Drinking coffee is one of the cornerstones to being a Malaysian. In Malaysia, whenever a new shopping area is built, the first shop that would open first is usually a coffee shop (Kopitiam).
These traditional shops often offer a variety of delicious food along with an aromatic cup of coffee. This combination is the breakfast choice for an average Malaysian.
Talking about coffee shop, most of them offers Hainanese Coffee which is very famous in Nanyang.
Both Hainanese and coffee had been two peas in a pot since the nineteenth century. In that period, life in southern China is grueling, which resulted in a migration of the Hainanese to Malaysia (known as Malaya back then) to make a living.
Later on, these Hainanese migrants in Malaysia were exposed to the habit of coffee drinking by foreigners and decided to bring this culture back in their hometown.
Moreover, the Hainanese even brought back some coffee beans to be planted in Hainan Island. Over the years, Hainan Island gradually becomes the main planting site of Chinese coffee beans and Hainanese coffee started taking off from there.
Along with coffee, the best signature breakfast to eat with is half-boiled egg and baked kaya butter toast.
Since then, Hainanese Coffee and these foods has become the traditional Chinese breakfast.
What did you know about FooChow ? I believe that not everyone is familiar with FooChow (福州).
The reason that FooChow is not popular among the dialect groups of Chinese is because we have less FooChow Chinese (福州人) in West Malaysia. However, this dialect group is popular in Sitiawan (Perak) and East Malaysia.
If you are not familiar with it, don't worry and give me a chance to introduce FooChow to you !
Today, you're going to recognize the FIVE famous dishes among FooChow.
1. FooChow Fried Pan Cake 福州饼
At the FooChow restaurant, Taste of Foochow, this dish is selling on Sunday only.
In China, FuZhou, people eats FooChow cake almost everyday. It is because the ingredients of this traditional dish is simple but it taste really well.
In the history, when the scholars of FuZhou wants to take the test in the city, they will bring along this 'FooChow cake' to fill the hunger during the journey. It is because FooChow cake is easy to carry, easy to eat and easy to store.
2. FooChow Dry Fishball Noodles 福州鱼圆粉
This is the Rice Vermicelli Noodles (Dry)
FooChow Dry Fishball Noodle is a local specialty dish in FuZhou, China. It is such a comfort food, and can be eaten soup or dry. The texture is really smooth and soft. There will be a bowl of delectable Foochow Fish ball to serve together.
It is really chewy and appetizing !
3. FooChow Fish Ball 福州鱼圆
These are handmade fish balls.
None of the people in FuZhou, China dislike FooChow Fish Balls. The skin of different kind of fish balls is made by different fish. The flavour of each type of fish balls are totally different!
The fillings of the fish balls is made of pork. However, you won't see a single fats of the meat in the fillings. This is the uniqueness of FooChow fish balls.
The fish balls are all springy in texture.
4. FooChow Yanpi Dumplings 福州燕皮水饺
Yanpi is one of the favourite ingredient that FooChow Chinese love.
Yanpi is a type of wanton skin used in Chinese cuisine. Yanpi is made of lean pork and tapioca flour. The whole dumpling is mainly made by a type of meat wanton which are wrap in the thin Yanpi skins.
Don't deceive by the plain looks of the Dumplings, the most important ingredient is not the fillings but the Yanpi skins that wrap the pork !
It is one of the most famous dish in FooChow !
5. FooChow Red Wine Chicken Mee Suah 福州红糟鸡酒面线
The Signature Dish of FooChow
The Red Wine Chicken Noodles which uses Mee Suah to absorb the essence of the rice wine is definitely the signature dish of FooChow.
During the process of producing the red wine, they must be very careful. They have to ensure that the props that used must be completely clean and dry. This process takes two to three months to be done.
Some of them might not want to try it because of the colour of the soup but trust me, you have to try it once and you're gonna want it more !
WANT TO TRY THOSE DISHES ? GO AHEAD !
Taste of FooChow Restaurant
Address : 14, Jalan Gajah, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, 55100
Business Hours : 8:30am to 5pm daily except Tuesday
Tel : 03-9281 8788
Monday, 22 April 2019
福建人那件事 Things about Hokkien Lang:
1. Hokkien Spring Roll 福建春卷
Hokkien Spring Roll is a time-honoured traditional food to Hokkien Lang. The reason why Hokkien Spring Roll is popular because of a folk tale that happen during Southern Song Dynasty. During Southern Song Dynasty, there is a scholar who immersed in studying for exam everyday and often forgetting to eat. His wife advised him that but it was useless. So, his wife make the rice into a spring roll, stuffed with meat, wrapped in a roll, and it was both a meal and a snack. This snack was later named Spring Roll and gradually became popular in many areas.
2.Hokkien Mee 福建面
Hokkien Mee is also on of the Hokkien traditional food. Hokkien Mee is a well-known traditional food at many areas. Hokkien Mee was invention by the boss of Kim Liam Kee named 'Wang Jin Lian’. Before World War 2, Hokkien Mee has already been sells. 3. Raddish Cake 萝卜糕
Raddish Cake is also the a Hokkien traditional food and it is original from Hokkien Lang. After it being improved by Cantonese, it also become a traditional food to Cantonese.
4. Hokkein Kueh 福建糕点
Hokkien Kueh such as Fa Gao, Ang Ku Kuey and Cai Tao Kuey is the traditional food of Hokkien Lang. Many of the Chinese also used all those kuey as sacrifice. Ang Ku Kueh means as good fortune and long life. While the surface of Fa Gao means as good luck to people.
5. Hokkien Tea 饮茶
Hokkien Lang love to drink tea such as Tie Guang Yin, Pu Er and Long Jing. Drink Tea is a very normal thing to all the Hokkien Lang. Hokkien Lang also seems drinks tea as a manners. Other than that, Hokkien Lang pay attention during drink. While drinking tea, Hokkien Lang used eye, nose and mouth to focus on its smell,views and fragrant of tea.
Thank You For Watching & See You In Our Next Blog !!
So you
think all Chinese dishes are the same cuisine? Think again.
Chinese dishes usually belongs to a various of dialect groups that some of them, you probably don't even know. As a Chinese, it's hard to identify all of the food into a different dialect groups. You feel me? 😢
But in this blog, I will be introducing you the 4 popular traditional
Hakka dishes that can be found in regions such as Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Singapore and so much more!
Why Hakka? Well it is because Hakka is getting much more underrated and ‘unappreciated’ in Malaysia.
So, why don’t we dive it in and see what I’ve prepared for you.
1.ABACUS SEEDS算盘子 aka taro ball
Abacus
seeds ( Suàn pán zî ) is a very popular traditional dish among all in Hakka
cuisine. But why the name ABACUS? It is because it shaped like a bead on the
abacus.
It produces a soft and chewy texture in your mouth as it is made out of
yam and tapioca flour. This abacus seeds tastes much like taro balls that you
have on your dessert, except this is served as a savory dish.
The key
ingredient of this whole dish is not the spices or the soy sauce but the meat
itself. As you can see from the picture, you could notice the three layers of
the pork belly. Choosing the meat of this dish is important as you don’t want
your meat to be too fatty or too skinny.
The unami
flavor of the meat were infused from the marinated soy sauce and the juices of the
preserved mustard vegies. YUM. It tastes heavenly as the three layers of the pork
belly is so tender and yet it melts in your mouth at the same time as you bite
in. If you’re not a fan of pork belly, then you are probably missing out. Of
course, don’t forget the sweet and savoury Mei Cai! which is the preserved
mustard vege.
3. GOLDEN
TOFU W/ DEEP FRIED DREID SHIRMPS 黄金炸豆腐
Looking at
the color of the tofu makes my mouth watery, slurps.
The combination
of this golden-brown tofu and the deep-fried dried shrimp goes perfectly well
together, the crunchiness of the dried shrimp and the crispy tofu literally compliments
each other. Although the name itself may sound common, but trust me, you’re
gonna want it more after your first bite.
4.LÓNG
XŪ CÀI龙须菜
Lông xū cài
is also another common and popular dish in Hakka cuisine. Long is simply translated
as dragon. If you look closely, it actually looks like a dragon’s claw, that’s why
it is called Lông for a reason. This dish is often topped with meat slices or
mushrooms and garlic.
Last but
not least, you can enjoy these all 4 dishes with a bowl of rice and there goes a
warm and hearty meal for you.
So, these are
the 4 common traditional Hakka dishes for you, it looks appetising doesn’t it? Well
it definitely is for me!
Are you curious
about other Chinese cuisines food? Make sure you check out our next blog to see
what’s coming next! Thank you for reading. Stay tuned.
Check this video out to watch me eat these delishhhh Hakka food. Lucky me. 😉
