Ipoh Delights

Picture taken at Kek Lok Tong Cave in Ipoh

Whenever I meet a new acquaintance and after revealing that my hometown is in Ipoh, there would usually be two standard statements from this new friend (and the order of the questions may vary depending on the gender of this new friend) even after many years I have been living in KL.

1. You're so lucky! Ipoh has one of the best bean sprout chicken (taugeh ayam) in Malaysia I think the most famous is Lou Wong, right? Do you always go back and have some?

2. You're so lucky! Ipoh has one of the most original white coffee! So which is the original one ah?

3. You're so lucky! Ipoh has produced many many pretty faces for beauty pageants. So how come Ipoh is famous for many pretty girls ah?

For No.3, well I do not deny it but I can't be certain of the reasons why Ipoh is famous for pretty girls. Maybe due to the number of finalists/ winners originated from Ipoh in some beauty pageants and of course we have Dato' Michelle Yeoh. Some even goes on to say it has to do with the superb mountain water quality in Ipoh and hence most of the girls have porcelain white skin. It may be the turth as the smoothness of hor fun depends on the water and rice quality which Ipoh is famous for. Not to forget our prominent Tambun pomeloes which needs optimium water quality and fertile soil.

But one thing I had observed over the years living here is that most Ipoh bred girls are notorious for refusing to go under the hot sun during the day. You'd rarely catch them strolling in the park or doing any outdoor activities from 11am to 5pm. These pretty angels usually only surface during late evenings onwards. And if you notice (if you are Ipoh bred or been here before) the food in Ipoh is seldom spicy. Most of its famous food like bean sprout chicken, hor hee, wan tan mee, tau fu fa and others are usually soup-based.

So perhaps it's a combination of UV light deprivation, food culture and superb mountain water quality that produces these pretty babes. But my friends from KL always complained to me that it's not easy for them to see any pretty girls in Ipoh. That's because most of the girls above legal age have moved to KL for studies or work, you moron!!

Personally to be fair, I believe there are many other pretty girls throughout Malaysia from Penang to KL and to Sabah. Only Ipoh is famous for pretty girls may be an overstatement.

For No. 1, less I sounded arrogant, Ipoh may have one of the best bean sprout chicken around but the locals actually seldom go to Lou Wong. Some say it's too crowded. Others say the service has deteriorated. So usually tourists or those from out of town patronize them. We locals usually frequent Retoran Onn Kee which is across the street from Lou Wong and Restoran Cowan Street in Jlan Raja Ekram (Cowan Street) which is a stone throw from Lou Wong and Onn Kee. Of course some would argue which is the authentic version? All looks the same to me, what's important is the taste!

Pictures above source here

For No. 2, I most say white coffee is synonymous with Ipoh Old Town. When I first moved to KL for my studies in the mid-1990s, I never heard of white coffee in KL other than in Ipoh. Now you can have it everywhere in Malaysia with the 3-in-1 packs or any white coffee-serving cafes mushrooming in Klang Valley.

But my favourite white coffee fix is still Nam Heong Coffee Shop in Ipoh Old Town. The taste and aroma is still one of the best around. And don't ask me which is the original among the few pioneers in Old Town. Each has its unique flavour.

The egg tart is a must try. The crust is thin and crispy, the filling is thick. Simply delicious.

Above picture source here

Another deli-attraction is the Pasir Pinji Big Tree Foot (Dai Shu Kuek in Cantonese) which is famous for its Yong Tau Foo. There are other delicacies like hor fun apart from Yong Tau Foo. The shack is actually under several really big trees and hence its name. So you get the rustic feel while enjoying your food there. But my favourite drink there is Iced Red Bean! Drink it on a hot day and whoa!!