Thursday, November 01, 2007

3 Words: Fish Paste Noodle!

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food."

George Bernard Shaw


Amen. Stop tuh wars foh tuh lub of grub!


Today, my dear beloved readers, is one of those short post days when I feel physically unable to meet the demands of vigorous typing and prolonged periods of general consciousness (the natural state of humankind is somnolence - just like cats and certain breeds of dogs). My schedule says that I got Death by Microbiology Test tomorrow and I'm already feeling the wanderlust of the North Indian Grand Backpacking Escapade (yes, giving awesome names like that does make things awesomer) which the compadres and I are still in the addictive and surprisingly fun process of planning. The embarkation of this enterprise is still months away from actually happening, though. Damn you, Lonely Planet!

Anyway, back to this short post of mine - welcome to one of my favourite lunch slash dinner places in Malacca;

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Ly Sing.

This is where I go to get my weekly fix of Hong Kong Fish Paste Noodle when I'm in Malacca. Frankly, I can't vouch for the veracity of the 'Hong Kong' bit - but if Hongkies don't actually eat Fish Paste Noodle, they are missing out on some seriously delectable munchables, I can tell you.

Here's a standard bowl;

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All parts included. No assembly necessary. Batteries sold separately.

I'm not very good with this food review business so I'll just point out what those floaty things in the bowl are. That black mass of jelly-like stuff is (was) dried seaweed, and the golden-brown, crinkly things are minced fish meat wrapped in deep-fried, extra-satisfyingly-OMG-crispy foo-chuk (soya sheets) - all hot-tubbing in a savoury yet clear soup with fragrant pieces of fried onion and chopped spring onions swimming in it. Underneath it all lurks the noodle part of the bargain. I usually opt for equal parts of mee and kuey teow.

You can have the option of having a tom yam soup base but I wouldn't go that way if I'm you. Not many people like that.

And those white, irregularly shaped bits that looks like wads of crumpled tissue paper is the fish paste (well, sorry to disappoint you but they don't come in little squeeze tubes).


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Believe it or not, this used to swim in the ocean.

I've seen them prepare make the fish-paste pieces from a tupperware container stuffed to the brim with the fluffy, squishy white goop. They would spoon bits out and drop them in a pot of boiling soup with the noodle and seaweed to cook. After that, the fish paste would shape up and lose its squelchiness, becoming firm like fishballs (but suppler, more absorbent and waaay softer). In both consistency and taste, I prefer fish paste though they are pretty much made out of the same thing.

One of the best time to pay Ly Sing a visit is 6 o' clock or thereabouts in the evening, when they open for the dinner crowd. You'll usually be the only customer then. After 7.00 pm, it's a mealtime mêlée for seats, especially in the weekends. They are open around lunchtime too but I could never wake up that early when I was on holiday. Plus trying to beat the schoolchildren-chauffeuring Mommies and Daddies for a table isn't really my kind of sport.

And to get there, just drive to where that replica of an ancient Portuguese sailing ship-come-museum is located. Then, drive on till you reach that beached gunship belonging to the Malaysian Navy (TLDM). You should be able to see the corner shop practically standing right in front of you in Plaza Mahkota then. Just remember that it closes really early at night - about after 9.00 pm, I think (but I can't say for sure because I'm usually sleeping at that time).

This has been another quality post brought to you by the dedicated crew of k0k bL0k. We live to serve *kowtows*.



Devourer of fish paste,
k0k s3n w4i

9 comments:

Elaynne said...

EhhhhH!!! This is one of my fav place in malacca too!!
*** malacca aint that big tho***

ANW... Its has always been tom yam base for me.. wahh sour enough.. shit.. ur making me drool..........
I must go there in DEC!!!

mg said...

ohhh no wonder it's quite packed during weekends when i passed by that shop on the way to work. will try it one day.. lolz

Anonymous said...

wah wah... i've heard of that place from a friend also. But i've never tried it before. Since that you also recommend that place, i should really make some time to go there and eat.

thanks!!

1 more question, got tomyam base also??? If got, i will make it sooner. hahaha!

Anonymous said...

ate d. LOL. okay la. the fish paste and the thin-type kuewtiaw is the best. =)

k0k s3n w4i said...

@elaynne
It's either there or that Yong Peng place. Their foochow fishballs are OMGSOAWESOME (and they are open 24 hrs)! Ah Xoon also damn cun, if I happen to be awake around lunchtime. Their fried Yu Char Kueh and Yong Tau Foo really nice.
Ugh. Can't stand their Tom Yam flavour somehow.

@michelleg
U haven't? OMGNOOB.
Seriously, go la during lunchtime or dinner break.

@gal
You tried the Tom Yam one? I don't know... everyone I brought there didn't like the Tom Yam flavour one. Clear soup is still better, IMO.

Anonymous said...

Can I have an AMEN, brother? Do I hear an AMEN for grub!
Fish Paste Noodles in da house YO!

They look absolutely delumptious (delicious + scrumptious) and oh-so-supple.

You're one evil bastard for doing this, when you know full well I am starving in the wildernesses of Oz =(

ps: The directions would probably send a tourist into serious headspin. After all, we managed to get lost five (count 'em, FIVE) times trying to get from Jonker Street to Ban Li Hiang.

Let's just say I know the entire circuitous route(s) X 5 very, very well by now.

pps: Good luck for your paper too!

And to think we technically un-found our way there by accident in the end XD

k0k s3n w4i said...

@michellesy
So much trouble to get second best *shakes head*
Misery do so like other people to be miserable too, hmph. I'm in India and if there's any other place harder to get decent Chinese food from, I'd like you to tell me. At least u still get McD in Oz T_T
P.S. I think I passed... I hope

Jazzy*Pam said...

Hie there! :)

No.1: This post reminded me. The noodle here is da bomb! Family favourite, you see. And I haven't been there for quite some time! Will most certainly drop by when I go home this weekend! :D

No.2: I've been reading (not stalking!) your blog for quite some time. Mainly because I enjoy reading your posts and I love your writing style! Hee.

And No.3: In case you're wondering, I know and remember you from some camps. :)

P/S: Clear soup is definitely better. But then again, it's my biased opinion. Love tom yam but the one here is too spicy for me. :P

k0k s3n w4i said...

@jazzy*pam
No. 2: Not stalking? Can't you just lie to me and make me happy?
No. 3: A camp? which one? I'm terrible with name and faces. I'd forget my own father if he didn't keep reminding me everyday... "you can't talk to your dad that way!" xD
P.S. Welcome to the Clear Soup camp! We are purists - unlike these Tom Yam sippers! Sacrilege! *highfive* *low five* *in the pocket!*