Ipoh Food!! 怡保美食

SERIOUSLY, IPOH MEANS GOOD FOOD.

It's exciting to travel far and search up and down for some famous food once in a while; but for me, the best food still remain as those that I can get easily from places nearby my house.

1. Ipoh White Coffee 怡保白咖啡

Even after 3 years in the States, I still couldn't get used to black coffee (coffee without milk and sugar). For me, coffee should be smooth and rich in condensed milk and sugar, like this. 

Condensed milk and sugar are not add-ons for coffee! Instead, condensed milk, sugar, and coffee complete each other, and their bond is strengthened through the test of fire!

2. Fried Yong To Fuh with Vermicelli 料粉-酿豆腐

I don't know how to explain this, and it doesn't have a proper English or Malay name. 

But it is THE FOOD I MISS THE MOST when I was in US.

You can hardly find it anywhere else in Malaysia. This is an Ipoh specialty. 

The brown things are either deep fried bean curd, deep fried fish meat wrapped in bean curd, or deep fried jicama. The rest are either fishballs, or fish meat wrapped in tofu or pepper. 

The noodles and each pieces of yong to fuh are sold separately, so you can order a bowl of noodle, and how ever many pieces of yong to fuh you feel like eating. 

3. Cendol 煎堆冰

 

I know this dessert is more widely known in Malacca because it's made with Malacca sugar; however since Malacca is now jam packed with tourists, so it's much more reasonably priced in Ipoh. 

The picture on the left is what it looks like when you first get it; the picture on the right is what it looks like after you have stirred and mixed the sugar with the ice. Also, there is add on glutinous rice in the cendol on the right.  

4. Seafood Curry Pot 海鲜咖喱煲

This is one of the specialties in my uncle's restaurant. Yum yum :3

5. Soya Bean Curd Custard 豆腐花 

I don't think you can get this dessert in US because the recipe includes calcium sulfate powder. 

Calcium sulfate powder is added to serve the similar purpose as gelatin, as agent of coagulation.  But with gelatin, I don't think you can get a soft and smooth texture like this. 

6. "Duck Feet Wrap" 鸭脚包

Don't worry, the food has nothing to do with its name. Okay, maybe a little. It's a mixture of braised pork and duck wrapped together with duck intestine. Totally juicy!

7. Hot & Sour Leftover Vegetable Pot 菜脚 / 一品锅

Focus on the dish in the middle. It doesn't look appetizing but it's a very delicious traditional dish. 

According to legend, once there was a chinese emperor who lost in a war, so he was forced to hide in a poor village. A women took pity on him and cooked for him. Even though the dish consisted of only leftover vegetable, the hungry emperor was grateful. When he regained his reign, he named this dish "No. 1 Pot".

As time evolves, this dish now consists of (not really leftover) vegetable and meat (duck, chicken, and roasted pork).  The mixture is cooked until tender in a pot with mustard greens, dried chili, tamarind pulp and ketchup paste.    

8. Peanut Soup Paste 花生糊

I tried to make this dessert in US a couple of times but I failed everytime. I have come to accept the fact that I am bad at making dessert. 

In my defense, why should I spent 3 hours in the kitchen when I can get it easily for 3 ringgit?

9. Homemade Cocktail 姐姐牌鸡尾酒

One of the many hidden talents of my sister is making cocktail. This is one of her creations. 

Recipe: gin, sprite soda, pinch of salt, and jelly cubes

10. Mom's Cooking 妈妈的家乡菜

Last but most importantly, mum's cooking. 

No additional caption needed. 

There are a lot of other food that I ate, such as pan mee, wanton mee, durians, lok lok, teh tarik, mamak......but I didn't have pictures for all those. 

Nah, as the 21st centuries' old saying goes, 

"food is best when they are eaten, not when they are taken." :p

I hope you find at least a dish from the list that can trigger your appetite. Until we meet again, eat up!