she, the epicuriousgirl.

our work site was around the Bayan Lepas area in Penang, and we noticed on a few occasions previously that many cars park illegally on the side of the road leading to the airport to breakfast at this nondescript wooden, kampung house. as it’s always crowded, imagine my surprise that all that is served here is the humble “roti bakar” and half-boiled egg! And they have been doing so for more than 50 years!

one set normally consists of two slices of toasted buttered bread, cut neatly into bite sized pieces and two half boiled eggs. We opted for a single egg this time round. Noticed they differentiate the number of eggs by different coloured cups, yellow for single egg, dark green for double. A selection of condiments (i.e. sugar, pepper & soy sauce) are placed at the tables for your convenience.

the way to eat this humble breakfast is to sprinkle sugar all over the toast first. then, add soy sauce and pepper to taste to the half boiled eggs before dipping the square cuts of toast into the eggy goodness. it sounds a bit weird tasting yet tastes great together! the crispy toast, dripping toast is complimented perfectly by the half boiled egg, which is done to perfection.

Mounds of pre-packed nasi lemak and noodles are also available on each table and we decided to share one pack amongst ourselves. i think they are a few choices available, and we got one mound of coconut infused rice doused with some samballike gravy, and topped with half an egg and half a fish. Bit cold, but what can one expect of pre-packed food?

Humble food perhaps, but the throng of returning customers pay testament to the quality of the food here.

Joo Leong Coffee Cafe (www)
179-H, Sungei Tiram,
Bayan Lepas,
Penang.

Note: Closed on Mondays.
other reviews;
- welovepenang
- jijitankyy

two weeks of silence was the result of having to travel for work, yet forgetting the digital camera’s usb cable whilst enduring erratic wi-fi connection at where we were staying. however, food adventures are not forgotten, and i have some new discoveries (to me, that is) to share.

what’s driving up north without making a stop in ipoh? we found our way to the old town and looked forward to a cup of freshly brewed white coffee. The white coffee is made from beans roasted with margarine but without sugar, giving it a lighter shade. one is spoilt for choice as you drive down Jalan Bijih Timah with “Sin Yoon Loong”, “Sun Yuan Foong”, “Xin Yuan Hoong” and “Nam Heong Old Town White Coffee”, all noted coffee shops for serving the coffee brew ipoh is famous for. perhaps the most famous of them all is Sin Yin Loong, which is always packed with coffee lovers and tourists alike.

Opened in 1937, Sin Yoon Loong (新源隆) serves coffee which is “pulled’’ in teh tarik-style, giving it a lovely, foamy head. even though the coffee served is very fragrant and aromatic, i think i enjoyed the experience of having it in the atmospheric coffeeshop than the actual taste of the coffee itself. don’t get me wrong, the coffee is smooth, and permeates with the seductive aroma, and is not too sweet, but i do prefer black coffee, pref. hainanese coffee.

the toasted bread was more delectable to me. soft yet crispy, it was amazing how they managed to halve the already thin slice and stuff butter and kaya into it.

After our coffee sojourn at the most popular, we were walking to our car when we got lured by the yummy looking Ipoh Sar Hor Fun (沙河粉) at the neighboring Xin Yuan Hoong (新源峰).

It was a good choice to stop as this particular coffeeshop served more locals than tourists. Most of them were enjoying their cuppa while slurping down steaming hot bowls of sar hor fun. Ipoh sar hor fun (沙河粉) is silky, smooth flat rice noodles served in a clear chicken and prawn soup with chicken shreds, prawns and spring onions. The broth was sweet and lingered softly in the mouth. the chicken shreds were as smooth as the silky hor fun. shared a single bowl amongst ourselves as the toasted bread had barely settled in our tummies.

the drink maker/ waiter kept recommending their white coffee and i gave in after a while. told him we’ll share a single cup and he happily made us a cup. must admit that i like their version better than “Sin Yoon Loong’s”, as similar as both tasted. the latter was richer, somehow. yet my eyes kept getting drawn to the sign that caramel custard was available here and soon i succumbed, ordering one to try. served in an ice cold tin container, it was decent, though I wished it was turned out before being served as it the sweet, caramelly goodness were all at the bottom of the container.

Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong (新源隆) / Xin Yuan Hoong (新源峰)
Jalan Bijih Timah,
Ipoh,
Perak.

other reviews;
- this is no joke
- tummies growl