Birthday Feast Nyonya Style

Once I start writing about food, I can't stop! Especially when I've just returned from Penang - the gastronomic capital of the world.

Last weekend, we celebrated my mum's birthday. Dad was in charge of celebrations and came up with the idea of having home-cooked Nyonya food. He found the restaurant in the papers, made the booking, invited the family and even arranged a cake - BRAVO! (perhaps it was to make up for not remembering their wedding anniversary 3 weeks before...ahem...)

A family that eats together stays together!

The Nyonya Baba Cuisine restaurant is located in a beautiful pre-war shophouse, complete with ornate doors, colourful tiles and an antique collection. It felt as if we were going to grandma's for dinner - especially since my grandma was a Nyonya. The food was very authentic and absolutely delicious. Here's what we ordered:

• Pai Tee (Top Hat) - cooked turnip in pastry cases. The chilli was divine!
• Lam Mee - is a must-have for birthdays in Peranakan families (first time I'd heard of it) Luckily for me, Swee Eng (the owner & chef) volunteered to cook us her specialty
• Kari Kapitan - spicy curry chicken
• Choon Peah - deep-fried spring rolls with pork & vegetable fillings
• Hong Bak - pork rendang (sort of!)
• Ju Hu Char - fried turnip with dried squid
• Kiam Chye Th'ng - salted vegetable soup with pork ribs
• Sambal Udang- this was by far the best prawn sambal I had ever tasted - 5 stars!
  
  
  

Aunty Jo-Jo with Khoo Swee Eng, the chef & owner of the Nyonya Baba restaurant

The service deserves special mention because Swee Eng is a gem! She obviously takes great pride in the quality and authenticity of her Nyonya food. She also anticipated all our needs before we even asked. For example, she dished out an extra serving of lam mee + soup in a large bowl for my dad. He was in the seventh heaven of delight!

So if you're ever in Penang, this restaurant comes highly recommended by the Yeoh family:

Nyonya Baba Cuisine

(formerly Dragon King est 1976)

44, Nagore Road

10050 Penang

Tel: +604 227 8035

Email:nyonya_baba_cuisine@yahoo.com

Owner: Khoo Swee Eng