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Yahoo
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Always Lapar: Retro kampung cafe in town dishes up nasi lemak papadom & homemade gula melaka soy milk
On a trip to Cherating a while back, I noticed how common it was for old kampung-style houses to be transformed into eateries and touristy spots. I love that concept. Totally fitting for a place like Kuantan, which (thankfully) hasn't been overly gentrified yet. You don't see much of that in KL or Selangor, so it was a delight to stumble upon a similar spot just 5 minutes from home: Always Lapar. It's tucked along a narrow road near a shortcut I usually take to the highway. I was worried it'd be hard to find, but nope, the signage is loud and clear. From the outside, it's giving major 'grandma's house' energy with its wooden pillars, creaky doors, and old-school windows adorned with batik curtains. Inside, it's decently spacious but a tad warm. The space is split into a few cosy sections: there's the main dining area with plastic tables and chairs, an elevated corner with batik decor and wooden furniture (you'll need to take your shoes off here), and a nook filled with shelves of dusty old books. The walls are covered with retro Western posters, which felt a bit off. Personally, I think some local art would've added more soul, but hey, the vintage vibes still hit the mark. You can tell they put effort into making it feel nostalgic and homey. Now, full disclosure: I'd read a few Google reviews saying the food was… not great. So while the place looks the part, the real question is: can they deliver where it matters most? Time to find out. I went with their Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM16) from a tempting lineup of local dishes. It's a classic I know well, and one that shouldn't be that hard to get right, surely. The plate looked great. The coconut rice came with all the usual bits, plus some extras like papadom, fried tempeh, and a side of thin cabbage in what seemed like a yellow curry or gulai. Nice variety. But the rice was a letdown. Even before tasting it, I could feel the grains were too firm. It ended up tasting like regular plain rice, just harder and dry. Definitely not the fluffy, fragrant nasi lemak rice you'd hope for. Nasi Lemak Royale Kedah: Must-try Kedah-style yellow nasi lemak with juicy chicken & squid eggs in Ampang The sambal had potential but missed the mark. It was heavy on the shrimp paste, but lacked the depth and balance of a proper nasi lemak sambal. It felt like it was rushed — missing the chilies, the aromatics, and the whole essence of this type of sambal. The tempeh and ikan bilis were stale and chewy. After one bite, they were pretty much ignored for the rest of the meal. The 2 pieces of chicken were a decent portion for the price. Unfortunately, they were too tough to enjoy. A shame, really, because the seasoning was spot on. The only miracle on the plate was the crispy, piping hot papadom. To drink, I went with the Homemade Soy Milk with Gula Melaka (RM4.80). It came in a bottle, served with ice cubes and melted palm sugar on the side. The soy milk tasted fresh and clean. Not store-bought for sure, but it was completely plain. Pouring in the entire glass of gula melaka made it finally enjoyable. For the price, the drink was solid. I didn't set out to be this critical, but this might just be the most disappointing nasi lemak I've ever had, which is a real shame. That said, the soy milk was amazing: fresh, delicious, and refreshing. Major kudos to the Always Lapar team for breathing new life into a charming kampung house. The decor was thoughtful, nostalgic, and absolutely worth a little detour. Here's hoping the kitchen finds its rhythm soon, because the concept and setting deserve better food to match. Expected damage: RM8 – RM16 per pax Ashhryshoshedap: JB's XL salted egg pasta & belacan fried rice with 12K+ reviews — overrated or must-try? The post Always Lapar: Retro kampung cafe in town dishes up nasi lemak papadom & homemade gula melaka soy milk appeared first on
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Lynas, Kelantan join forces to tap local rare earths for Kuantan plant
KUANTAN, May 30 — Lynas Rare Earths Ltd and the Kelantan state government's investment arm, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of mixed rare earths carbonate (MREC). In a statement today, Lynas said the MoU is non-binding and remains subject to the negotiation and finalisation of definitive agreements. It said the memorandum outlines a framework for both parties to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation to advance the Malaysian rare earths industry in Kelantan. 'It also provides a basis for MB Inc and Lynas to negotiate a definitive agreement for the supply of MREC feedstock to the Lynas Malaysia Advanced Materials Plant in Kuantan once the project commences production,' it added. Lynas Rare Earths chief executive officer and managing director Amanda Lacaze said Malaysia is already recognised as a rare earths centre of excellence through Lynas' operations, and the MoU marks a significant step towards developing locally sourced and separated rare earth products. 'Lynas is delighted to sign this MoU with the Kelantan state government's MB Inc. This is a significant step for Lynas and the Malaysian rare earths industry, bringing together Lynas Malaysia's over a decade of rare earths industry expertise and Kelantan state's rare earth resources,' she said. Lacaze noted that Malaysia's ionic clay deposits have strong potential as future feedstock for Lynas Malaysia, particularly due to the high concentration of heavy rare earths, which are in demand for advanced technologies such as electric vehicles and electronics. 'We look forward to working closely with MB Inc to ensure that the MREC produced meets the high environmental and technical standards required by Lynas and our customers across Malaysian and global manufacturing supply chains,' she added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Malay Mail
There's nothing better than a bowl of springy handmade noodles paired with a home-style ‘ikan bilis' broth from PJ SS2's AhMa Pan Mee
PETALING JAYA, May 30 — Pan mee is fast becoming a crowd favourite. What's not to love with handmade noodles with a bouncy texture achieved without any trace of that pungent ammonia, paired with a comforting bowl of anchovy broth, vegetables and meat. Typically an honest-to-goodness meal served at home for something quick and simple, it's now found in stalls and even restaurants. In a bid to win over Klang Valley taste buds, pan mee vendors from other states have opened here with their unique versions. A brand from Kuantan pairs its hand torn mee hoon kueh with aged vinegar giving a tangy undertone to the wholesome broth. Maybe it borrowed the idea from Shanxi in China, where aged vinegar often perfumes knife cut noodles there, as there's a deep love for vinegar there. Another brand from Johor would cook up bountiful bowls of mee hoon kueh laden with all sorts of ingredients like fried mackerel fish or even pork offal. The latest to ride this handmade noodle wave is AhMa Pan Mee, opening in PJ SS2, in April. This brand offers hand cut noodles, fashioned from a recipe passed down to the owner, from his wife's grandmother in Raub. The hand cut noodles have an enjoyable, springy texture. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi It's hooked diners up in Penang and they hope that the same winning formula will work here. What's promoted is their Combo Set for RM20.90, a complete meal with your choice of pan mee or rice bowl as the main with either a side dish or dessert with a drink of your choice. It makes life easier as you get your food faster especially during peak times, since it narrows down your selection easily. Pan mee is served with various broths like the original, curry, herbal or even a salted vegetable tofu. There's also dry versions, using their chilli or even a mala version. The Original Panmee (Soup) will resonate with those who love simple home-style flavours with that sweet broth, accentuated with those ultra springy noodles. It veers from what we're used to, using a minced pork and salted mustard greens mixture and tender pork belly sliced thinly as toppings, giving it a mild flavour like how your grandmother would make it at home for you. You still have familiar favourites like sayur manis, crunchy golden fried ikan bilis, a whole egg with jammy yolk and homemade shallot crisps. What you may miss though is the piquant chilli sauce as this bowl is paired instead with soy sauce and chopped chilies. Dining here is pleasant with its air-conditioning to counter the brutal heat but tends to be super packed during lunch time. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi I'm happy tucking into this bowl full of goodness, especially since it's an air-conditioned space, which is severely needed with this brutal heatwave we're now experiencing. The Dry Panmee didn't hit me as hard as the soup version, as I felt the noodles tend to be a little softer and the dark soy sauce mix lacked that sweet-savoury flavour I prefer. Dry Panmee (left) tends to have softer noodles but the dark sauce (right) doesn't give that much needed sweet savoury flavour. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi You're given their dried chilli sambal on the side but this one lacked that dizzy spiciness one needs to boost the flavours in the bowl. Instead, the Curry Panmee may be a punchier choice with the springy noodles, as the curry is a fiery one with pork belly slices, long beans, beancurd puffs, fishballs and a hard boiled egg. Curry Panmee is a fiery bowl loaded with beancurd puff, hard boiled egg, fish balls, pork belly slices and long beans. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi If ordered a la carte, the pan mee is RM13.90 per bowl, while the Fried Pork Belly Panmee is RM17.90. Their pan mee is made more interesting with the side dishes, good for sharing with others. Or just select the set meal as you get to nibble on individual portions. Nestum King Oyster Mushrooms (front) are lovely bites with the crunchy batter but the Fermented Bean Curd Marinated Pork Belly (back) tends to be over fried with slightly dry meat. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi The Fermented Bean Curd Marinated Pork Belly (RM18.90) is rich with the fermented bean curd flavour but each golden brown piece is over-fried, losing that much needed juicier bite for the meat. Go instead for the Nestum King Oyster Mushrooms (RM10.90 for a full portion) with the crunchy bite dotted with slightly sweet Nestum and the spongey fungi. Even the Deep Fried Homemade Fish Tofu (RM10.90 for a full portion) is a great pick with its soft, creamy centre and a touch of fish paste, which is easily demolished in a few bites. Desserts are jellies with honey, herbal or osmanthus flavour. Or try the Peanut Tofu Fa from the set meal with a soymilk pudding topped with crushed, toasted peanuts that is not too sweet yet refreshing to help clear the palate. Deep Fried Homemade Fish Tofu (left) makes for a fantastic snack and Peanut Tofu Fa (right) is refreshing and fragrant dessert to end the meal here. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Drinks are part of the set meal like good-for-you herbal tea, luo han guo with longan, hawthorn and plum plus honey lemon. The flavours aren't too heavy, keeping you refreshed. Caffeine addicts can order Hor Ka Sai or Kopi, with a top up of RM3.10 for the set meal. There's also rice bowls paired with Special Soy Marinated Pork, Hua Diao Marinated Pork Belly, Hakka Style Braised Pork and Sesame Oil Chicken. Dining in is pleasant with its modern aesthetic featuring dark wood accents. Peak times tend to be chaotic though but there's counter seats for one or two diners to enjoy their meal quickly. As it's near the police station side, parking is a little easier compared to the middle of the busy square in SS2. Located at the row of shophouses behind the police station, this is the quieter side of SS2, making it slightly easier to find a parking space. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi AhMa Pan Mee, 191, Jalan SS2/24, SS2, Petaling Jaya. Open daily: 10am to 9pm. Tel:011-33881373. Facebook: @ahmapanmee * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Fuziah, Leong to serve as interim PKR sec-gen, treasurer
PKR's secretary-general Fuziah Salleh and treasurer-general William Leong did not contest in the party's recent central leadership polls. PETALING JAYA : Former Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh and Selayang MP William Leong will continue serving as PKR's secretary-general and treasurer-general, respectively, pending new appointments to the posts. PKR's political bureau said Fuziah and Leong, who did not contest in the party's recent central leadership elections, will continue to hold the posts until appointments to the new central leadership council are made. Similarly, it said Mustapha Sakmud will continue to lead Sabah PKR in the interim, while Peto Galim will remain the state chapter's election director. The bureau said this was to ensure continuity as PKR prepares for the upcoming state election, which must be held by the end of the year. 'The deputy president and all four vice-presidents have been given specific tasks to ensure the victory of the party and our allies in the unity government (in the state election),' it said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Quality Auto Back 360p 240p 144p Auto Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x / Skip Ads by The PKR political bureau meeting was chaired by party president Anwar Ibrahim, who was joined by his deputy, Nurul Izzah Anwar, and the four vice-presidents. The bureau said the meeting also discussed a series of policies that will be implemented by the government, as well as their potential impact on the cost of living. However, it did not elaborate on what these policies were. 'Follow-up actions were also discussed to ensure the party will always prioritise the people's interests,' it said.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops hunt for 5 men after snooker game turns violent
Kuantan police chief Wan Zahari Wan Busu said the men had exchanged words during the game before the victim was beaten with bottles. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A 51-year-old man was left injured after being assaulted by five men during a game of snooker at a club in Kuantan, Pahang, yesterday. Kuantan police chief Wan Zahari Wan Busu said the incident was believed to have been caused by a misunderstanding between the victim and his assailants during the game. He said the men had exchanged several remarks while they were playing and the situation soon escalated with the victim being hit on his head and arm with bottles, Harian Metro reported. 'The case is being probed under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons. Police are actively tracking down the suspects involved,' he was quoted as saying. Wan Zahari also called for witnesses to come forward and assist in the investigation.
