as authentic as Char Kuey Teow gets

For those who have not been introduce to the wonder of Char Kuey Teow (CKT), it is a fried rice noodle dish and one of Malaysia's favourite food. The Kuey Teow is somehwhat like it's Italian cousin, the Fettucini. However, unlike fettucini Kuey Teow is made from rice flour. This is then wok-fried with shrimps, cockles, beans sprouts, egg and chives.

The take-away is packed in a sheet of newspaper lined with a large leaf (sorry, don't know the specimen). While most CKT sellers use a banana leaf, this is a pretty good substitute as it imparts a wonderful fragrance to the dish while preserving the moisture of the Char Kuey Teow. I imagine that this crude packaging might run afoul of some food and beverage laws in many places but here in Taiping, it's the taste that matters. So, none of that plastic bag or styrofoam box packaging for us. We like our Char Kuey Teow on a leaf just fine!

I could go on and on about how this CKT is superior to any other on the planet but I won't. (However you can read my email to the Seekers of Superb Char Kuey Teow right here! Hehheh!!) Instead, I will just say that if ever I was standing in front of a firing squad and they ask me what I would like for my last meal - this Char Kuey Teow from this stall in Taiping would be it.

My son is one fortunate kid. Even before he's born, he's had a taste of the finest Char Kuey Teow in the world last night. Tonight, he's gonna be twice as fortunate. Hehheh!!