lifestyle 15
The Malay Mail Tuesday 16 AUGUST, 2011
Exquisite East Coast tastes
By CHE'AZ cheaz@mmail.com.my WHENEVER people mention the beautiful and amazing taste of the East Coast, the reference would always be the food and delicacies of Kelantan. It is rather rare for people to refer to the flavours of the neighbouring Terengganu. Perhaps people are just a little confused about the tastes between the two States. In fact, both States share quite the same taste or the same look and feel of their cuisines. However, let this be a note for every reader that Terengganu and Kelantan do not share the same recipes. The foods might look alike but they taste a little different from each other. As many might know and agree, Kelantan food is by far sweeter, and people in the State do really love sugar. People in Terengganu, on the other hand, are more focused on the spices and the flavour of the food they serve. If you are a fan of East Coast delights, the normal and easiest place in Kuala Lumpur for you might be the famous Kampung Baru. East Coast dishes there are thought to be authentic. Sad to say,
however, not every food there can be considered as authentic. So the question is, where can we find all these authentic East Coast cuisines in Kuala Lumpur? Worry not. Now you can just go to Solaris Dutamas and chomp away as you savour the real taste of Terengganu-Kelantan cuisines. Wau Penyu is definitely the perfect place for your family to really get re-acquainted to the East Coast flavour, while having the fun of eating out as a family. Small but cozy, this restaurant will just take your breath away with its beautiful interior decoration — with decor items dated reliably from an ancestor's home in Terengganu and Kelantan. So, apart from having real East Coast food, you get to embrace the true culture of two amazing States. Browse through the menu and you'd be titillated by the old photos of the great grandparents of both husband-and-wife owners. Read the menu from cover to cover and you will get more than the history of the food. The winning food in the menu is the Nasi Dagang. Besides that, the restaurant also serves western food under the Makanang Orang Puteh bracket. You might want to try Murtabak Kelantan, Nasi Kerabu or Laksam which are apparently a favourite among customers. One of the dishes that you should try is the molecular gastronomic invention of the Nasi Dagang and sushi. They managed to invent an interesting
menu where they combine two elements and produce a whole new dish called Dagang Sushi — a roll of Nasi Dagang served bite-sized (like sushi), accompanied with pickled vegetables and ikan tongkol gravy. If you are a true fan of East Coast food and always on the hunt for the best place, visit this restaurant and get the
feel yourself. For Ramadan, the restaurant serves a special
Food
buffet priced at RM49 for adults and RM24 for children. The Ramadan offering starts from 7pm to 9pm. The place is open from Monday to Thursday, from
11am to midnight. As for Friday, the opening time is 11am to 2am and on Saturday, 9am to 2am. On Sunday, the restaurant opens from 9am to midnight.
Sweet bites
REGARDED by the Chinese as one of the most auspicious days, the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar is an occasion that should be celebrated on a massive scale. During this day, it is said that the moon is at its fullest and most beautiful. And to mark the event, traditional food such as pomelos, baby yams and mooncakes are shared and eaten among family members and friends. Besides that, children as well as adults would mark the occasion by carrying brightly lit lanterns or hanging them on trees or clothes lines. As the years progress, MidAutumn Festival has evolved from a merely Chinese event into a day celebrated by just about anyone. And as the festival changes with time, the traditional must-have mooncake is not free from the grasp of transformation as well. As such, more and more flavours are introduced to suit today's modern lifestyle and people's preference. In order to celebrate this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, One World Hotel's only
Chinese restaurant, Zuan Yuan Restaurant, decides to bring the celebration to another level by introducing new mooncake flavours that will make you crave for more. True to its promise, Zuan Yuan is offering mooncake lovers a wide range of flavours to choose from, starting from freshly-baked traditional mooncakes to snowskin mooncakes. Indeed, be prepared to be spoilt for choice as the restaurant, famous for its intricate take on Chinese cuisine, is going all-out in spoiling its patrons with choices after choices of mooncake, starting from the most basic mooncake of all — White Lotus Paste Single Yolk. But then, whenever you're in Zuan Yuan Restaurant, always expect the unexpected from the chef and the friendly waitresses. Take your time to try out some
of the must-have mooncakes that Zuan Yuan has to offer for your own personal indulgence. For a start, why not try the Shanghai Single Yolk? On the outside, the Shanghai Single Yolk has a pastry-like skin that crumbles under delicate touch. The lotus paste is not overly sweet and complements really well with the shimmering egg yolk. Moving on, if you're the adventurous type, do impress your tastebuds by trying the Low Sugar Royal Milk Tea and Charcoal. This hot new item under the mini snowskin selection might got fans of bubble milk tea jumping for joy, as this dessert tastes just like your favourite milk tea. The Low Sugar Royal Milk Tea and Charcoal, as the name suggests, is indeed mildly sweet, perfect for those who are healthconscious. Another eccentric creation under the snowskin selection is the Low Sugar Qi Zi Tong Kwei and Chinese Almond. This mini selection has a hint of herbal smell to it but not too overpowering, making it easier for people who dislike the smell of herbs accept it for the first time. However, if you are a true
fitness person, and watch what you eat, there is no harm done in trying the Honey Grapefruit and Mango. However, if you prefer it to be slightly larger, do try the Honey Grapefruit Paste Single Yolk. As you bring a slice closer to your nose, immediately you are greeted with the aromatic smell of grapefruit that is quite appetising. Last on the must-try list is the White Lotus and Black Sesame Paste Single Yolk. From the outside, it looks just like any ordinary baked mooncake. However, its secret lies inside the mooncake itself. The black sesame that wraps the egg yolk seals the yolk's juiciness and all of its flavour inside. The sweetness of the lotus paste and the saltiness of the yolk is the best combination of all that a mooncake could offer. Starting from RM10 per piece, Zuan Yuan's mooncake is freshly-made every day and comes in a beautiful gift box, if you're planning to give them away to family and friends. The mooncakes are also available for dine-in at the restaurant. To order, call Zuan Yuan Restaurant at 0376811159. — By LOONG WAI TING