Sate Kajang in the North South Highway

Doing a road trip sometimes allows one to eat well. Perhaps in the US, or maybe in France, and certainly on rail in Japan. But often, travelling by road on the PLUS North South Highway in Malaysia is not a culinary highlight.

the rest stops are quite well spaced along the road, but may sometimes be very crowded during holidays where there are a lot of people travelling. And often the meals are just to survive or to keep awake.

Rarely does one find a gem. But recently, while driving from Penang to Singapore, along a rest stop called Dengkil, along the southbound road, I found this little satay shop, curiously with the name spelt out as Sate, which I understand is the common Indonesian spelling.

Hungry, we stopped for some.

Costing some RM0.80 per stick, we ordered 10 beef and 10 chicken. The beef was rather tender, being well seasoned. The flavouring from the spices were quite nice. The chicken was tender as well, but with the lean meat interspersed with chicken fat, was a bit greasy for my tastes. The gravy was interesting that it was a nice, creamy texture, with a lots of crushed peanuts, but was very mild. Chilli was served in a separate small bowl, and can be added as per one's tastes.

The satay were broilled on a gas stove, and therefore lacked the charcoal flavour that makes satay so alluring.

We also had teh tarik...pulled tea. This was rather nice, thick milk tea, with a beautiful foamy head.

Overall, not bad for a food joint in the middle of the highway not known for culinary delights. Recommended.

Sate Kajang Hj Samururi

R&R Dengkil Southbound

PLUS North South Highway

Malaysia

Satay by the Bay: Satay, of course! At Top Satay

Satay by the Bay...an interesting hawker centre right smack between Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage.

A frequent drink stop for many cyclists who ride around the area, I decided to stop one evening for some satay. Reputation is that it is very good. I had tried some from the City Satay stall there, but suffice to say, uninspiring. So this time, we decided to try the Malay stalls.

The sataymen in attendance were quite chatty..."Satay Club? No more Satay Club anymore la...they all bluff. Now we are second, third or even fourth generation satay sellers. Where got original from Satay Club? All retired or passed on."

Interesting, methots. Grilling of the satay is done in traditional style...over hot charcoal. But how does it taste?

Very good. We ordered beef and mutton. The beef was a bit tough, just a tad so. But the mutton was brilliant. Both were very beautifully flavoured. The sauce, or kuah as it is called in Malay, is quite good as well. Nice, crushed peanuts.Smooth sauce, very rich.

Recommended.

Top Satay
Satay by the Bay
http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/dining/satay-by-the-bay.html

Best laksa in town? Try Laksania as a potential candidate

Laksa is a traditional dish served by divers peoples of the region. We have Singapore laksa, Kelantan Laksa, Indonesian Laksa, Penang Laksa and some other innovations which have crept up over the years inspired by the traditional laksas of the region.

So it is interesting that an eatery has sprung up...I guess no more than a couple of years ago, specializing in all kinds of laksa. One hot and sweaty afternoon, I headed down with a good friend to try the laksa...I had originally thought to try the Kelantan version, as I have never eaten one before, it wasn't a good idea as I would not have a reference to blog on. I also decided that imposing a high standard on the Penang Laksa may be unfair...so tried what Laksania (the name is a play of words...Laksa, being the dish, and nia...being the Hokkien term for only) call their signatures.

Ordering is through a counter, like a fast food joint, but this is no fast food joint...after ordering and paying, one is given a number and the dishes served at the table.

We tried the Special Singapore Laksa

Superb. Fragrant, rich tasting. The noodles were the rough bee hoon...thicker than regular vermicilli.

Flavours deep, with dried shrimp, shallots, local spices cooked with coconut milk. One of the better laksas I have eaten. I must confess I am not a fan of the (becoming ubiquitious) Katong Laksa...as I find them too rich, and lacking in deep flavours. But the Laksania version thrumps the Katong Laksa in all the important and critical areas. Hits the spot for me. Love this laksa. So very highly recommended.

We also tried the Laksa Goreng...

Interesting too...same thick rice noodles. Probably the same sauce is used to fry the noodles. Egg added. Tasted like a beautifully fried noodle dish...similar in essence though not in style as the Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, but with the twist of a rather strong (I use this in the most positive sense) undertone of the laksa flavours. Very nice too.

For a bit of meat, we added the Chicken Satay

Huge (for satay...more like kebab sized) chunks of tender chicken on skewers. Fully marinated in laksa sauce. Wonderful aroma, nicely barbecued. A curious sauce...a bit creamy, but with more than a distinct hint of laksa leaves was served. I prefer the satay au naturale...sans a sauce. Loved it too.

The drinks were a bit more mixed...I had a rather bland lemongrass, and my lunch companion had a chendol. I guess nothing to be impressed with, especially after being swept off our feet with the marvellous laksas and satay. High marks for the food, and very much recommended.

Laksania
Bugis+
201 Victoria Street
#04-04
6636 9776
Outlets also in East Coast and Nex Mall.

Satay: Pork and chicken satay at Alexandra Village

Satay...pieces of meat, marinated, skewered on a stick, and barbecued...the theme repeats itself in many cultures...most have their own versions of the same meal. But the Malaysia/Singapore are holds a special satay...slightly sweetly marinaded and with a gorgeous spicy peanut sauce. Divine!

Considering that it is a favourite amongst many, I am surprised that there are not many more good satay stalls here in Singapore. Perhaps its the troublesome nature of having to cook over a charcoal fire, and the smoke which accompanies. The Chinese variant, using pork in place of the original Malay version is even more difficult to find. I used to patronize a stall in the now defunct Commonwealth Food Centre...and most of the others are spread around the island, and for some reason, only open for dinner.

When I chanced on Old Punggol one day in Alexandra Village and discovered they are open from noon every day, we made it a point to return to sample it for lunch. And when we did return, we suspect this was our long lost stall from Commonwealth. Perhaps.

The satay was beautifully marinated and nicely barbecued in the charcoal...with crispy burnt bits adding layers to the flavour. I ordered a mix of pork and chicken. The stall also offers mutton in addition.

Taste wise, quite good. There are bits of pork fat interspersed amongst lean meat...and the cooking was well controlled such that the fats did not melt and spill out, but at the verge of being so...thus at each bite, these little almost melting bits of lard would burst in full flavour in the mouth, adding to the symphony of smoked meat, sweet marinate, spicy sauce, and creamy, crunchy peanut.

The sauce deserves its own picture...it was beautifully smooth, but with chunky bits of ground peanuts and a dollop of pineapple puree to give it some acid and sweetness. Very nice.

I am not quite certain if this is the old Commonwealth stall...but it sure does bring back memories of the stall. Highly recommended.

Old Punggol Satay

Alexandra Village Food Centre

120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-52

Tel: +65 9677 0074 / +65 9824 3730

Satay in Penang: Satay Hut

Satay is one of the comfort foods. Originally Malay in origin...though, I think if we trace back eons...it probably converge with other cuisines in pre-history...the tradition of barbecuing meat on a skewer is found almost in all old cultures. But the uniqueness of the Malay/Indonesian satay is the peanut sauce.



Typically, satay stores are roadside carts...barbecuing their meats on a charcoal fire...with the pakcik fanning the coals to cook the skewered meat. But this was a real cafe style store within a large hypermarket.

We ordered the chicken and the beef...



The beef was a bit on the tough side...but chalk that up to lack of fat in the meat. But the sauce was gorgeous. Truly gorgeous. Very rich, creamy, with aromatic crunchy peanuts. Beautiful. Reminded me of a shop in Centerpoint some 20 years ago, called Satay Anika which served the most marvellous satay I have tasted. Satay Anika's meats were chunky, fat and tender. But they are no more. Alas.

The chicken was a bit more tender, but flavourful. And the same power sauce...



BTW, the sauce looks different in hue, but tasted more or the same. I am not sure if they take the trouble to make two different sauces for beef and chicken. But looking through my photographs (I forget how they looked then), the GH2 saw the colours as different.

They also served a rather nice roti jala



A pancake of sorts, but made by dripping flour onto a hot flat pan by allowing the flour mix to drip on the pan through small holes in the can containing the mix. Resulting in a pancake which looks like a net...the Malay word for net is jala, hence the name. The beef rendang we had was very good. The meat was still a bit chewy, but totally in character with the rendang. The sauce, rich, smothering and wonderfully aromatic.

Disclaimer: The shop is owned by my sister's friend...though when we visited, we did not inform the owner, and she was not at the store. My sister is not known to her staff, so we believe we did not get any preferential treatment.


Satay Hut
Tesco (Tg. Pinang) Tanjung Tokong, Penang 10470