On occasion, it’s quite nice to have Nyonya (or Straits Chinese) food. It’s got its own distinctive taste different from other Chinese styles of cooking.

One of our favorites at the Peranakan Place, located on the connecting bridge at 1 Utama, is this Gulai Masam, a sourish Nyonya-style curry with fish fillet, eggplant and okra (ladies’ fingers).

The Chicken Rendang is quite similar to the regular ones you get with your nasi lemak (a local favorite of coconut rice, curry and condiments).

The Claypot Tofu comes with an interesting assortment of squid, dried mushrooms, carrots and French beans. As long as it’s tofu, my kids will make a dive for it, doesn’t matter what it’s cooked with.

Though this looks like a rather plain Garlic Kailan (or kale, I believe it’s called), it tastes pretty good especially with the fried shallot topping.

Seafood is not a big part of our daily menu, and certainly not squid (very high cholesterol *shudder*). So the kids only get to have their favorite Honey Sotong (or squid) when we eat out. The poor things !

I don’t remember seeing this Nyonya Fried Chicken on many restaurant menus, I don’t think. I’m no Ratatouille but I can tell it’s marinated with a ton of spices which accounts for its fragrance and strong flavor.

The crispy crumbs that are hiding under the chicken wings are to die for. I confess I was trying to fight the kids for every last crumb and don’t even remind me how fattening it is!

Someone once told me, when you’re eating, just forget about all the bad things the food could do to you, just eat and enjoy. It’s tempting to agree with him. But I can’t!

That’s why I’m not someone who rushes around chasing down food that people rave about. Many people I know would go to the ends of the earth. Not me!

I like to eat and try new food, yes but I wouldn’t drop everything and go. Besides taste is very subjective. One man’s meat is, after all, another man’s poison. I swear some of the food and restaurants that come highly recommended are not at all what I expect .

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