Metro

Sunday August 1, 2010

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Compiled by ABBY LU
sundaymetro@thestar.com.my
Pictures courtesy of Christine Low


She may be a pharmacist but Christine Low swears by street fare and reviews a number of yummy offerings in Serdang, Selangor.

FOR most Klang Valley residents, a food hunt would often land them in established enclaves: Klang for seafood and bak kut teh; Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, for Malay food; and other areas such Ampang, KL and SS2 in Petaling Jaya.

However, as the blog “Brought up 2 share” shows, the less travelled path could yield surprising finds, too. Thanks to the discoveries of blogger Christine Low, it may become more common to hear “Serdang” and “good food” in the same sentence.

Recommended: The Hakka noodles (pic above) at Restoran Yoon Ping Noodle House in Seri Kembangan and the Sarawak Laksa (pic below) at Restoran Tar Chong in Equine Park.

One of the things she raves about is the Hakka noodles at Restoran Yoon Ping Noodle House in Taman Puncak Jalil, Seri Kembangan.

Hakka noodles, a dish comprising homemade flat egg noodles tossed with soy-based minced meat gravy, is served at this restaurant with familiar additions such as curry chicken, braised mushroom and chicken feet, char siew and sui kao (dumplings).

Describing the place as their “new breakfast place”, Low recommends the braised pork Hakka noodles. Other things that could be had there in the morning include nasi lemak and toast.

Apart from that, she also gives a thumbs-up for the Sarawak Laksa she had at Restoran Tar Chong in Equine Park, Sri Kembangan.

“The taste of sour tamarind, garlic, galangal and lemon grass coupled with a sambal belacan and coconut milk base is simply lovely,” she gushes.

“Topped with omelette strips, chicken strips, prawns, fresh coriander and lime, this could match the one we had in Miri. Definitely worth trying.”

The stall operator, says Low, is from Kuching and claims that this is his hometown recipe. Explaining her inclination for street food she says, “Compared to fine dining, the streets offer a bigger and more economical selection”.

Therefore, it’s not surprising to hear her professing to be a “loyal fan” of Thiam Sang restaurant at Serdang Perdana, Seri Kembangan.

“We drop by whenever we think of Hokkien mee,” she says adding that it’s common for them to order take-aways from the restaurant during parties and special occasions.

“I hear that this restaurant is operated by ‘graduate’ apprentices of Jalan 222’s Ahwa Hokkien mee,” notes Low of the place.

Another dish, the “moonlight rice noodle” which is braised kuey teow topped with a raw egg, also scored top marks with Low for being “tasty and smooth”.

The restaurant is located at one of the shoplots next to South City Plaza and serves other noodle dishes such as loh mee for RM6 per serving.

Nevertheless, Low’s gastronomic adventures also take her off the streets and in Equine Park, she relishes the dishes of a well-known Hakka restaurant, Hoi Tin.

“Serdang is mainly populated by Hakka inhabitants. Thus it’s almost impossible not to find Hakka dishes!” she says.

Open for dine-in and banquets, Hoi Tin offers unique dishes such as bean sprouts with cuttlefish and fish paste and chives stuffed bean curd. Other traditional Hakka cuisine that are served there include claypot spareribs with yam, stir-fry vegetable with tung choy (preserved vegetable with a distinct salty taste). Low’s favourite, though, is the stir-fry brinjal with garlic and XO sauce: “It’s flavoursome and perfect with rice,” she says.

For more of Low’s reviews, visit her blog at christinelifeslikethis.blogspot.com. Regarding food as the “main agenda” for all her gatherings and parties, she blazes across town with her DSLR camera to capture the “delicious, exotic and special”.

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