Showing posts with label Chong Chon. Show all posts

OODLES OF GREEN NOODLES, CHONG CHON CENTRAL PARK

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It’s the recipes of old that really get to you sometimes. It’s those recipes that you know like the back of your hand, simply because you’ve had them as a child and they have made your childhood both fond and tasty. For those blessed with a childhood such as this, you’d be inclined to share it with those around you. For those who chose that road, God bless you.

Its stories like the ones above that Chong Chon Cafe in Central Park shares. Born from the same legacy of those delicious puffs that I hope you've tried and read from here, this establishment named after his mother “Chong Chon”, injects that same passion and feeling of tender loving care into their food.



I’ve been coming here for years but due to a busy schedule, and working far away, I’ve rarely been back since. The last visit I can recall was with my lovely foodie of a girlfriend, Leanne and it was touching that he remembered our visits and noticed her absence. Honestly, I’m not surprised when she’s quite a beauty to behold.

Ridiculously Photogenic Noodle Guy
Before I get carried away with talking about her, there’s something special about having a relationship of sorts with the people making your food. It’s those relationships that make going out to eat all the better. It helps when the person making your food, makes absolutely delicious dishes.

It is important to note that you’re going to have a hard time ordering any drinks while you’re here especially at peak hour. You’re going to have to bring yourself to the drinks counter to save yourself some time and frustration instead of waiting for waiters that will never come.


I’m a fan of noodles if you haven’t noticed, and when noodles are home-made, it makes them all the better. Do not be deceived by the health benefits that Spinach brings though. This is definitely one of those meals that looks healthier than it really is.


In terms of aesthetics though, the colour pops right out of your bowl, and upon biting you’ll notice how well cooked they are as the springiness of good noodles is achieved. The Spinach formed into the noodles have a good dense texture to them, just in case you’re wondering what else the Spinach does for this dish.


image-1

On these noodles, you’ll have a whole slew of things to try with them, but today I have ordered my go-to addition of Beef Stew while having the noodles dry. You have the option of having the broth in your bowl, but like all picky eaters I want to be the master of what I eat and how much I eat of it.



The beef is soft and juicy, and that flavour is achieved from having it cooked for hours on end. Those flavours are evident within the broth itself. It is elements like these that you’re certain have been given the right amount of care and supervision it deserves.



You also have the option of having some sweet plum sauce and fried shallots (Pronounced Sha-lots, as referenced by Colette) on the side. I'm not too sure what it's called exactly, but a friend Louisa calls them "The Extra Onion Thing". This is not a requirement, but it’ll be your loss considering you’ll be missing out on the sweet and savoury addition of this “sauce” if you don’t.


Something extra that was ordered was the roast chicken with the noodles. It’s definitely something lighter than beef and the chicken is well seasoned and roasted to tender juiciness. You may notice that the words tender, juicy and tasty are common adjectives with this place.

I hate using this term, but this is definitely a “must-try” for those looking for something different from the usual Kolo Mee most of us are accustomed to. It is the merging of simple elements, given the right time and care that makes delicious food taste the way they do. Noodles and meat have rarely ever tasted this good.

You can make your way down to Chong Chon noodles everyday from 7am to 2:30pm. For a rough location, you can find it behind the Third Mile Mcdonalds.


Prices can be found in the pictures provided. 

I also post every Monday at around 8-9:00 pm Malaysian time. 





Eating with friends always make good food taste better. Here are some pictures taken by Julian of our food trip that day. Much sadness for not having John-Paul on our trip. Good luck on your exams tomorrow, buddy! God bless.




OLD KUCHING PART 2: TAKE A PUFF OF THIS, CHONG CHON BISCUIT MAKER

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*Khai Joo Lane - Google
Continuing where we left off in the previous post, today we at Urban Palate will be travelling through Khai Joo Lane, to visit Chong Chon which is part of our Old Kuching mini-series.


If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you may click HERE.

I can’t recall how exactly I found this place with a friend of mine, Joshua for the first time. What I do recall though, was an approximate location given to us by a priest who wanted us to find the best puffs in Kuching. Needless to say, by the grace of God and good instincts, we found the right one because these puffs are absolutely superb. ALL OF THEM are, by the way.

Located along the walkway of Khai Joo Lane, is Chong Chon. This elusive shop that has been open for about 40 years sells the best puffs you’ll find yourself eating in Kuching. It helps that its location is in the heart of the city, which makes bringing friends here relatively easy if you’re planning on exploring the city area by foot.


I was the only one it seems who wasn't ready for this picture. #muchseds
Arriving here at the right time can a bit tricky as only the Siew Pau’s are ready before 11am and everything else should be done by 1pm onwards. If you take your time though, like arrive say past 3pm you might not even have a chance to try any puffs at all as they run out quickly. Like, really quickly. People literally buy them in boxes.



If you’ve never tried these puffs, and by chance you arrive when they're all still ready, I’d suggest you to just try one of each. If I could liken the experience of having a bite of of these for the first time, I'd compare it to hearing classical music while watching the world spin in slow motion. 








While waiting for your puffs to be ready, feel free to speak to any one of the patrons as they’d be more than happy to share with you their rich history that spans from the 40 years they’ve been in business and the recipe they inherited from their mother who came from Taiwan. Fun fact, their mother is also the owner of the recipe for a certain “Chong Chon” at Third Mile that serves Home-Made Green Noodles. That though, is a story for another day.

You may proceed to either eat your puffs at home, or the café next door who will gladly allow you to sit there if you would kindly buy yourself a drink.

Before we start dissecting the puffs, I must add that ALL of the pastry skin has a strange ability to hold the filling while still being crumbly and buttery. If you haven't realized, this is a good thing. A very very good thing actually.

Curry Puff



If what you're used to when you're eating curry puffs is a ton of potato and a tiny spoonful of meat, you'll get your money's worth here as this is nothing like the aforementioned. Yes, you will notice some potato but you will also be able to get large chunks of meat with every bite. The flavour of curry is also very evident as the curry powder used is strong but not overpowering while carrying a mild kick of heat, which is still friendly for those who aren't fond of spicy foods.


Siew Pau





The Siew Pau if what I'm told is correct, is what people come here for. The filling is a mixture of a garlic like gravy which may be quite strong for some, but is delicious nonetheless while the pork inside is juicy and chunky.








The Yam Puffs here as shown above, are second to none as the skin as I've mentioned before is the right thickness so you don't get a large chunk of the pastry without meat as you bite into them for the first time. I don't like yam. But I LOVE them in this, as its addition provides for a soft mushy gravy that is quite similar to the Siew Pau, but very different in terms of milder flavours and softer textures.

Egg Tart



The crème de la crème of our journey on a personal note, belongs to the Egg Tarts here as the combination of the beautiful pastry that holds that thick creamy custard-like tart is simply divine. Make no mistake. There is nothing dry about this filling nor short of perfection in flavour. 



I cannot rave about this place enough, but should you be in the area or are feeling a bit peckish at the right time but do not want to spoil your tummy for a meal, I'd recommend Chong Chon biscuits for a quick bite and a lasting experience. 



Chong Chon, Khai Joo Lane is opened on the weekdays of Monday - Friday from 10:30am - approx 3:00pm or till they sell out.


You can contact them at 082-248621 if you have a big order to make for an event or party so that they may be able to prepare accordingly.




My friends have been complaining that I don't show a more personal side in terms of me showing myself in pictures, so here's a little treat. 

Major un-glam level 99