Category Archives: Food

Sakura Cafe’s Nasi Lemak

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Sakura Cafe, one of the first 24-hour coffee houses in KL, pioneered the ‘upmarket’ nasi lemak in the early 1980s. Their version of the local delicacy served with chicken floss and pickle launched a fad.

Nasi Lemak soon made it into the after-party menu of 5-star hotels in the city. It took the midnight buffet of the 1990s to knock the super supper off its porcelain perch.

Some three decades later, Sakura Cafe in Jalan Imbi is still going strong. I am not sure if Sakura (and newer sister-restaurant Madam Kwan’s) still belong to the same family though. On an impromptu visit last night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the original signature dish.

Tasty curry chicken, chunky sambal, chicken floss and achar over fragrant santan rice with a slice of egg to go. It must have been a luxury at RM 4 in the 80s. It is RM 15 for a plate of legend today.

Pork-free Sakura Cafe is at 163 to 169 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03 2148 4315.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 400, f3.5, 1/30 sec.

Sakura Cafe's Nasi Lemak

Vista Of Malaysia

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The Ramly burger stall is everywhere. Even high up where lightning frequently strike. See the dead tree?  🙂 Let’s celebrate today with the things we all love. Roadside hawker food and beautiful vistas.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 800, f3.5, 1/30 sec.

Vista Of Malaysia

ABC

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What is Ais Kacang or ABC (Air Batu Campur)? Translated as mixed ice, it was traditionally red beans, sweet corn, black grass jelly, colourful agar agar, attap chee and cendol buried in a mountain of ice shavings. The ice is topped-off with rose syrup, coconut palm sugar syrup and evaporated milk. New-fangled versions may have ice-cream, chocolate syrup, all kind of nuts and fruits. The sweet dessert is found all over South-East Asia and is known by different names.

I like the traditional version found at the PJ Old Town Market Food Court. Stall 46 or Weng Kee is one of three popular drink stalls there serving the ice dessert.

Photographing the traditional ABC is not as simple as ABC, though. You can’t see any of the ingredients when it is pristine. I ordered an extra tall one knowing it will collapse fast in the heat. The bright 4pm sun is low and superb as it rims the ice from the back, giving it a glow. The downside is the ice will melt very fast. You have like a minute or less to get your shot.

The lady boss even shouted at me to get the camera ready as she was putting the finishing touches. I like how hawkers are nowadays aware of the power of social media and are more cooperative than previously 🙂

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f1.4, 1/4000 sec.

ABC or Air Batu Campur