Merdeka Open House 2011: Makan Through Malaysia Round Up

UPDATED 1st Sept: To include Pei-Lin's entry of Proud to be Rojak'ed.


As Malaysia celebrates her 54th Independence Day or more commonly known as Hari Kebangsaan or Merdeka in Malay, we're glad to be the host for the 6th Merdeka Open House with the theme Makan Through Malaysia.

As with the other years, let's pay respect to the country by starting off with our national anthem, NegaraKu.

NEGARAKU

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Raykat hidup
Bersatu dan maju
Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita
Selamat bertakhta
Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita
Selamat bertakhta

Coming out with this theme is rather quite easy as I just thought that ROKH had given a great suggestion in last year's poll, just that I posted up the announcement a wee too late that I supposed quite a number of people got stumped there. I apologise for that. Let's take a look at previous themes...

2006 - Malaysian Recipe Long Forgotten
2007 - Muhibbah
2008 - Mee and My Malaysia
2009 - My Sweet Malaysia
2010 - Food From Our Hearts

For Makan Through Malaysia, participants were told to cook up a dish in particular famous to a location in Malaysia, be it a state, town, or area. Not only that, they would need to come out with the story of the origin of the dish or how they relate the dish. I've read through all entries and I must say some of the stories are rather heart warming. I guess blogging to me is not just as simple writing down the recipes but if I could relate tales behind them, it would have been more meaningful.

OK, let's get on with the round up...

MaaMeeMooMoo who is residing in Singapore made her version of Ramly Burger! Do read her story on how her first puppy lover, L, got her hooked on Ramly Burger. Who in Malaysia doesn't crave for one sloppy Ramly Burger Special? I do and I know many of you secretly do too ;-)... Ramly Burger Special Dua, terima kasih!

Nate & Annie (House of Annie) currently living in Kuching, had submitted an interesting ingredient from Sibu which is an indigenous Sibu Olive called Dabai! What's so interesting is this olive tasted creamy like avocado. The thing with dabai is, it's highly perishable, which is no wonder I have not seen it at all in this part of Malaysia. Their submission of Nasi Goreng Dabai (Dabai Fried Rice) is made from a paste that came in a jar. Hopefully we can see some light of jarred Dabai products in east Malaysia soon.

ROKH (Tham Jiak) is based in Kuala Lumpur but her hometown is in Taiping. Just look at her photo of Hokkien Mee or also known as prawn mee, it's just bursting with the accompaniments that you can't see a single strand of noodles nor much of the delicious broth! She's really a lucky girl, just read her tale of two mothers and you'll understand why.

Quay Po (Quay Po Cooks) from Kuala Lumpur cooked up her version of Ipoh Claypot Chicken Rice in tribute to her mother. It was indeed an inspirational tale of how her "iron lady" mother single handedly brought Quay Po up during their hard times. Bad times will pass and turn to good, if we persevere ;-)

Ching (Little Corner of Mine) resides in Colorado Springs, USA. She had told me that she might have a bit of problem with this theme since she has been away for a while. Anyway, she managed to made it with her Klang Bak Kut Teh albeit using pre-package Bak Kut Teh herbs which is all right due to her locality. What I loved is her complete set up that includes yu tiao (yau char kway or fried cruellers), dark soy sauce, fresh red chillies and chopped garlic.

Suemomster (Cooking Momster) from Selangor submitted a recipe from her hometown, Kajang. Did you know that other than Satay that Kajang is famous for, the other dish that is equally as famous is Hot and Peppery Soup (also known as Lat Thong). I can attest this dish is very comfy to have especially on a cold rainy night. Traditionally pig's stomach is commonly used together with loads of whole white peppercorns but nowadays it comes with other parts like pork belly and chicken meat as well.

Gertrude (My Kitchen Snippets) from Pennsylvania, USA was also worried that she won't be able to make it for this theme due to the same reason as Ching. I'm so glad she did make time to go through the tedious process of making the pastry for Penang Tau Sar Pneah (Mung Bean Biscuits). Just looking at the step-by-step photos of the process made me to be more appreciative of this biscuits when I bite into one. Also check out her humourous encounter with the Customs officer hehe...

Suresh (3 Hungry Tummies) from Melbourne, Australia submitted this Kuching Tomato Noodles which I have to admit that I've never tasted one before. Judging from the photo and also because it contains tomato ketchup, I'm liking it already. Thanks to Suresh for the wonderful memories of Kuching.

PureGlutton (PureGlutton) from Selangor made a huge pot of home-cooked Bak Kut Teh, Klang style! You can see that she has been rather generous with the ingredients ranging from pork meat to offals and beancurd sheets. It is also very enlightening to know how her in-laws introduced her to Bak Kut Teh 20 years ago. Besides that, also scroll all the way down her post to see who is her biggest fan :D

Daphne (More Than Words) resides in Perth, Western Australia. Each year, she will diligently check with her Malaysian hubby on what to dish up. This time Chicken Kapitan was mentioned as he's from Jasin, Melaka, in celebration of how his grandfather had established himself in order for his off-springs to prosper.

ChopinandMysaucepan (ChopinandMySaucepan) who are currently residing in Sydney, Australia submitted two delicious entries. The first is Chopin's mother special Ipoh Kai Si Hor Fun (Ipoh Chicken Rice Noodles). Loved the slippery smooth hor fun in a tasty broth. I guess when one is home sick, a warm and soulful bowl of hor fun would certainly cure it all!

The other dish submitted by ChopinandMysaucepan (ChopinandMySaucepan) is Ampang Yong Tau Foo. It's an amazement to me how the Malaysians could come up with such creative idea of holding a Yong Tau Foo party! Why have I never thought of it? Could it be because it's so easily available here that all we need to do is ask our friends to meet us at the restaurant in Ampang?

Shannon (Just as Delish) from Kuala Lumpur is originally from gastronomical Penang. I would totally understand how she would crave for all the delicious Penang food as those found in Kuala Lumpur just couldn't come close. The other option is of course seek help from who else but her mother for a recipe of Penang Mee Goreng. Clever girl there!

Babe_KL (Babe in the City - KL) from Kuala Lumpur submitted Paper-Wrapped Chicken after igniting her memories of Hakka food and starfruits in Serdang. The journey would entailed a bus trip down to Kuala Lumpur before hopping on the next bus to Serdang, it's almost akin to an outstation trip more than 30 years ago!

Pei-Lin (Dodol & Mochi) from Kuala Lumpur made it for this year's open house, yay!!! I totally could relate to her Proud to be Rojak'ed. How not to when Malaysians grew up in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. Loved the hint of bunga kantan (torch ginger) in her rojak sauce, oh yum!

That's the round up for this year's Merdeka Open House. Hope you enjoy the recipes as much as I do in hosting another round of virtual open house. Well, if only this is the real deal... not sure about you but I would definitely be drooling from all the yummilious dishes.

Oh ya, @babe_kl will be twitting all your posts together with this round up, so if you're doing the same, just use hashtag #merdekaopenhouse. Also let me know if I've made any mistakes or missed out your post altogether.

Thank you all for participating and I'm already looking forward to host the next open house!

Selamat Hari Merdeka!