Gula Melaka

After a hiatus of 6 years (I think), it was interesting to return to a city where I had vague memories of visiting a red historic building (Christ Church) and eating chicken rice balls (which are so not worth the calories). For a rundown of the sights, can check out the link here.

However, our quick getaway to Melaka turned out to be (no surprises) more eating than sightseeing. In view that the intent was to just slow down, hang out with friends and uncover good eats, we definitely achieved all that we had set out to do.

While the food was good, I somehow felt that Singapore's culinary delights did not pale too much in comparison. While the Teochew food was excellent, Mickey Mouse carrot cake or ABC power chendol would still beat the competition hands down! What stood out though was the very good value i.e cheap rampant eating. Our most expensive meal was S$30 per head and this was WITH SUCKLING PIG and STEAMED POMFRET. *rubs happy belly*

Another highlight for me was when we dropped by the Majestic hotel for tea which turned out to be an attraction in its own right. Ranked as the top hotel in Malacca, it was a beautifully restored colonial bungalow filled with quaint furniture and modern rooms. What got me really excited though was the jars of old school FREE snacks.

A faithful account of our food trail as follows:

Good Peranakan Eats@Nancy's Kitchen [starting from top to bottom]: Popiah, Nonya Chap Chye, Buah Keluak Chicken (without the Buah Keluak aka Black nuts), Fried Oyster Omelette 

Part 2 [from top-left clockwise]:  Itek Sioh (duck), sambal brinjal, braised pork slices (similar to chinese kong bak) and fried fish with black pepper sauce. The stars of this meal was no doubt the deceptively simple brinjal and braised pork.

Dessert was Chendol at Bibik House, Jonker Street (just opposite Jonker Boutique hotel). The good thing was one could add as much gula melaka as you wanted. While it was good, ABC market still serves the best power chendol.

Teochew style Bak Ku Teh: Loved the vast amount of ingredients like mushrooms, meat balls found within the herbal soup in addition to the actual pork ribs. The stewed pork trotter was also EXCELLENT and made a great start to our early day.

Hole in the Wall Teochew Seafood restaurant [top-right, clockwise]: the stars were the black hokkien mee topped with luscious oysters and the suckling pig in addition to stir fried veggie. 

This was followed by really fresh pomfret which the server neatly cut up for easy sharing, crunchy huge ngoh hiang in addition to very healthy (according to the uncle) and not cloyingly sweet orh nee i.e yam paste with gingko nuts and steamed pumpkin. 

Final day's breakfast at a nondescript coffeeshop near Renaissance hotel: so-so char kway teow, very good pork "zhok", Ed's very plain mee pok da when he was supposed to order the scrumptious fishball laksa with additional yong tau foo ingredients and finishing off with 浓浓的咖啡. Obviously, the sharing ended with my picture of his order.

Finally, my memorable tea experience at Majestic where I ate alot of free cookies and shopped my snackie heart out at  三叔公 (bottom left pic). This is a snack haven and must stop for yummy prawn rolls, instant coffee and their wasabi green peas (in case you were wondering...no, they are not Melaka specialties. I just like them).

P.S Turns out most of the places we visited were also endorsed by ieatishootipost. Check out his recommendations here.