Here’s the thing about Southeast Asia: most tourists don’t come for the Michelin stars. They want street food vendors, sizzling skewers and plastic chairs. They want to be in the thick of it, perched next to locals and swapping fine dining for a cheap, cheerful and ultimately delicious meal. This is why visitors to Malaysia are obliged to try a banana leaf lunch. Served at most mamaks (street side restaurants with typically outdoor seating), these lunches are (as in their namesake) served on a large, green banana leaf. While each banana leaf is different, punters can expect raitas, poppadoms and a big serving of rice as a compulsory standard. It’s hearty, full of flavour, and will get you to grips with the local fare. Come to Kuala Lumpur and you’ll find a mamak on every street corner, packed to the brim with hungry people from all walks of life; families breaking Ramadan fast, office workers on lunch and tourists squinting confusedly at the Malay menus. One of the more well-known mamaks is Sri Nirwana Maju Bangsar, located at the heart of KL’s trendy Bangsar district. A little pricier than the national standard (22 ringgit, £3.70), Nirwana more than makes up for it in portion size and flavour, leaving customers to this often busy restaurant with their bellies full and hearts content. Between 11am and 3pm the banana leaf lunch buzz is in full swing, with uniformed waiters swiftly attending crowds at the stainless steel tables. The decor is simple, white walls dotted with a few calendars and decorative images that highlight the food and drinks counters. The ambiance here is created by the simple things; the chatter of customers, shouting of orders, clinking of plates. Strangers sit across from each other, fork and spoons engaged in a ravenous tussle with their banana leaf lunch. You come here for the food, plain and simple. The process of serving banana leaf is almost as exciting as the eating itself. First, the waiter sits you down takes your drink order (Ice Lemon Tea is highly recommended - a refreshing calamansi ice tea blend). A flat green banana leaf is then placed in front of you, acting as a plate. Then, with a fanfare of serving flourish, come the meal components. Huge, steaming portions of fresh rice are piled onto your leaf, and will keep on being piled until you tell them to stop. Carrying three cylindrical metal pails, the waiter then offers you the choice of three curries to sauce your rice - lentil dahl, chicken curry sauce or fish curry sauce. Opting for the latter, I was treated to a rich, zesty accompaniment. Then come the rest - a tub of light sambal (soup), a fiery chili pickle, a subtle yet sweet potato curry, milky and cooling raita, and then the star - bright red bitter gourd pakora, an absolute treat to the very last crunch. And all this before the main has even arrived. To go with the banana leaf, customers are invited to choose from a flusteringly large range of main options. These include chicken tandoori, curry and fried fish. To go with my fish curry sauce, I ordered a hefty (albeit dry) portion of fried fish. Rounded off with the grand bazaar of meal components, it solidified an altogether waist-busting and highly memorable dining experience. “Nirvana is pure, detachment from all material things and existence,” says Nriwana Maju owner Amutha Devi. “That’s why we chose the name. You eat food at Nirwana, you feel pure.” If purity can be defined as a full belly and happy smile, then seek enlightenment at Nirwana Maju.
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“When I come to Al Ehsan with my friends, sometimes we have competitions to see who can eat the most Nasi Lemak,” says Afiq Ibrahim, a local lawyer from Kuala Lumpur. “There are times I’ve eaten two or three plates in one sitting!”
Regarded by diners as Malaysia’s crowning food glory, you can’t really go wrong with Nasi Lemak. Coconut rice, hot sambal, peanuts, dried anchovies and a boiled egg, accompanied by a flexible meat side (think fried chicken, rendang or stew), it’s calorific, comforting and oh-so-very delicious. Restoran Al Ehsan sits on a buzzing street in Petaling Jaya (PJ), lit up along a row of mamaks, motorbikes and plastic chairs. Clued-up locals from KL and its surrounding townships travel here especially for the Nasi Lemak; a tasty number, classic enough to keep loyalists happy but different enough to make it special. A huge grill and serving station mark the entrance to Al Ehsan, manned by an indefatigable cook who effortlessly plates up rows of food. A long line of steel trays is dotted by a garden of Nasi Lemak. Whites, reds and crispy browns set as offerings to customers.
The interior is plain and simple; the food is anything but. Rich, salty rice cooked in coconut milk is an exciting base, a central taste that sets this Nasi Lemak’s elevated tone. The peanuts provide crunch and the egg brings the soft, marrying together different textures.
What is most unique here is the sambal. Typically salty with anchovies, this sauce is sweet like chili jam. It’s a surprising hit that with chutney-like-effect converts you to the belief a boiled egg goes well with sugar. While the side of meat is optional, I’m telling you now that Restoran Al Ehsan’s crispy fried chicken is mandatory. Generous chunks of meat with dessicated salty skin will have you licking your fingers, scraping the last of the trimmings with mournful delight. To drink, one Malaysian classic deserves another. Milo Ice, a powdered chocolate milk drink, rounds of a fantastic, filling, fried feast. Restoran Al Ehsan’s Nasi Lemak may be a little odd, and definitely more than a little fattening, but in the immortal words of many of their customers: who cares? Order that second, third and fourth plate now. Jalan 20/14 46300 Petaling Jaya Selangor Malaysia Food ***** Ambiance *** Andrew Headspeath
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Twitter: DestDelicious Instagram: destinationdelicious Facebook: destdelicious A food lovers guide to the best places to eat in Tokyo
I recently visited Tokyo, which was a foodie's delight. I've rounded up my favourite culinary highlights, which I'd recommend to anyone visiting Tokyo.
Sushi Zanmai, Tsukiji market, Ginza Here you'll find gorgeously fresh sushi on the periphery of the famous Tsukiji market. Sit at the bar, so you can watch the master chefs at work. And ensure you save some room to spontaneously eat at the food stalls as you wander around!
Yakitori Hachibei, Roppongi
This place specialises in everything you can imagine expertly barbecued on a stick – from shitake mushrooms, Ginkgo nuts and edamame fritters to pork belly, chicken hearts, crispy skin and bacon-wrapped asparagus.
Pizza Strada, Azabu Juban
Hands down the best pizza I’ve eaten in a long time, and I did not expect to find it in Japan!
The Pig Union, Roppongi
Choosing only between pork tenderloin or chop, this panko-breadcrumbed porcine delight, which was accompanied by shredded cabbage, steamed rice and miso soup, was simple but spot on.
Manrikiya, Azabu Juban
This casual, no-fuss restaurant offers an array of Japanese and Chinese dishes – quirky long gyoza, a rich and fiery Tantanmen, washed down with Sake free-poured at the table into shot glasses!
Gonpachi, Nishi Azabu
Now famous for having hosted an iconic scene from Kill Bill, it’s worth popping in here for a carafe of Sake and some karaage, or fried chicken.
Sarashina Horii, Azabu Juban
Anthony Bourdain rated this place and I rate Anthony Bourdain, so I thought I'd check it out. This restaurant is excellent for a quick soba lunch – hot or cold noodles, hot or cold broth, just dip and slurp. I also recommend a bit of tempura on the side.
L’Atelier de Joël Rebuchon, Roppongi
Part of the worldwide chain, but with its own neighbourhood charm, this restaurant is classy yet unpretentious. I will dream about the duck liver on Parmesan truffle risotto for years to come!
Sushi Seizan, Roppongi
Compact, bustling, and clearly a post-work Friday haunt, go for reliable sushi and beers – the grilled eel nigiri is a heavenly cut above the rest.
Mon Cher Ton Ton, Roppongi
Perfect for a special occasion, this teppanyaki offers set menus of varying extravagance. The prawns were a highlight, (I even enjoyed the head and the crisp legs), and the wagyu beef was sublime.
Xian Nishi, Shinjuku
This restaurant features Chinese with a Sichuan slant. For our last meal in Tokyo, we went out with a bang and indulged in some of our spicy favourites – an exemplary mapo tofu, wontons in chilli oil, Dan Dan noodles and La Zi Ji chicken with dried chilli peppers!
I hope that my recommendations have inspired you to visit Tokyo for your own amazing foodie adventure!
Luci Lyne Have a recommendation for the best restaurant in Tokyo? Connect with us to share your travel tips or simply see where our latest travels take us. Twitter: DestDelicious Instagram: destinationdelicious Facebook: destdelicious Ready to book your holiday to Tokyo? Check out the offers below from Booking.com
Art Basel comes to Hong Kong this March. The event provides a portal for the region's artists to showcase modern and contemporary works. Parallel programmes produced in collaboration with local institutions make each edition unique.
In addition to featuring leading galleries from around the globe, each exhibition casts the spotlight on the latest developments in the visual arts world to offer new ideas and new inspiration.
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Once an ancient port city on the Silk Road, today, Macau remains a vibrant and prosperous cosmopolitan city bursting with influences from the Eastern and Western communities that have made it their home.
While many cultures prevail in Macau, it's the Portugese who have most firmly put their stamp on this region. In the 1550s, Portugese settlers declared it A Ma Gao, 'Place of A Ma', in honour of the Goddess of Seafarers, whose temple stood near the harbour. It then gradually changed into the namesake it's known as today. While Macau is widely known for being an international gambling mecca, there are many other charms that this city has on offer for those in the know. The Historic Centre of Macau - Something for everyone to enjoy... The Historic Centre of Macau is comprised of European-style squares and more than 20 monuments as well as a chapel, a fortress, a cathedral, churches, a temple and Old City Walls. With so many architectural delights to enjoy, tourists are spoilt for choice. Must-see sights include: The Ruins of St. Paul's, Mount Fortress, Casa Garden and Senado Square. Discover the unique diversity of Macanese Cuisine The Portugese influence is most apparent in Macanese cuisine, which is a unique fusion of Chinese and Portugese cooking. Delicacies include: African Chicken (chicken grilled in piri piri peppers); Tacho (a hearty stew of Chinese vegetables and different meats; Galinha Portugesa (chicken with potatoes, eggs, onions, saffron); Minchi (minced beef with fried potatoes, soya sauce, onions and a fried egg); Lingaudo Macau (Macau sole fried and served with a green salad); and Porco Balichao (Balichao pork). A popular dessert is Jagra De Ovos (sweet egg tart). A world of flavours to be experienced...
In addition to Portugese cuisine, you'll find a wealth of other tasty cuisines in Macau including: Italian, French, American, Brazilian, Japanese, Korean, Mozambican, Thai, Southeast Asian, Bumese, Indonese, Malaysian and Singaporean.
Portugese Wine in Macau Wine lovers will love the selection of Portugese wines available at the Wine Museum in the Tourism Activities Centre. Here visitors can find historical information about wine production, while learning about the cultural importance of wine in the Portugese tradition. Traditional pastries in Macau Taipa Island is renowned for its traditional pastries. In Macau, you can find pastry shops around Senado Square and along Rua de S. Paulo near the Ruins of St. Paul's. Ensure that you try the ‘Pastéis de Nata’ (little egg tarts) that can be found at most cafes and bakeries in the city. Shopping in Macau
Luxury items are cheaper in Macau than in other cities in the region. Here, savvy shoppers stock up on jewellery, cameras, porcelain, electronic items, mobile phones, watches, cashmere jumpers and silk clothing.
Macau is also a fantastic destination for sourcing Chinese antiques and treasures. Here you'll find ancient coins, stamps, and teas and coffees from around the world. For guidance on where to shop, visit: Macau shopping malls Macau shopping districts Visit Macau today to experience a place unlike any other... With an abundance of culture delights to choose from and an array of sensational world cuisines to enjoy, there's never been a better time to visit Macau. For more information on Macau, visit Macau Government Tourist Office at www.macautourism.gov.mo. A.A. Miln
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