Birthday Food Crawl with My "Makan Kaki", Benny

After four years in Penang, I didn't think I had found the source of orchard fresh durians... 

until we went to the top of the ridge on the way to Balik Pulau (road P16) called 'Anjung Indah' and visited the 288 stall.

First of all, regardless of the varietal (the sweet green skin durians were peaking), they were pristinely fresh. Such that they needed a knife and a fine wedge tapped in with a mallet to slice and pry them open.

The flesh was plump, dry and had the gentle wrinkly complexion. And the bouquet had no hint of garlic or onions. Instead, you smell vanilla and almond notes...

It was very important to me to follow such a capable vendor's recommendations since he knows what is prime, not asking for my favorite varietals since they might not be ready and even more costly.

My buddy Benny and I could hardly restrain ourselves before diving in. Partway through he had told me about the best durians being worm infested, and that the worms themselves, or the spoilage, is still edible. So I asked the vendor about finding me a durian worm. He thought I was kidding, but I insisted. So he found me a worm tunneling through a segment of durian husk.

I worked the crowd nearby and ate half of it. It wasn't unpleasant. Slimy of course, but it was nutty with a mild tangy aftertaste. This stunt cemented me in the mind of the vendor and we bonded. I shall forever be remembered as the customer who asked him for a worm and ate it!

After polishing off 3 durians, we went down down the ridge where I shared my cheapest CharKwayTeow spot with Benny among the low income housing in Relau. Here, the coffeeshops serve up cheap, good food in large portions to hungry factory workers who often take-away food before boarding buses on the way to work. 

It took a bit of looking, but we found it again.

In return, Benny took me to a food court in the Bayan Baru wet market complex opposite the Suntech tower for one stall alone--to sample the crispy, Orh Chien (Oyster Omelette),

Most other examples were still soggy, but this one was crispy, caramelized egg and starch with creamy, succulent little oysters! Superb!

Stuffed to the point of eyes rolling, Benny dropped me back off at my moped and I waddled home contentedly.



~ Shien