This is a side story of my recently published travelogue; Attractions in Klang, Selangor: The Royal Klang Heritage Walk. I thought of stuffing it together with the travelogue, but I wouldn’t want you readers to get all confused cuz these food were served just for us members of the media to enjoy and they are not actually available for the actual “The Royal Klang Heritage Walk” should you sign up for the walk.
Still, I’m a foodie at heart and I would like to share with you the unique traditional food that I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy during The Royal Klang Heritage Walk famtrip that my family and I have participated in.
Nasi Ambeng. This is a fragrant rice dish that consists of but is not limited to steamed white rice, chicken curry or chicken stewed in soy sauce, beef or chicken rendang, sambal goreng fried tofu, tempeh, and long beans, bergedil, and serunding. It is a popular Javanese cuisine, especially within the Javanese-Malay communities in the Malaysian states of Selangor and Johor as well as in Java, Indonesia.
My first Nasi Ambeng experience was back in 2014, during the annual Nasi Ambeng Festival that was held at Banghuris Homestay, Selangor. I’ve liked it then, and still like it now. Nasi ambeng is often served communal dining-style on a platter to be shared among four to five people; especially during festive and/or special occasions such as a wedding, but this time they had it all packed for the Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk to enjoy. The Javanese have another name for an all packed up Nasi Ambeng like this. It’s called the ‘Nasi Berkat’, which can be literally translated as ‘The Blessed Rice’. Sometimes the Javanese would pack up Nasi Ambeng like this to bring home and share the blessing of the sustenence that they have received with their family after certain important events. Hence, the name. No complains though. I get to indulge all I want without feeling shy of stealing a piece of someone else’s side dishes. I reckon nobody like it if they had to share the platter with me though I enjoy the communal dining experience very much. I’m quite a glutton, you see.
Two types of desserts were served for our gastronomic pleasure; Wadai Kipeng and Bahulu Kemboja.
Bahulu Kemboja. Initially I thought this was made from flour, but I was told that they were made purely from duck eggs. Impressive, I must say and this traditional sweet cakes warrant for seconds and thirds. Great to be had during morning breakfast or an evening snack over a cuppa coffee or tea.
Wadai Kipeng is a traditional dessert that is popular in some parts of Malaysia and is synonymous with the Banjar people. In Banjar language, “Wadai” means ‘kuih’ (cakes in English) and Kipeng means “keping”. It literally means Kuih Keping. Commonly served in Banjar people’s wedding, this sweet glutinuos rice dessert were bathed in thick creamy gravy made from palm sugar and coconut milk. I don’t usually fancy sweet food, but this one’s an exception. It’s to die for.
These food I’ve featured are commonly found in Selangor, but not too common that you’ll find it at just about any restaurants or streets in Selangor. They are mostly exclusively served during certain important events in certain ethnic’s home eg: Javanese or Banjar people’s events or weddings.
For more info on the food, or attractions in Selangor, hop over to https://tourismselangor.my