Strangers at 47 is one of the few cafes in Klang Valley that I hold in high regard.
This is my 4th visit over a year and both the food and service had never given me a cause for complaint, a testament to their consistency which is something very commendable.
I was part of the 80% of the tourists to Melaka once, only knowing of Baba Charlie and steadfastly visiting BC each time I’m in Melaka.
I swooned over their bongkong and absolutely love the durian apam. I even wrote a glowing review of it.
Then things changed.
On one visit I was disappointed with the kuih. Perplexed, it hit me that the quality is sliding south faster than our ringgit.
Deprived of good kuih suddenly, I started to bug my ever reliable guide and friend Daniel Cerventus. “Eh, Melaka only one place got kuih ah?”
Overworked yet ever obliging, he was coerced into getting me other options, for he realized he will never hear the end of it from me if he didn’t.
I’m a big fan of anything homemade, even more so when it is not “entirely commercial”; as in it is available for sale but in small batches and from homemakers/bakers that keeps strict QC on her/his produce.
There are only 2 reasons for me to walk into a McDonald’s; (1) I’m a tourist in another country and I’m checking out their local McD’s for something unique, or (2) there is new McDonald’s product launched in Malaysia.
Rest assured I’m not an advocate of Mcdonald’s or any of its food.
So far I’ve tried McD’s in Australia (wagyu burger), Paris (McBaguette), Chengdu (green Chicken Wrap), Hong Kong (macaroni soup and corn pie), Thailand (pork), Singapore and Korea (Bulgogi burger).
For Malaysia the previous Lychee Pie was disappointing, and so was the Spinach Pie.
I didn’t managed to try the Foldover Mashwi and Foldover Lazeez last year so I had to have my curiosity satisfied this year.
And you know what?
I wish I wasn’t the curious sort.
Whether the charcoal (kayu arang) enhances the roti canai in either aroma or taste is debatable.
I for one, couldn’t detect any enhancements.
It could be that our orders were roti tampal (eggs + roti canai) and Roti Nachos (a pizza with roti canai as base) and since both were not plain roti, the presumably added smoky flavours were lost on us.
Nasi lemak cake could be more of a challenge after nasi lemak sushi and nasi lemak maki roll.
After all, it’s main component isn’t rice.
The folks over at Lepaq Lepaq attempted it anyways, and crazily enough decided to use cheese as its main component.
What’s for lunch?
Well, how about some chicken, set aflame at your table?
No doubt it is a bit theatric but who cares? It will look wonderful on Instagram!
My monthly trips to Melaka for both business and leisure gave me much opportunities to explore the bustling historically rich city, both culturally and much of its culinary offerings.
I’ve published an article on the best Nyonya chang, the best Nyonya kuih you can find in Melaka, the best cafes to hang out at and now, the best restaurant to satisfy your Nyonya cuisine cravings, which is of course, synonymous with the Melaka state.
