If you are looking for local gastronomical delights with a difference, then Kelantan is the place that you should head to.
Located in the east coast, Kelantan boasts for a cultural potpourri when comes to food. The combination of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai influence has given rise to unique Malaysian cuisine.
Malaysians will recall the tempting Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Berlauk, Nasi Tumpang, Laksam or Solok Lada that is synonymous with Kelantan and can satisfy even the most difficult to please palate.
Then there are the Malay cakes and sweetmeats, some with unsavoury or strange names like the Tahi Itik, Kuih Kartun, Badak Berendam, Abang Balik Gelisah, Che Abang Guling, Lompat Tikam, Lidah Buaya and many more. Despite their unappetizing names, they taste great.
RICH IN TRADITIONAL FARE
According to the Kelantan State Tourism Director Muhammad Zaki Talib, Kelantan is rich in cuisines that cannot be found elsewhere.
The traditional Kelantan fare serves as a major crowd puller to Kelantan, especially the tourists.
Added with a rich cultural heritage and unparalleled hospitality of the locals, Kelantan is ever ready to receive visitors from within and outside the country, he said.
To showcase Kelantan's culinary offerings the 2009 Kelantan Food Fair, a four day event that began on March 12, was held.
The event organised by the Kelantan State Tourism Action Council was held at the grounds of the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium and saw the participation of 24 agencies and culinary masters from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Thailand.
UNENDING MENU
The food festival served as an important avenue to highlight Kelantan's unique gastronomy with more than 200 type of food to be sampled by visitors. Among others are the Kelantan traditional cakes and sweetmeats, Sarawak layered cake, rendang tok, lemang periuk kera, ayam percik, lauk-pauk and numerous types of rice dishes and pengat.
One of the specialties dished out at the event is the nasi uduk ayam solor, a typical Kelantanese delight with the chicken grilled with sugar cane and this makes the chicken to taste sweet. Initially ducks were used, but later changed to chicken which is much preferred by the locals.
The list seems to be never ending added with appetizers like cek mek molek, jala mas, akok, puteri mandi, pulut bakar, buah tanjung and ketupat sotong.
Not only the visitors were awed by the vast spread but also the colour, shapes and their alluring presentation that are bound to make anyone drool.
One thing for sure, the food fest was well received by visitors who were all too eager to witness and savour Kelantan's fare.
GREAT TASTE TO SAVOUR
The tourism authority in Kelantan also took the opportunity to invite members of the media to join the fest.
The media members were taken for a three day visit to Kelantan and given the opportunity to savour numerous delights like kerabu jantung pisang, sambal pauh, serunding, kelapa jeli and all the appetizers.
In Kota Baharu alone, there are many locations where one can enjoy the local delights at cheap prices.
Head to the Buluh Kubu food court here and the old market of Majlis Perbandaran Kota Baharu (MPKB) to sample some of the best offerings.
Visitors can also try 'the special steamboat' at Food Village, that provides a different gastronomy experience as they not only get to dip the seafood and tofu in the boiling sup but also grille the meat.
A PLACE TO SHOP
A visit to Kelantan is incomplete without a stopover at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, a famous shopping area in Kelantan. For those who love to bargain, it is the place that you should not miss.
The three-storey complex is the clear testament of Kelantan women's dominance in entrepreneurship and here visitors can find a myriad of keropok (fish crackers), handicraft and batik, cloth and clothing, and key chains apart from the traditional delicacies.
This market operates daily from 6am to 7 pm and all business activities will cease for 15 minutes during prayer times.
Another place of interest in Kota Baharu is Wakaf Che Yeh. This market is open after Maghrib and offers merchandise, food, clothing and others at cheap prices.
In a nutshell, Kelantan is a well recognised gastronomical destination that offers its own unique spread and is a value for money shopping destination.
Malaysians will recall the tempting Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Berlauk, Nasi Tumpang, Laksam or Solok Lada that is synonymous with Kelantan and can satisfy even the most difficult to please palate.
Then there are the Malay cakes and sweetmeats, some with unsavoury or strange names like the Tahi Itik, Kuih Kartun, Badak Berendam, Abang Balik Gelisah, Che Abang Guling, Lompat Tikam, Lidah Buaya and many more. Despite their unappetizing names, they taste great.
RICH IN TRADITIONAL FARE
According to the Kelantan State Tourism Director Muhammad Zaki Talib, Kelantan is rich in cuisines that cannot be found elsewhere.
The traditional Kelantan fare serves as a major crowd puller to Kelantan, especially the tourists.
Added with a rich cultural heritage and unparalleled hospitality of the locals, Kelantan is ever ready to receive visitors from within and outside the country, he said.
To showcase Kelantan's culinary offerings the 2009 Kelantan Food Fair, a four day event that began on March 12, was held.
The event organised by the Kelantan State Tourism Action Council was held at the grounds of the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium and saw the participation of 24 agencies and culinary masters from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Thailand.
UNENDING MENU
The food festival served as an important avenue to highlight Kelantan's unique gastronomy with more than 200 type of food to be sampled by visitors. Among others are the Kelantan traditional cakes and sweetmeats, Sarawak layered cake, rendang tok, lemang periuk kera, ayam percik, lauk-pauk and numerous types of rice dishes and pengat.
One of the specialties dished out at the event is the nasi uduk ayam solor, a typical Kelantanese delight with the chicken grilled with sugar cane and this makes the chicken to taste sweet. Initially ducks were used, but later changed to chicken which is much preferred by the locals.
The list seems to be never ending added with appetizers like cek mek molek, jala mas, akok, puteri mandi, pulut bakar, buah tanjung and ketupat sotong.
Not only the visitors were awed by the vast spread but also the colour, shapes and their alluring presentation that are bound to make anyone drool.
One thing for sure, the food fest was well received by visitors who were all too eager to witness and savour Kelantan's fare.
GREAT TASTE TO SAVOUR
The tourism authority in Kelantan also took the opportunity to invite members of the media to join the fest.
The media members were taken for a three day visit to Kelantan and given the opportunity to savour numerous delights like kerabu jantung pisang, sambal pauh, serunding, kelapa jeli and all the appetizers.
In Kota Baharu alone, there are many locations where one can enjoy the local delights at cheap prices.
Head to the Buluh Kubu food court here and the old market of Majlis Perbandaran Kota Baharu (MPKB) to sample some of the best offerings.
Visitors can also try 'the special steamboat' at Food Village, that provides a different gastronomy experience as they not only get to dip the seafood and tofu in the boiling sup but also grille the meat.
A PLACE TO SHOP
A visit to Kelantan is incomplete without a stopover at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, a famous shopping area in Kelantan. For those who love to bargain, it is the place that you should not miss.
The three-storey complex is the clear testament of Kelantan women's dominance in entrepreneurship and here visitors can find a myriad of keropok (fish crackers), handicraft and batik, cloth and clothing, and key chains apart from the traditional delicacies.
This market operates daily from 6am to 7 pm and all business activities will cease for 15 minutes during prayer times.
Another place of interest in Kota Baharu is Wakaf Che Yeh. This market is open after Maghrib and offers merchandise, food, clothing and others at cheap prices.
In a nutshell, Kelantan is a well recognised gastronomical destination that offers its own unique spread and is a value for money shopping destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment