Wantan Mee @ Kedai Kopi Ban Kee.

Early morning on the first day of the CNY festival, to find something "Chinese" to eat is a bonus except for Mamak food.

This wantan mee stall @ Kedai Kopi Ban Kee-Tapah, Perak which we used to patronize was open and was a hive of activity with lots noisy local folks with families from out of town in tow.

We ordered the usual combo of dry wantan noodle with Char Siew (sliced BBQ pork) and meat dumpling with pickled green chillies for extra kick.

At Rm4/ per serving for the CNY  festival it was quite ok.

Wantan mee combo-springy noodle with average meat dumpling-no complain as it was enough to fill our tummy-Rm4/

Iced and hot Milo to finish off the meal.

Location: opposite of a Shell station.
Tapah, Perak.

Chap Fan @ Kedai Makanan & Minuman Zong Meng-Tapah.

We drove up to Tapah, Perak to attend my brother in law's wake and funeral.
His death was sudden and we will surely missed him.

We stopped by Kedai Makanan & Minuman Zong Meng for a quick lunch of Chap Fan (mixed rice).

Besides being a "Tai Chow" (serving cook to order dishes), they have just a small spread of about 10 dishes every working day for lunchtime only.

It's cheap and the best time is go is around 11.30 a.m.

White rice with Deep fried Ikan Kambong, Long bean Omelette, white tofu and stir fried vegetable with strips of chicken, onion and sliced fish cake-Rm3.00/

White rice with white tofu, stir fried Choy Sam, ginger chicken and topped with tasty brown gravy-Rm2.50/

Location:From Bidor-on the right hand side after Tapah town bridge.

Chee Cheong Fun Stall-TAPAH.

Unlike Bidor, Tapah town lacks a good place to have a decent Chinese breakfast.

But there is a Chee Cheong Fun (flat rice noodle rolls) stall manage by a husband/wife, beside the wet market which is not too bad.

Yesterday morning, we were there for a quick and light breakfast.

Smooth CCF with deep fried stuffed fishpaste beancurd sheets- a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and topped with Curry gravy.

Smooth CCF with blanched long bean, pickled green chillies on the side-sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and doused with sweet bean paste gravy and chillies.

Assorted Yong Lui (deep fried stuffed fishpaste/turnip ingredients) to go with the smooth CCF.

Restoran Tonny.

The search for more wild frogs for dinner continues at Restoran Tonny and we were in luck !

The abundance of wild frogs this CNY was because of the hot and humid weather and partly because the Orang Asli has no durians to pick.

Restoran Tonny is located in a double storey shophouse along the Bidor-Tapah road just about one km before the Tapah Police station.

Parking is ample.

Chef Tonny with a net full of fresh wild frogs for us-only to cook upon order.

Steamed wild frogs with finely chopped ginger/spring onion/soy sauce and Chinese wine-fresh, sweet and tender.

Steamed Trapia fish (Farmed Tilapia fish)-with soy sauce/sesame oil and garnished with ginger and cilantro-fresh, meaty with high Omega-3 ?

Braised water Terrapin with sliced ginger/spring onion-meat was firm and i love those gelatinous parts-have curative properties.

Homemade Tofu, Chillies and Brinjal stuffed with springy fishpaste-tossed in a fabulous Tau cheong (preserved Soybean paste) gravy.

Stir fried Padi field Eel (koong poh style) with lots of sliced big onion/ dried red chillies/spring onion-the sliced eel meat was springy and tender.

Paku choy (wild fern) with Sambal Chillies-i like these vegetables because it's pesticides free.

Some glasses of good old Chinese tea to wash down all the oil.

Total bill:Rm125/
Location:from Bidor-Tapah -double storey shophouse
right hand side-1 km before Tapah Police Station.
Tapah, Perak.

Restoran Hao Yi Lou

The CNY festival continued with a three tables dinner at Restoran Hao Yi Lou, Tapah, Perak.

My brother in law, Kam was the paying host for this dinner gathering among our relatives.

Restoran Hao Yi Lao is located just 2 km left from the Tapah toll plaza exit and is one of the best and newest restaurant in Tapah.

It is owned and run by a young, friendly and formidable couple- Chef Leong and his wife Sim.

As it was the first day of the CNY, the restaurant was packed to the rim and business was brisk.

Parking is a breeze.

Me, talking to Chef Leong (hands on hip ) about tonight's dinner dishes.

Waiting at our table.

The hand written menu in Chinese.

Started with the usual Loh Sang-a Salmon Yee Sang-wish for a better business year.

Sang Cheong-stir fried with ginger/spring onion/soy sauce combination-very crunchy and good exercise for the jaws.

Steamed wild frogs with chopped ginger/spring onion/Chinese wine/ sesame oil was everyone's favorite-the flesh was smooth and sweet tasting-plenty of it because of the dry weather.

Clams with Curry powder-spicy, fresh and meaty.

Koong Poh Padi field's Eel-stir fried with onion/dried red chillies/spring onion and a dash of Chinese wine-the coarsely sliced eel meat was springy and meaty.

Tung Poh pork belly- well marinated and braised until the meat absorbed all the spices flavors-garnished with cilantro-the gravy was perfect with rice.

Steamed river prawns with egg whites and Chinese wine-garnished with finely sliced ginger and cilantro-fresh, juicy and succulent-the star of the night!

Buttered Tilapia-the meat was filleted and cut into bite sizes before it was wok buttered fried with egg and curry leaves-very crispy-a good snack with beer.

Ended the meal with a quick stir fried Kangkong (Water Convolvulus)) with Sambal chillies -a local favorite.

Total bill: Rm700/
Location: 1 & 2, Persiaran Tapah Indah 1/3,
Taman Tapah Indah 3,
Tapah, Perak.
Tel:05-401-8148/012-463-5590/016-532-8678.

WILD PEACH-LIKE FRUIT.

I came across these wild fruits which resembled peaches while trekking with some friends along the roadside of Kampung Lubuk Katak in Tapah, Perak

The tree is about 20 ft tall with lots of fruits.

It was planted along with others local edible fruits trees on the front lawn of an abandoned kampung house which were also filled with lots of fruits.

Rambutans.

Misai Kuching (Cat's whiskers)-a type of herb-good for diabetics.

Mangosteen.

A bunch of Banana.

Wild Vine fruit.

Close up of the unripe wild fruit which we managed to pick with an aid of a broken tree branch.

Close up of the ripe wild fruit-doesn't it looks like peaches.

It was smooth, sweet and sticky with some seeds.

Wonder if anybody know the name for it?

RESTORAN TOON YOON

This Hainanese kopi tiam is situated at the lobby of an old and nostalgic budget hotel known as Toon Yoon, in Tapah town center, Perak.

Restoran Toon Yoon serves only halal food and opens from breakfast onwards.

Their customers are truly 1Malaysia.

Three major newspapers are provided for your reading pleasure and hot drinks like Coffee Tea..etc are available with food like Nasi Lemak Bungkus, Mee Siam, Toast Bread or Western breakfast.

Here, everybody knows each other.

The marble topped tables and wooden black shellac chairs, sure bring back memories of olden days!

This antique grandfather's clock is still keeping time.

Loafs of Bread use for Butter toast or Roti Kahwin.

Banana leaf and paper wrapped Nasi Lemak-Rm1/

Hard boiled Eggs to go with the Nasi Lemak.

Butter toast bread with runny fried egg and oven grilled Chicken sausage-Rm4.20/.

Butter toast with over grilled Chicken sausage and Ham-Rm4.70/.

A cup of Milo after the meal-Rm1.40/.

Focusing on which breakfast set is theirs, lol !

Location-Tapah Road (same row with Pejabat Pos)
Tapah, Perak.