The ocean's bounty

Mersing is known for its abundance of sea food and diversity of marine life.

On a recent trip to the market, I was happy to see that the fish stocks have rebounded. There was plenty of fish and they were of a good size, meaning that the fishermen are not over-fishing.

The fish were really fresh and we bought some to steam that night.

Selamat Hari Raya

To all of Mersing's residents and visitors, we wish you all a happy and safe Eid Mubarak.

Nothing  says Raya like homemade cakes and good food.

Here's Cikgu (teacher) Kiah's famous pineapple tarts. Oh so tasty !

in the kitchen

finished pineapple tarts with homemade jam

Some rendang and ketupat palas. Too yummy to describe.

Hope everyone is enjoying this festive season ! Go visit a friend celebrating Raya, 
chances are you will get to enjoy some of these treats.

Organic Farms

Avocado tree at Iskandar Inn

Organic foods are not popular in Malaysia as in other parts of the world, but the change to more organic sustainable farming is coming. It comes from 'demand' and as a consumer you can ask, 'is this organic or pesticide free ?'

Already quite a bit of stuff in Mersing in grown organically which means no pesticides and the ground is free from poison (such as mercury from illegal gold mines) and other commercial chemical fertilizers.

I know its more expensive, but who wants to put chemicals and poisons into our own bodies.

For example, Gucharan our local dairy farmer, rears his cows in a sustainable and hormone free way.

The cows produce milk that is delicious and the tairu (yogurt) is some of the best to be found, as good as the best french yogurt and definitely much better than things like Yoplait.

Then there is the organic farm in Kluang, run by Zenxin, which grows organic fruits and vegetables. There is even a store there that sells their organic produce. Stop by when you drive from KL to Mersing through the Kluang road. Kahang is another town where organic farming is taking place. I have ot nconfirmed it yet but its seems they grow organic rice.

A friend's sister is involved in this positive movement on the Virgin Islands. Maybe we can learn from our distant cousins there, after all its another tropical paradise.

http://growvi.org/

An original Kopi Tiam - Sri Mersing Cafe

Sri Mersing Cafe is a gem. An original Kopi Tiam (Chinese coffee shop) located in Mersing where fresh coffee and baked goods are served hot, along with the buzz of deals being made and local news being discussed by its patrons. Its frequented by everyone in town; Malay, Chinese and Indian, a truly Malaysian place ! Its clean and has been around for over 25+ years.

The coffee is roasted fresh on the premises, and is served strong. The baked goods are made at the shop and include breads, cakes and local pastries. Try the Kaya toast ( with or without butter , spread on a bun or a slice of thick toast). Have this along with a two soft boiled eggs and it will bring back memories or make new ones.

I'm still getting the hang of ordering the coffee since like most Malaysian restaurants, tea and coffee are served complete with milk and sugar. To have it plain you have to learn how to order it minus the extras.





Kopi = Coffee with sweet condensed milk (on the bottom)
Kopi O = Black with sugar ( the 'O' omits the milk )
Kopi O Kosong = Black without sugar ( the Kosong omits the sugar )
Kopi C Kosong = Coffee with milk but no sugar.

When you're there try taking home a loaf of home baked bread; each slice is almost twice as thick as the ones you get from commercial bakeries and delicious with their Kaya.
Also try their egg tarts and pineapple pie.

Macam-macam goreng

Translation: things fried, or fried things.

One of my favourite places in and around Mersing is Penyabong, which is a small town centred around a jetty. A fishing town, you can purchase fresh fish straight from the boat at 4pm. The best part of going to Penyabong is the fresh macam-macam goreng. There's a small stall situated across the jetty owned by a boisterous Malay woman, who serves up a fried storm: fried crabs (ketam goreng), fried prawns on a skewer (head included, udang goreng), fried banana (pisang goreng), and fried fish cake (keropok lekor). You can purchase her dried keropok, and chilli sauce in a bottle.

Penyabong is located north of Mersing. The directions are convoluted, so ask for directions along the way. Penyabong is approximately 30 minutes drive away.

Early Rambutan Season

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/wongjunhao/

Rambutan season has now began! Rambutan is a tropical fruit that is reddish and covered with fleshy pliable spines. Rambutan is derived from the Malay word rambut, which means hairs. One the skin is peeled off, the fruit is translucent, whitish in colour, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavour similar to lychee.

Photo courtesy of huan of www.quoz.com. Thanks!

Loke Tien Yuen Restaurant

55 Jalan Abu Bakar, Mersing

Open for lunch from 12:00pm - 2:30pm

Open for dinner to 9:00pm

Loke Tien is a Chinese seafood restaurant that serves the best steamed fish in Mersing. The owner, Margaret, runs this bright and clean establishment, which was first opened by her grandfather. When dining at Loke Tien, ask Margaret what is fresh, and she generally recommends a couple of dishes. All of the steamed fish is brought in fresh from the day's catch. We haven't once had to look at the menu.

What to order:

-- Steamed fish (the red grouper is the best!)

-- Prawn dumplings (a specialty of Loke Tien)

-- Whatever is fresh or recommended

Where & what to eat

Malaysian Foods

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Cendol (pronounced Chen-Dole) is a type of dessert that consists of white coconut milk, thin pandan-flavoured green-coloured flour noodles, palm sugar (gula melaka), red beans, and shaved ice. Sweet corn could also be added. Cendol is a wonderful complement for a hot summer's day.

Ais Kacang (pronounced Ice Kah-Chaang) is a type of dessert for a hot summer's day, consisting of shaved ice served with sweet flavoured syrup and jelly. Kacang is a malay word for bean, and ais kacang also comes with a helping of sweet red beans. Often, a large serving of attap chee (palm seed), sweet corn, grass jelly, cubes of agar agar and cendol form the base. Evaporated milk is drizzled over the mountain of ice.

Where

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Al-Hamid Cendol

Hassan owns Al-Hamid Cendol, which is the local coffeehouse that serves the best cendol in town. Years ago, Hassan had started off with a small cendol pushcart, and gradually the number of customers grew. Now he owns a mamak shop that sells an assortment of food and drinks, such as tosai, and teh tarik. However, his original cendol pushcart still stands in front of his shop, where the cendol is still made.


Mersing Cafe

Mersing Cafe is located around the corner from Public Bank, a short distance from the old market. An original kopitiam, it serves the best kaya toast with real butter! Their bread is freshly baked each morning, and Mersing Cafe grinds their own coffee!

What to order at Mersing Cafe:
- Kaya toast with butter (in malay: roti bakar dengan butter)
- Kopitiam coffee, with condensed milk on the bottom (kopi)
- Tea mixed with evaporated milk, with condensed milk on the bottom (teh)
- Half boiled eggs (telur stenga masak)


Loke Tien

Lok Tien is a Chinese seafood restaurant that serves the best steamed fish in Mersing. The owner, Margaret, runs this bright and clean establishment, which was first opened by her grandfather. When eating at Lok Tien, ask Margaret what is fresh, and she generally recommends a couple of dishes. We haven't once had to look at the menu.

What to order at Lok Tien:
- Steamed fish (The red grouper is the best!)
- Prawn dumplings (A specialty of Lok Tien)
- Whatever is fresh