Hiap Joo Bakery | Jalan Tan Hiok Nee | 7:30am to 5pm | Sun off | Tel: 07-223 1703
We just conducted a round of Find Dining with Johor Kaki book presentation at 5 featured eateries with support from sponsors UMLand (United Malayan Land) and MAGistrate. Local media also joined us for a morning of delicious fun and discovery in the cheerful streets of Johor Bahru.
I am appreciative of UMLand's support as we share a common vision about the ability of food to bring people together and build communities.
As Michael Cheng, Group Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications at UMLand so eloquently put "The one thing that can easily bring people from all-walks-of-lives together is food. It is based on this vision and the importance of family and community is to our Asian roots that UMLand has decided to organise this culinary adventure".
Our first stop was at Hiap Joo Bakery in JB old town's "culture street". Hiap Joo, the oldest bakery in JB, has long been the darling of local and overseas media, including those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and USA.
Hiap Joo's claim to fame is their 97 year old wood fired oven (built in 1919) still burning bright. With Mr Lim and his son James (the third generation) now fully engaged in Hiap Joo's daily operations, this JB icon is set to shine for years to come.
You got to try Hiap Joo's banna cake and their coconut buns - all baked with the vintage wood fired oven, so there's that smokey taste one cannot get from electric or gas ovens.
Kacang Pool Haji | Medan Selara Larkin | 7am to 1am | Tel: 013-737 7997
Our second stop was Kacang Pool Haji. Founded over 20 years ago, this JB homegrown brand now has several outlets in Johor Bahru as well as branches in Batu Pahat and Kuala Lumpur.
Kacang Pool is derived from Ful Medames, a Middle Eastern staple but some people from the Middle East may not be able recognise this popular dish in JB. In the Middle East, kacang pool has no meat - it is a bean stew served with hard boiled egg and flat unleavened bread.
To the traditional bean stew, Kacang Pool Haji founder, enterprising Haji Makpol added minced beef. Now, the bean stew has a lovely beefy taste. A cheerful sunny side up added colour and the runny yolk added more eggy flavour to the original bland tasting dish.
Instead of stiff tasteless unleavened bread, the JB version has a thick bouncy white bread slice greased with margarine and browned on a flat iron griddle. The commercial success of Kacang Pool Haji attests to the wide appeal of Haji Makpol's finger licking good innovation.
Roslin Beriani House | Jalan Rebana, Kebun Teh | 8am to 6pm | Tel: 011-4047 3480
Our third stop was Roslin Beriani House.
If you have tried Mohd Shah nasi briyani in Batu Pahat, reputedly the most famous and best in Malaysia, you will notice an uncanny similarity with Roslin's nasi beriani. Mohd Shah was one of Puan Roslin's grandfather's staff before he started his own stall in Batu Pahat.
Here at Roslin Beriani House, the aromatic spiced basmati rice is eaten with beef rendang, lamb rendang, chicken rendang, ayam masak merah and fried fish. Remember to order pajeri nanas (curry pineapple) with your nasi briyani - it's a juicy sweet treat with spicy and sourish notes.
Chendol House | Jalan Rahmat, Kg Malayu Majidee | 11am to pm | Mon off
Next, we dropped by at Chendol House to present Encik Ariff a copy of Find Dining with Johor Kaki. Chendol House is a nice place with kampung ambiance to cool our heels a while with local snacks, desserts or a light meal (including kuih muih, mee siam, nasi lemak, nasi ambeng and more).
Chendol House's chendol has layers of sweetness from the "pandan worms", red beans, sweet corn, glutinous rice, and coconut milk. The sweet concoction is not overly sweet and so very enjoyable.
Kam Long Curry Fish Head | Jalan Wong Ah Fook | 8am to 4:30pm | Tel: 016-752 8382
Our last stop for this round was at Kam Long curry fish head along Jalan Wong Ah Fook. As expected, there was already a long queue ahead of us :-D
We interrupted Dennis and his customers for a while :-p
We had a quick presentation with Dennis before letting him and his brother and sister go back to serving their long line of waiting customers :-D
Then, we tucked in Kam Long's marvelous sweet spicy savoury curry with crunchy juicy vegetables, crispy tofu skin and fresh fish head.
Stay tuned as this is the first of more Find Dining with Johor Kaki food trails to come with UMLand and MAGistrate.
Photos with permission from MAGistrate and UMLand.
Date: 26 Oct 2016
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Any chance outsiders can tag along? 😂
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