Ah Kwang’s Lor Bak is encased in super thin crispy bean curd skin and inside…lean pork loin flavoured with powdered peanuts that is so heavenly delicious, you cannot stop at one piece. Ich liebe es! (‘I love it’ in German). The thick dipping sauce is also very unique. It is concocted with egg, flour, sugar, salt and soy sauce. He also serves yam fritter, tau kwa, prawn fritter. Every order comes with a healthy serving of crisp fresh cucumber.
Assam Laksa
I tried too tangy sourish Penang Laksa made with ‘Sai Toh’ fish, assam (tamarind), mint leaves, slivers of pineapple and cucumber and ninja black gooey ‘Hare Koh" (shrimp paste). The cross cultural influences in this classic Penang dish can be seen in the mint leaves from Vietnam and the assam from Thailand. Not suprising as Penang island, "The Pearl of the Orient" is situated very near the Thai border. It also has certain similarities to a Myanmarese noodle dish. A little known but amusing fact is that Singapore’s so called"Laksa" is known as "Curry Mai Fun" in Penang!
‘Oh Chien’ or oyster omelette is another winner with small plump oysters tantalisingly hidden inside a big omelette and garnished with lots of aromatic,finely diced brunoise scallions.
And if healthy food is your passion, what better dish to relish than inimitable Penag Rojak. It has farm fresh starfruit, jambu ayer, grainy textured guava, crunchy turnip, sour green mango…drizzled with a dressing made from ‘Hare Koh, lime juice and sugar’. I adore th crushed peanuts liberally sprinkled on top for decoration and taste.
The Penang Hokkien Prawn Mee is also very different from Singapore’s Hokkien Mee which is fried. Here, the bee hoon and yellow noodles are bathed in a rich prawn soup made by boiling the heads and shells of prawns for several hours in order to extract the maximum flavour and taste. I adore biting into the meaty pork ribs infused with the prawn flavours.
Penang Char Koay Teow!
Who can resist piping flat hot rice noodles fried up a la minute with juicy cockles that burst in your mouth releasing seductive flavours of the sea, chives and yes, crispy pork skin fritters! Life is short, enjoy it first and worry about the cholesterol later.
Sweet Sensations include Ban Chang Kueh with a sweet filling of crunchy roasted peanuts. You simply must match this with fragrant and frothy Teh Tarik. You’ll discover it is a perfect match!
Finish your culinary extravaganza with colourful Lee Brothers’ Ice Kachang from New World Park with a very special sauce you don’t get in Singapore. It is ‘Sarsi Sauce’ made with F & N Sarsi, root beer and sugar syrup. Atap Chees, the fruit of the mangrove, red beans, of course plus Milk Maid evaporated milk complete the delectable icy treat!
Yes, come December, to echo Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, in his role as ‘The Terminator": I’ll be back! ENJOY! {:-)
Penang Hawkers’ Fare @ York from 7 to 23 March, 2008
in spacious and airy White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21, Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
tel: 6737 0511
Lunch: 12 noon to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm to 10pm
Lunch/Dinner: S$23.80++ Adult
S$17.80++ for Child below 12 years old
The Travelling Gourmet’s Ratings
Cuisine **** Ambience*** Service***