Penang Hawkers Food : Endangered Hawkers Food

Whilst there are plenty of stalls selling Hokkien Mee, Char Koay Teow, Wan Tan Mee, do you know that certain Penang Hawker Foods can hardly be found such as :-

Traditional Nasi Lemak

There seems to be 2 basic versions of nasi lemak that is easily available in Penang

• Nasi Lemak Bungkus (curry with ikan billis or fish plus boiled egg) that is commonly sold by the roadside
• Nasi Lemak sold at coffee shops and food court (pandan rice + a selection of add-ons)

The one that I like best is none of the above !

Up to the mid-70's, you can buy a packet of the real Nasi Lemak as peddled by itinerant Indian Koay Sellers. This simple but very delciious Lasi Lemak comprises

• Delicious Pandan-flavoured Rice cooked with Coconut Milk
• Assam Prawns or Fish
• Belachan Sambal

Sadly, this traditional Nasi Lemak is no longer sold by these intinerant Indian vendors :-) Fortunately, you can still get this version at the Coffee Shop opposite the Supermarket at Cantonment Road :-)

Satay Babi

This yummy hawkers food comprises

• Stick of marinated alternating pieces of lean meat and fat
• Pigs Intestine (Hoon Chiang)
  
• Traditional satay sauce (not peanut sauce)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Slices of cucumber
• Toasted bread (optional)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

When I was a boy living at Immigration Road, I remember a man carrying a kandar stick selling satay and there was a boy always following him.

This boy is now an old man known as Tung Ah Chun selling Satay Babi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Bangkok Lane. Apparently, no one is going to take over from him. He uses to also sell delicious Hoon Chiang but does not do so anymore and it is simply too much work. :-)

Previously, there was a woman selling almost the same version at Penang Road beside Kampung Malabar. but since the Rent Control Act was repealed, she has moved away and I have not been able to locate her since :-)