Let’s Go out for Breakfast

This is an invitation that is not so common in the West, but in the East it is quite normal.

In Malaysia there is an eating-out culture – for all meals, including breakfast. And the ‘out’ can be quite literal. Because of Malaysia’s tropical climate, eating al fresco is a norm all year round. And the choice of breakfast menu is also very wide.


All-time favourite breakfast and lunch Soup Flat Noodle (Kwe Teow).











You can eat Indian. Mamak restaurants – operated by Indians, often Indian Muslims – abound. And there is a wide choice of food available. ‘Standard’ if you like is roti canai accompanied by Teh Tarik. To describe for the not-yet-initiated, roti canai is a sort of pancake which is served with at least two different curries. Locals eat these with their fingers, but for the less-confident you can use a fork and spoon.

There are other sorts of roti too. My favorite is roti telor, which is simply roti canai containing egg.  And there are several others, including roti pisang which is roti cooked with banana – and, yes, you have curry with that too. It’s an interesting taste experience!

Teh Tarik, the standard drink to have with roti canai, or any of its variants, is a treat of its own. Made with tea dust and condensed milk, and brewed in a way that has to be seen to be believed, it is a fine complement to roti canai. 

When you take your winterover in Malaysia under the Termstay program, you will have the chance not only to taste this essentially Malaysian breakfast, but also – if you like – to learn how to cook it. Breakfast at home will never be the same again!

Bob

A Penang street hawker stall -
typical source for a great
Malaysian breakfast, and for
the whole day long as well.
Eating out at night is also very popular,
sometimes accompanied with live telecast of sports events.

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