Honey Chicken Biryani Rice@ Restoran Samudera, Lumut, Perak

Among all the MOTOUR State Office Directors, I am particularly close to the state directors of Sabah (Nel), Negeri Sembilan (Ad), Sarawak (Es) and Federal Territory of Labuan (Maxwell). Everywhere we go, even during meetings or courses, the 5 of us would usually stick together. Coincidentally, there is a male member in the group and so, if the sitting arrangement is as illustrated by the photo below ... the female members looked as if they were sharing the same husband hahaha (to get the joke: A Muslim man is allowed to have 4 wives)

Well Maxwell looked like a "happy" man here!

"Madu" other than honey also means other wife or wives in Malay. So in line with the concept of "bermadu" (poligamy), during our last working trip to Lumut, we had lunch at Restoran Samudera (located just opposite the jetty to Pangkor Island) to try out their Nasi Briyani Ayam Madu (Honey Chicken Biryani Rice). To be honest, throughout my short stay in Lumut, I couldn't find any eating places that stood out from the others. Anyway, this place was selected based on recommendation by Ad's friend.

Nasi Briyani Ayam Madu (or Honey Chicken Biryani Rice)

To me, Indian style Ayam Madu (Honey Chicken) is best eaten with hot Biryani Rice and wash down with a glass of fresh mango juice.  In fact, I think Ayam Madu is the best accompaniment with Biryani Rice compared to Tandoori Chicken or Chicken Curry. Hmmm ... Reminded me of the famous Nasi Ayam Madu at Restoran Insaf (direct translation means realisation, sometimes feelings of symphaty or self-pity) which really, really made me "insaf" later. So pricy!!!!

Curry Calamari

Since Honey Chicken Biryani Rice is a simple serving of biryani rice, chicken and cucumber "acar" (a type of local pickle salad) we also ordered a plate of calamary/squid curry to go with our Biryani Rice. You can taste the freshness of the squid, which fits Lumut's reputation for it's great sea products. Overall, the Honey Chicken Biryani Rice here was nice, the place was clean and the service was good. But most important of all , we had each others company to enjoy the meal.

Nasi Briyani Ayam Tandoori Claypot @ Restoran Kapitan, Penang

Here in Penang, I have two drivers cum tourist guides. One for official duties, another for official functions (and non-official functions hehehe). So ... my official functions driver, Bob, first introduced me to this place which is said to be fame for its Tandoori Chicken Naan, done the Northern Indian style. Again, to be honest, I am also not a big fan of naan. In fact, I am not much of a bread eater (so to speak). However, click here for story about the Naan. You can't miss the restaurant, once you enter Chulia Street.

 

Another important landmark is to enter through the Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (I guess that was how the word "Kapitan" came from). Just ask people at the area, they will definitely show you the direction there.

As I was sitting there watching people enjoying a feast of red, succullent tandoori chicken with naan, a waiter passed me with a claypot dish. Then I saw, the customer, who ordered the claypot dish, transfered the dish to a plate and voilaaa .... deliciously looking, mouth-watering bright yellow briyani rice dish. Automatically I stopped another waiter and ordered the same dish like the "orang sebelah" (translated ... the person sitting on the next table).

I forgot to mention that it was the fasting month of Ramadan when I first came here. I did not fast, but the hecticness of my boss' schedule made me ended up fasting ... hahaha. So, naan or roti was definitely not in the list ... I needed something more filling! Not contented with just briyani rice and tandoori chicken, I ordered squid sambal to go with the dish (not the typical way of eating briyani rice hehehe). Man ... it was great and delicious till the last grain.

Since that day, I recommended Restoran Kapitan's Chicken Tandoori Briyani Claypot Rice, to  all for my friends, especially for the ones who couldn't stomach the Nasi Kandar, which is very synonymous to Penang. I dare say, many Caucasian (and non-Caucasian) tourists came here to eat too. As evidence in the picture below.

Location: 93, Lebuh Chulia, Georgetown, Penang

Roti Canai @Roti Canai Argyll Road, Penang

To be honest, I am not a great fan of Roti Canai ... first, I don't see the nutritional value in it (... heheh as if).  Second, few years back I saw workers in a very famous chain of mamak restaurant in Damansara Town Centre KL, peeing at a carpark bay, without washing their hands and proceed with the usual kneaded and flapping the roti canai dough ... euwwww.

However, on my first week in Penang (almost end of April 2010), my fellow colleagues introduced me to this Roti Canai Argyll Road. The easier way to get here is turning left from Penang Road. According to them, the owners previously operated their business in a hut, under a ketapang tree. And when business become so good, they moved to this building. Not sure whether they own it or not. The shop cleanliness is acceptable, a bit warm and oily from all the roti canai stall.

 

Hehehe ... since this was not my first time here and perhaps too use to people taking their photos already, Abang Mamak smile widely while flipping the roti canai. Back to the roti canai story ... Okay, though I told them that I am not a great fan of roti canai, my new colleagues suggested that I tried the Roti Telur (or simply translated the Egg Bread). Not to offend them, I just let them ordered me a plate of roti telur gulai daging ala banjir style.

I've checked several food blogs about this outlet and most blogger actually prefer the Roti Telur. By the way, there is another famous roti canai stall around the corner at Transfer Road which I will also feature later with updated pictures in this blog.

So taraaa ... this is how the roti telur with gulai daging banjir style looked like. As a non-Penangites and non-mamak food fan, I would say this roti telur is very nice. The roti telur is not too crisp too my liking and with certain degree of fluffiness which quite uncommon in roti canai. For those who frequent mamak outlets, the curry and dhal (chickpeas) gravy that accompany the roti canai has a certain not too powdery and not too overpowering curry taste. In fact, if I taste it correctly, I could detect faint taste of cinnamon. 

 

One of my friends, who is an anak mami herself, complained that the dhall gravy was quite diluted. However, to me it was quite okay and as a non roti canai fan (and of course an anak mummy), this is very good (again ... I don't receive any payment whatsoever from the owner for the repeated compliments). In fact, it is a yummy contrast compared to many of the roti canai stalls that is mushrooming in KL. By the way, the mutton curry gravy is also another must try.

 

This is the close shot. Fluffy and yummy...  the address of the shop is 67 Argyll Road (enter from Penang Road). GPS coordinate ... aiyo so "bodo" with this thing. Will update later.