but under adult supervision of course.

The environment is cosy and the service friendly. Clear explanations were provided when Candy came out so the patrons know the do and don’ts of managing the dog.

Coffee: RM8.90
Mille crepe: RM9.90
WIFI: YES.
Tax: No.
Service: Good and helpful.
Ambiance: Comfortable.
Parking : Roadside. Easy.

The Huskitory
27, JALAN TAMAN ASEAN, TAMAN ASEAN,
75250 Malacca City, Malaysia
Hours: Tue-Sun: 12:30 pm-10:30 pm
+6063342602

http://www.facebook.com/huskitory

Since Melaka is known for its nyonya food, is it understandable that anything with the label “nyonya” (which includes nyonya kuih and nyonya “chang/ glutinous rice dumplings are most sought-after here.

If you don’t already know, Nyonya glutinous rice dumpling is an entirely dissimilar variant to the regular Cantonese chang (or any other other rice dumplings for that matter).
It has its own distinctive flavour since it uses specific ingredients and spices.

In my opinion the addition of candied wintermelon is a must; since traditional recipes does and that’s what gave it the sweet-savoury element.
Sadly I find that it is usually omitted now. I don’t like the taste and smell myself but a bit does gives the nyonya chang its characteristic taste.

I have blogged about 4 different nyonya dumplings that I tried in the past (Link –> Baba Charlie, Sin Yong Seng, Pohpiah Lwee and Nancy’s Kitchen) and today I’m adding another 4 more to the list.
These four are “less commercialized” ones; made at home by aunties and in limited quantities. However, with sufficient heads-up, you can order up to a few hundred dumplings.

I’ve known and tried these changs (with exception of Michelle Soo’s) about a year back, but I got caught up with other postings and neglected to write about them.
Thus on this trip (Sept 2015) I have decided to re-visit all of them again to take fresh pictures and to update the taste, price and location for all of you.

Enjoy my thoughts and pictures below!

**************************************************************************************************************************

1. Mrs Sim Nyonya Chang  (Taman Bukit Serindit)
Biggest of the 4 here. Tied with hemp/bamboo strings.
Price: RM4.3o each
Fillings: This was between Mrs Lim’s chang and Mei Xin chang. Not too sweet, big in portion with generous amount of meat and there’s a decent hint of spices in the taste.
No candied wintermelon added or we couldn’t detect it in BOTH (we bought 2 to be sure) dumplings we ate.
Rice: Soft and evenly cooked through.

BELOW: Left is Mrs Sim’s, the one which is the focus now. (Right is Mrs Lim’s – the not recommended one).

Closer shot of the fillings. It’s good!

Address: 22-A Jalan BSJ1, Taman Bukit Serindit Jaya (beside Asian Heritage Residence), 75400 Melaka.
Waze: Not on waze.
Contact: 06 – 284 3030/ 017-688 5392
Off: No off days, just call to check.

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2. Mrs Lim Nyonya Chang (Bukit Serindit Jaya)
Smallest of the 4.
Tied with red rafia strings.
Price: RM4.00
Fillings: Sweetest, a bit too sweet in fact.
No candied wintermelon added or we couldn’t detect it in BOTH (we bought 2 to be sure) dumplings we ate. Very mild spice flavour.
The ONLY nice thing to say of this chang? The meat pieces are chunkier compared to the rest.
Rice: Soft and well cooked through.

BELOW: On the right is Mrs Lim, the one being described now. (Left is as above – Mrs Sim).

BELOW: The meat were dry and stringy.

Note: She is a grumpy old lady. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Not only her chang were below par, her house is one of the most difficult one to find! I am certainly not buying anymore from her.

Address: 106E, Jalan Lim Cheng Hoon, Taman Bukit Serindit, 75400 Melaka.
Waze “Jalan Lim Cheng Hoon”. It is a long road that branches off to a right and left turning at one point. Can be confusing so do call if you can’t find it.
Contact: 06 – 283 4734/ 012-282 7293
Off: During CNY only.

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3. Kedai Kopi Mei Xin/ Mei Xin Cafe
Medium size compared to the rest.
Price: RM4.50
Fillings: My pick (2nd to Michelle’s) since it has better flavours. It’s not just one dimensionally sweet and it has strong taste of spices.
Both Sim’s and Lim’s changs has only meat (or rather the ones that I bought) while Mei Xin’s has added mushrooms and candied wintermelon.
Another positive point; Mei Sin coffeeshop is right in town.

Rice: Soft and evenly cooked through.
On a previous trip the rice texture was perfect but for this particular batch the rice was a bit mushy.

Address: Jalan Bunga Raya, opposite from The Shore and beside Renaissance Hotel.
Waze for “Mei Sin Cafe”.
Contact: NA. The coffeeshop is open daily from 7am.
Off day: To be advised. I forgot.

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4. Michelle Soo (017-6995750.)
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/Authentic-Nyonya-Chang
Price: RM5.00 (bought at her home).Check her FB page for her KL deliveries.
She makes pineapple tarts, kaya, kee chang (alkaline dumpling) and some other kuih too.

Fillings: The best among the 9 (nine) changs listed here. Generous fillings of lean pork, candied wintermelon, beanpaste (taucu) & spices.
Rice: Soft and evenly cooked through. Wonderful blue color too.

Address: Kampung house just across the road from Aunty Koh and SK Bukit Rambai.
Waze for “SK Bukit Rambai”. Once you reach the school or Aunty Koh’s stall, call her for directions to her house.
Contact: 017 699 5750
Off: No off days, just call to check.

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5. East & West Rendezvous Cafe
Medium size.
Price: RM5.00
Fillings: Generous and packed with meat, mushrooms and yes, the must-have ingredient – candied wintermelon. Sufficient scent of spices too.
Rice: Soft and evenly cooked through.

Address: 60, Lorong Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.
Waze for “East West Rendezvous”
Contact: 016-634 6283 (Grace Tan).
Off: No particular off day. Please call to check.

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5. Joo Huat Nyonya Chang Melaka
Medium size.
Price: RM5.00
Fillings: Quite horrible. Meager fillings, only meat, no mushrooms, candied wintermelon and barely any discernible spice flavour.
Rice: Too firm to the point of hard.
Other changs: Red bean (RM1.80), Kee chang (RM1.20), Bak Chang (RM5), Bak Chang with salted egg (RM6).

Address: 6, Kampung Hulu 75200 Melaka
Waze: To be updated.
Contact: 06 – 2843782. 012 – 660 0007 . Open everyday.
Off: No off days, just call to check.

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For the next 4 nyonya dumplings as below, please find the detailed review here –> http://www.rebeccasaw.com/nyonya-chang-nyonya-dumplings-in-melaka/

6. Sin Yong Seng
101, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho
75000 Melaka
Contact: o12 – 681 5858/019 666 7588

7. Pohpiah Lwee Coffeeshop
14 Jalan Kubu
75200 Malaysia
(Near Jonker Street)
NO contact number.

8. Nancy’s Kitchen
7, Jalan Hang Lekir, Off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock,
75200, Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 6-283 6099
Mon, Wed, Thus, Sun: 11:00 am-5:00 pm
Fri/Sat: 11:00 am-9:00 am
Off : Tues.

9. Baba Charlie Nyonya Cake
72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2,
Melaka.
Phone : 06-2847209/6019-6662907
Business hour : 10am-4pm. Daily except Thursday

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CONCLUSION: My personal pick – Michelle Soo, Mei Xin cafe and Rendevous.

So, did I miss out any good nyonya chang/rice dumpling in Melaka?
Do let me know if I did via FB/Insta/email/leave me a comment.
I’ll be in Melaka in 2 weeks’ time and I’ll look for it!

PS: Recommendations of a unique, good AirBnB stays, boutique hotels, hotels needed so please share if you know of it worth checking out.

You know what they say about not knowing what is truly excellent until you have had the best?

I’m not of Nyonya origin so I can’t claim to know or have grown up feasting on authentic Nyonya food.
I could however, recognize mediocre food. And I do have many Malaccan/ true blue Nyonya friends who lunched with me in various nyonya restaurants in Melaka.

Their verdict matched me for the restaurants below, which are “mediocre, commercialized, not worth the price paid“. We did take into consideration the labour, rent and overall cost of running a business; but the conclusion remained, most Nyonya restaurants in Melaka overprice their food.

Before I go on, I’ll have to declare that I AM AWARE that there are many different recipes and slight variations in every Nyonya family’s recipes for a particular dish.
However, I would argue that at the very basic level, some ingredients are necessary and a level of acceptability in taste is in order.

With that in mind, I’ve (with local Malaccan in tow) visited and dined at the outlets as below:
1. Makko
2. Nyonya Sayang (Jalan TMR 21, Taman Melaka Raya)
3. Ole Sayang (Taman Melaka Raya)
4. Donald & Lily’s
5. Nancy’s kitchen
6. Song Nyonya Taste Cuisine
7. Aunty Lee (when she was still cooking – many years back)
8. Amy Heritage
9. Unicorn Cafe

Other than Unicorn Cafe, there are 2 other restaurants that was decent – Nyonya Sayang and Aunty Lee.

But those visits was sometime ago; while Unicorn Cafe is a recent discovery. After my meal here, I don’t think I’ll be spending my money in any of the other Nyonya restaurants in Melaka anymore.

Unicorn Cafe offers a great package; authentic Nyonya food at wallet-friendly prices in fair portions with an accessible location.

This cosy cafe comes with a heartwarming story too, but I would encourage you to discover that during your visit.
The people behind the cafe are affable and open, so don’t be a stranger when you are here. Feedback are welcomed and no doubt praises too.

We were in a big group so ordering almost every dish on the menu was possible. Well, ALMOST.

A simple one pager listed out their offerings, but look out for their signatures such as Kuah Lada Ikan (as far as they know, they are the only outlet offering this in Melaka), Babi Assam and their amazingly tasty, thick Babi Pongteh, coincidentally one of the best I’ve tasted so far.

1. Nyonya Popiah (RM5.50 set of 2 rolls).
This was one of the most satisfying popiah I’ve had for a long time.
It was lusciously stuffed with everything that matters – turnips cooked to the right degree; not too soft or undercooked, beansprouts, egg and diced beancurd wrapped in a thin egg skin.
The skin is lined with a film of house-made sweet sauce (tim cheong) and chilli, just enough for taste and thus not overly sweet or spicy.
Fried shallots, a dash of pork lard plus chunky pieces of pork lard added overall fragrance and flavour.

Unlike the common popiah sold in Klang Valley which are bland and rely solely on the sweet plus chilli sauce for taste, these rolls are delish on the merits on its ingredients.

2. Nyonya Laksa (RM5.50)
As the bowl was set down on the table my eyes widen in shock. Whoa, all that for RM5.50??
As I dug in, I realized this could easily feed two. And yes, I love cockles and these are as fresh as they look.
The punchy gravy is the result of a myriad of spices prepared fresh in-house and cooked in the freshest coconut milk. It was balanced in both spice and richness, delivering a most gratifying bowl of Nyonya Laksa.

3. Babi Asam (RM9.90 – set meal) – sliced pork cooked with tamarind sauce.
This was a first for me.
I was delighted with the unusual blend of tang and sweetness of the thick gravy. You can request for either lean cuts or those with some fat as you see below.
I prefer the half-fat-half-lean cuts as below, for these deliver both tender meat and soft fats gratification with each chew.

4. Pongteh Babi (RM9.90 – set meal) – pork meat stew in taucheo, potatoes and chinese mushrooms.
This is an excellent pongteh and I’ve yet to savour one as aromatic, thick and cheap as this bowl.
For RM9.90 (with rice!) there were 3-4 thick pieces of meat (with thick fat layers as how it should be) with mushrooms.

All too often the Pong Teh I eat at self-proclaimed nyonya restaurants are watery and just plain sweet. The gravy lacked aromatics and the rich flavour from the spices.
That shouldn’t be the case. A good pongteh gravy should be thick, brown with substance broken down from the taucheo, potatoes and spices, not thin and watery.

Thus the elements of an excellent pong teh starts with its thick gravy with balanced caramel sweetness from quality gula melaka tinged with the saltiness of taucheo. The meat should be tender but still with some bite, the potatoes soft but not mushy.

This dish needs the fat from the pork to accentuate the overall flavour, and will not taste the same with a dry slab of lean pork.

UPDATE: This dish below is meant for sharing.

This is the set (RM9.90) I’ve had on my 3rd visit on Oct 20th.
It has about 3-4 pieces of pork, some mushrooms and potatoes.

The gravy and overall flavours are still spot on.

5. Kuah Lada Ikan (RM9.90 – set meal).
It was difficult to describe the gravy as it is truly complex. A mix of freshly grounded peppercorn, spices and turmeric in coconut milk, it carries a peppery heat plus multi-facet fieriness from the spices coupled with the richness of creamy coconut milk.
It calls for rice, and I concur that it is certainly best enjoyed with a bowl of hot carbs.
Stingray is used here, and you can expect 1-2 pieces of fish with each order.

6. Seh Bak ((RM9.90 – set meal) – sliced pork marinated with herbs and spices.
While the earlier Babi Assam is sharp and sweet, this is a more familiar braised pork dish. The flavour carries a tinge of cinnamon with the saltiness from the soy sauce.
Likewise for this dish, you can opt for lean or mixed fat-lean cuts.

7. Pai Tee (set of 5 – RM4.00)
Pie tees are a perennial favourite of many due to it bite sized convenience and also for the crunch from the dainty pie tee shells or otherwise known as top hats.

I’m not a fan since I don’t fancy additional calories from fried items but these ones are good; fried to a crisp minus the grease and filled generously with similar filings as the popiah.

8. Lemak Sayur – this is the vegetables of the day which comes with the set meal we ordered but since we ordered so many sets, this was served in a big bowl instead of numerous smaller servings.
I love this as it was satisfying creamy yet not overly so. The gravy adds taste to the vegetables, but the greens retained its texture and flavours.

9. Chendol (RM3.50).

This is the best RM3.50 chendol in Melaka.
I love my Justberry’s chendol with durian ice cream but for RM3.50, this bowl has all aspects of a good chendol covered; rich coconut milk tinged with saltiness, thick aromatic gula melaka, fresh green jellies and soft SMALL red beans.
I’m fussy about red beans and I’m of opinion that kidney beans are a no-no.

UPDATE: 3rd visit on 29th Oct 2015.
Still as good – finely shaven ice, gooey palm sugar, fresh jellies, soft red beans and creamy coconut milk.  It melts really quick though, so slurp it up in haste!

10. Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang. RM7.90.

This was from my 3rd visit and apart from the pongteh, popiah and chendol, I ordered the nasi lemak.

The sambal is on the sweet side, the anchovies thin, fresh and crunchy and the rice redolent with coconut milk. In fact, the rice was excellent enough on its own.

The chicken rendang was a tad salty for me though.

All in all, after 3 visits (2 with food, once for drinks) I must say I’m pleased with the overall ambience, service and food here.
I’m definitely actively recommending friends and readers to Unicorn Cafe.
However, I’m not in Melaka all the time and I would welcome any feedback from any visitor to Unicorn Cafe. Let me know if you agree with the food and if not, where else is better?
Your family’s home-cooked version doesn’t count (unless you are inviting me over for a meal lol!). It has to be something available commercially to the public.

Unicorn Cafe
626 JALAN MR 10, TAMAN MELAKA RAYA,
75000 MELAKA, Malaysia
Contact: 0163425365
HOURS: Mon-Wed: 10:30 am-4:30 pm
Fri-Sun: 10:30 am-4:30 pm

Prices: Affordable. RM10 – RM30.

Pork-free/Halal: Serves PORK.
WIFI: Yes.
Tax: No.
Service: Warm and helpful.Your orders are served to you.
Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.
Outdoor seating: No.
Powerpoints for charging: Limited (indoors).
Parking : Roadside. Easy.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

There isn’t many (or is there any at all) outlets in Melaka that offers Nyonya peranakan food economy rice style.
In most Nyonya restaurants in Melaka, you are hard-pressed to dine in a group and to order many dishes in order to sample the variety.

Set lunches such as the ones available in the best Nyonya restaurants in Melaka such Bulldog Cafe (pork-free) and Unicorn Cafe (serves pork) are limited to ONE dish per set.

Here at Kafe Lins’, there are approximately 15 dishes daily to choose from during lunch. If you are dining in a group you can opt to order dishes based on the number of pax; and that can start from as low as one pax serving or up to well, any amount available.

BELOW: Lunchtime – food displayed in food warmers.

BELOW: Braised pork belly, salted egg yolk chicken, mixed vegetables, chilli garam babi (pork).

BELOW: Pongteh, chicken curry, Gerang Asam Ikan, Pork rib rendang, Buah Keluak Babi (pork).
There are more dishes of course, but I didn’t snap a shot of every dish.

There were 2 of us and we were famished so we shared 5 dishes with rice. Each dish serving is for ONE pax. The total bill came up to about RM17, inclusive of one chendol and 2 ice water (RM0.80 for 2).

Now this wouldn’t have been possible in other Nyonya restaurants as those establishments would only serve in (S) – small, (M) medium, or (L) large portions.
The prices will be RM10 – RM20++ per serving (S, M or L) so that would be heavy on the wallet and quite impossible for those dining alone or 2-3 small eaters.

The food however has it hits and misses. No doubt every dish are wholesome home-cooked recipes but for the price paid, expectations should be set right to begin with.

The pongteh was watery and overly sweet. We were told white sugar was used, not gula melaka.
The chendol was bad by our standards; coarse ice, watery and lacking in coconut milk.

That said, the rest of the items we tried were good (for the price).
We had chilli garam babi (pork), pongteh babi, Rendang Pai Kut (pork rib), Buah Kelauk Babi and stewed jicama.

Aunty Lin served us some of the Ayam Kari Limau Purut gravy to try and we liked it that too. A big lunch group emptied the pot of bubur cha cha or else I would have ordered a bowl as I’ve overheard positive remarks about it over lunch.

All in all Kafe Lins’ is a good choice for those seeking variety but are dining in a small group (2-3 pax) or anyone who is looking for cheap and reasonably authentic Nyonya food.

Conclusion:
A humble cafe away from city centre (about 10 minutes drive) serving home-cooked, no frills food. Prices are reasonable for the quality.

MAP: Unfortunately it is difficult to find this place as it is NOT on Waze. However you can Waze yourself to “Food Court Limbongan Kompleks Niaga Limbongan” (below on the map as “MBMB Food Court“) and then follow the map as below.

NOTE:
11:30am to 1:30 pm is lunch time and the dishes available are as above.
For later hours (2pm – 8:30pm) you can order dishes ala-carte. Check out the menu as below.

Kafe Lin’s
Lin : 016 – 222 7762
Raymond: 016 – 626 5681
73, Jalan Kristal 1
Taman Limbongan Indah
75200 Melaka.
CLOSE: Wednesday
Hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm.

While local and Nyonya food is the preferred choice for those visiting Melaka, there is no reason to shy away from western cuisine, especially if the food is adeptly prepared using premium ingredients (think imported beef, ribs, homemade soups and burger patties) and priced much, much cheaper than outlets in KL/Singapore prices.

In fact, in Wok and Pan you can enjoy the best of both worlds, for the owner are as well versed in local and Nyonya cuisine as he is with rack of ribs and ribeyes.

This is my second meal at Wok and Pan but my first in their “new” outlet.
A popular and established name in Melaka, it wasn’t difficult to know what to order as every online review approved of their ribs and steaks.
We duly ordered both as well as a salad, a mushroom soup and a pork burger.
I was keen to try the Nyonya items as well, but since we lacked manpower to devour everything, we settled for just an oyster omelette.

Verdict: Overall the meal was satisfying. Recommended!
Prices are incredibly fair for the portions.

Bits and pieces about Wok and Pan:
Wok & Pan East Meets West Cuisine Restaurant was established since year 2005.
The owner and also the chef of this restaurant was the ex-Executive Chef for Melaka Renaissance Hotel. His skills covers both western and Nyonya preparation and thus the restaurant is named Wok and Pan; with ” Wok” in reference to Asian style food while “Pan” is about western cuisine.

My tip: Don’t ever skip the ribs! A similar size (and most likely not as well prepared) rack would set you back about RM60 – RM100 in KL.

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In comparison to Wok and Pan had fed hungry Malaccans and tourists since 2005, Nubacha Artisan Steakhouse opened its doors in 2013.

However, based on our dinner that evening, Nubacha is worth a try.

Bubba Steak : Pork and Beef – RM39.90 : succulent, thick beef perfectly medium rare as requested and tender, juicy pork belly.
The marinade for both is perfect and we enjoyed the roasted potatoes and side salad as well; for both were not just careless addition, but well executed sides.
The generous portion also translate to value for money, and this would feed a grown man comfortably.

Beef Stew : RM19.20 –

Pork Burger: RM14.90 – This is one of the best pork burger I’ve ever had for the price.
Almost similar in value is Nambawan in Taman Sri Manja PJ, but Nubacha’s pork burger boasts of a thicker, tastier patty with better side elements of fresh vegetables, fluffy bun, thick slice of pork bacon as well as their own sauce.

The gracious owner served us their special that evening; a jumbo lamb shank that looked really promising.
However it fell short on the taste as the stew was bland though the meat was tender.

Decent garlic bread to pair with the soup.

We rounded up dinner with their freshly baked Apple Crumble (RM5.20) was amazingly good both in taste and value.
Our eyes nearly popped out when we saw this.
Gosh, we can’t even get ONE scoop of ice cream for that price in KL! Here RM5.20 got us 2 big orbs of vanilla ice cream plus an excellent version of apple crumble with delightful crunchy crumbles as well as soft, not overly sweet cooked apples.
It was a lovely end to our lovely meal!

Service is extremely slow here though the staff were extremely friendly and pleasant.
I would caution against arriving any later than 7. 30 pm, especially on weekends. We were seated by 6:30 pm or so and every dish still took 15-30 minutes to be served.
However, the steak, the pork burger and the apple crumble made the wait worthwhile.
Yes, just like Wok and Pan, I would definitely return.

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Wok and Pan
Address: 22G, Jalan Sultan Nuku, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 17-673 8896
Hour: 12 – 3pm, 6 – 10pm
Off day: Monday
Prices: RM10 onwards.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.
Tax: 6%, no service charge.
Service: Don’t expect too much.
Your orders are served to you.
Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.
Outdoor seating: Yes.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.
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2. nubacha Artisan Steakhouse Restaurant
Address: 8B, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho,
Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: 011-2888 2182
Hour: Tue-Sun: 12:00 pm-3:00 pm, 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
Off day: Monday
Prices: RM20 and above for mains.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.
Tax: No GST, service charge 5%.
Service: Warm and helpful service.
Your orders are served to you.
Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.
Outdoor seating: No.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

Kuih keria is one of my “must-eat” items whenever I am in Melaka.

Yes, I don’t post about it as much as nyonya kuih and all my cafe hopping pictures. But the kuih keria here is truly one of its kind.
The keria in KL?
Urgh, none that I know of could even come close.

Now, if you do know of a place in KL/PJ that sells amazing kuih keria similar to the thickly palm sugar crusted keria in Melaka, please share ok?

Back to the best kuih keria in Melaka.

As far as I know there are the famous Haji Jalil one that is near the mosque.
My favourite however, is this one –> “Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Hjh Rahman.”

This is a little further down the road from the famous Haji Jalil. The price is the same, RM0.50 each and it has its own legion of fans too.
The queue began even before the kuih are ready.

Those who are early are allowed to write down their orders and they will be provided a number.
No paper, no tags. Just remember your number and have a drink or enjoy a bowl of laksa or roti bakar while you wait.
When the kuih is finally ready for sale, queue up for your turn and tell the fella your number.

Your precious heavy sugar crusted sweet potato rings will be packed into a paper bag. You can then pay for your order.

It is best enjoyed while it is hot, but even if it cooled down or eaten a day later (not sure if it is any later than that since none of our purchase last beyond a day) the crust remained pleasantly crispy and the inner flesh delightfully soft.

If you balk at the thought of biting into a sugar crusted sweet potato donut (essentially what kuih keria is) because of its potential calories, I can’t deny the fact that it is not exactly a low calorie snack.
However I could assure you that the sugar crust, daunting as it looks, isn’t saccharinely flat-out sweet but it is more of a toffee, burnt caramel sweetness.

The high ratio of sweet potato to flour also translates to better taste and chew.

BELOW:
At the back of the kitchen of Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Hjh Rahman Choo (my friend and guide) found this old lady shaping each kuih keria by hand. So I went to the back to take a look. This old lady was quiet (she hardly spoke) but allowed photos.

The lady frying the kuih keria on the other hand rather unpleasantly scolded me.
Anyhow she said photos ok, no videos.  I cropped her out of the photo.

There are more than one kuih keria business in Melaka and Kuih Keria Antarabangsa Haji Jalil is usually the first choice whenever kuih keria was mentioned.

I however, wasn’t as fond of Kuih Keria Antarabangsa Haji Jalil. My pick has been Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Hjh Rahman since 2 years ago when I stumbled upon their old stall somewhere along the road during my search for kuih keria.
It was a fortunate find, for we went to Haji Jalil after that, and was able to compare both.

BELOW: Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Hjh Rahman – 2 years ago.
1. Small stall shared with another business.
2. Bottles of drinks on the table that was found nowhere else in the Klang Valley.
3. Friendly owners and staff.
4. Delicious laksa and best kuih keria.

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In comparison, I find Haji Jalil’s kuih keria to be sweeter and the filling less of sweet potato taste.
I suspect perhaps Haji Jalil’s version has higher ratio of flour.

Anyhow, try them both and judge for yourself.
My pick is Hjh Rahman. Yours might or might not be the same.
Either way, enjoy the kuih keria because it is hard work to make them.

General recipe for Kuih Keria: (just to give you an idea of how it is made).
You can google for actual recipes.

First of all, you have to start with fresh sweet potatoes.
Steam them and mash them up (minus skin) while it is still hot.
Make sure the potato is totally cooled down before mixing it with the flour. Mix well.

The dough is expectedly sticky so just dust your hands with flour as you work on shaping each doughnut.
Form the dough into a ring by rolling each portion of batter into a log and joining both ends together to form a ring.
Once you have used up all your batter, heat up the wok with cooking oil.

Drop each dough rings into the oil. Once they turned crispy brown scoop them up and set them aside preferably elevated from any surface and allowing excess oil to drip down.

To prepare the sugar coating, boil gula melaka in a wok or saucepan until the mixture turns into a thick syrup.
Turn off the heat and quickly add the fried sweet potato into the syrup before it cools down too much and harden.
The idea is to get the doughnut coated with the syrup and allow it to harden as crust on the rings itself!

The kuih keria is ready for consumption (or for sale) once the sugar coating has crystallized.

Enjoy!

BELOW: Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Haji Jalil offers more options. I tried almost every one of the kuih sold here and found them not to my liking.

1. Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Hjh Rahman.
Close on Fridays.
Hours: 1.30pm till finish.
Address: Waze for “Kuih Keria Antarabangsa (Hjh Rahman)”
Street: Jalan Limbongan Permai 1.

2. Kuih Keria Antarabangsaw Haji Jalil.
Close on Fridays.
Hours: 1.00pm till finish.
Address: Waze for “”Kuih Keria Antarabangsa Hj Jalil )”
Street: Jalan Limbongan.