Baek Jong Won
Let Chef Baek Jong Won Introduces You The Must Eat Penang Food
Friday, December 06, 2019
Popular Korean chef Baek Jong Won travels around the globe to find the best street food through tvN's food show 'Street Food Fighter 2'. In the previous episodes, Chef Baek explored Hanoi, New York, Xi'an, Mexico, Taipei, Sicily and Wuhan to introduce each city's best street food and their hidden gems. However in the latest episode, chef Baek arrives the city of street food heaven - Penang. Which Penang street food can captivate the taste buds of chef Baek Jong Won? We have listed it down:
1. Nasi Lemak
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| Baek Jong Won's breakfast: Nasi Lemak + Chinese tea |
Baek Jong Won kick starts by introducing what we, local, mostly had for breakfast - Nasi Lemak. Although the rice dish is topped with only fried anchovies, hard-boiled egg and peanuts but the sambal (chilli paste) itself enhances the overall flavours to the dish. Chef Baek also suggested to eat with sambal sotong (squid) or sambal udang (shrimp).
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| Restaurant Name: Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang Address: Sri Weld Food Court, Beach St, George Town |
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| Kuih |
The bite-sized snack, Kuih/Kueh caught chef Baek's attention at the food court. He said kuih is similar to tteok which is the Korean rice cakes that they commonly eat during festival or celebrations. He further added try to eat Pulut Tai Tai (blue glutinous rice cake) with kaya and it will taste even better. (ps: he even shared a little history about nyonya food)
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| Address: Sri Weld Food Court, Beach St, George Town |
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| Restaurant Name: Good Luck Bak Kut Teh Address: 14, Jalan Mahsuri, Bandar Bayan Baru, 11950 Bayan Lepas |
Chef Baek ordered both the soup and dry form of bak kut teh. He suggested if those who prefer less medical herbs taste could try the dry form instead. He explained the soup form of Bak Kut Teh is similiar to Galbi-tang which is the Korean-style short rib soup and the dry form however, is similar to Galbi-jjim, the Korean-style braised short ribs. (ps: he even explained the differences between Singapore and Malaysia Bak Kut Teh)
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| Soy sauce as condiment: Mixed the light or dark soy sauce with the minced garlic and chopped chili. |
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| Lok Lok |
Next stop, chef Baek moved to the night market where various street foods are served. Firstly, he tried our local common street food, Lok Lok which consists of various meats and vegetables that served on a skewer. Chef Baek suggested to dip the skewered food in satay or chilli sauce. He further expressed his love towards pork intestines and commented "I would regret if I didn't order this... Where else can we eat this on the street?"
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| Name: Gurney Drive Hawker Centre Address: 172, Solok Gurney 1, Pulau Tikus, 10250 Jelutong |
There are 3 flavours available - banana, corn and kaya and chef Baek chose the banana flavour apam balik. "It tastes even better if you try to eat it with coffee in the morning", said Baek Jong Won.
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| Name: Gurney Drive Hawker Centre Address: 172, Solok Gurney 1, Pulau Tikus, 10250 Jelutong |
While eating apam balik, chef Baek spotted one table is having rojak and so he moved on to the next food hunt. He said it's easy to find rojak stall in Penang, all you need to do is spot mango hanging at the stalls. "The sauce is really special. At first you might wandering what taste is that but as you eat you'll find its 'magical charisma'".
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| Name: Gurney Drive Hawker Centre Address: 172, Solok Gurney 1, Pulau Tikus, 10250 Jelutong |
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| Roti canai + Teh Tarik + Beef Curry |
Moving to the next day, chef Baek started by having roti canai as breakfast. As roti canai is kinda oily so the best drink to pair with it would be teh tarik. He described teh tarik as the sweet milk tea.
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| Restaurant Name: Roti Canai Jalan Argyll Address: Jalan Argyll, George Town, 10050 George Town |
How can you missed out asam laksa when you're in Penang? Chef Baek said many people can't accept asam laksa taste when they first tried it and they often questioned "Oh~ What's that?" He explained asam laksa is with fish-tamarind base and topped with pineapple, cucumber, onion and a spoonful of sweetened shrimp paste that gives the soup a mixture of sweet sour taste. "Even without kimchi it has a refreshing taste."
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| Restaurant Name: Kedai Kopi Taman Emas （金园茶餐室） Address: 11, Jalan Gottlieb, George Town |
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| Cendol approved by Baek Jong Won |
If you see this iconic wall mural, you found the right place. Chef Baek said even if you haven try cendol you definitely heard of it. It's made of 5 basic ingredients - shaved ice, coconut milk, gula melaka, cendol green jelly and red beans.
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| Add caption: Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul Address: 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100 George Town |
Did you know nasi kandar is originates from Penang? Chef Baek said when you order nasi kandar do remember to ask for the curry sauce. He further added it's a must to eat the chicken curry. The curry of nasi kandar is so good that even made him questioned "both are curry but why Korean chicken curry doesn't taste the same?"
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| Restaurant Name: Yasmeen Restaurant Address: 177, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10000 George Town |
Penang Chinese often has char kuey kak as their breakfast. Unlike pad thai that has a sour taste, char kuey kak gives a more savory taste. "It tastes like the radish cake, mutteok (무떡) in Korea but it's slightly softer than that," said Baek Jong Won.
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| Restaurant Name: Seow Fong Lye Cafe (小蓬莱茶室) Address: 94, Lorong Macalister, George Town, 11400 George Town |
The perfect combination for kaya toast is to dip it with the half boiled egg that topped with pepper and soy sauce. One side of the bread is topped with kaya jam and another side is with butter. Most important ingredient to make kaya jam is to put the panda leaf and not forget the coconut milk, sugar and eggs.
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| Restaurant Name: Ah Wang Cafe Address: J-6, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong, 10470 Tanjung Bungah |
We all know Penang has many good food in town but have you tried above street food that introduced by Baek Jong Woon? Next time do marked the restaurant and explore a different dining experience when you're in Penang. Next flight to Penang? Jom!
Street Food Fighter 2 airs every Thursday 11PM on tvN (Astro Ch 395).
