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I thought that over many years I had sampled most of the foods SE Asia has to offer but yesterday I had Otak Otak (so good they had to name it twice). I think it is now close to the top of my favourite foods - I cannot believe I have never eaten it before.
As far as I can make out it is fish and spices with seafood (in this case calamari and prawns) and eggs. The dish can either be steamed or baked.
Mee Goreng you are probably all familiar with but this was a Mee Goreng Mamak, (Indian Muslim Mee Goreng) - no chicken but bean curd and slightly different spices. If it were not for the Otak Otak this would be top of my list of current favourites.
Then there is Durian - I love Durian but it is not to everyone's taste. First there is the strong pervading smell which is why most hotels ban it.
Personally I rarely buy the fruit (RM10 per kilo) but prefer to pay extra for a selection. The problem with buying the fruit is that it is very variable.
Once you overcome the smell of rotting alien fetus the fruit itself is absolutely delicious and creamy.
When we were driving back from the Cameron Highlands the car filled with the strong smell of Durian. It took a moment but we realised that immediately in front of us was a small van full of the fruit. I risked life and limb to overtake.
Looks tasty Bruce, well apart from the Durian. Am I right in thinking it is banned almost everywhere in public? I wonder who first decided to eat one?
I don't think it is banned in public because every market and road side stall sells it but Hotels have signs everywhere banning it. It certainly has a strong smell.
To be fair the smell is no worse than some cheeses I have sampled in Europe, I remember as a child my Aunt's cheese platter one Christmas included a cheese that smelled literally like shit.
This afternoon I mentioned to my friend that I had not tried Otak Otak before. She was quite taken aback and produced several photos of me taken years apart both in Malaysia and Thailand which clearly show me tucking into Otak Otak.
I can only blame old timer's disease. I was forced to take her out to a local Thai Restaurant as penance. We had Snakehead fish, prawns and calamari.
Probably my last night out in Malaysia for a while, I fly out of Alor Setar to KL tomorrow arvo then back to god's own country tomorrow night, land in Sydney about 10am on Monday. Four weeks has just flown past.
I don't think it is banned in public because every market and road side stall sells it but Hotels have signs everywhere banning it. It certainly has a strong smell.
To be fair the smell is no worse than some cheeses I have sampled in Europe, I remember as a child my Aunt's cheese platter one Christmas included a cheese that smelled literally like shit.