JJCM in KT #18 - The Journey Ends With A Temerloh Patin.

We could not resist going back to Hai Peng coffee shop (see…) for another drink. I tried their ice black coffee but preferred the hot version. I was deeply disappointed that all the nasi lemak were sold out. Thought it was late afternoon, the shop was still as crowded as before. We finished our drinks and wondered when can we be back here again?

Welcome to Hai Peng from
A monkey in songkok...

And a rooster and hen.

After that last stop, we hit the highway again. Dusk was gathering fast and the world around us started to deepen. The clouds opened up for a last burst of golden light but appeared as a last desperate charge before being overwhelmed by the approaching night. Few cars were on this new highway and it was a pleasure to cruise through it.

With the departing sun, the weather cooled and mist started to gather force settling on the forest giving it a mystical air. We fell silent as if to connect with the atmosphere. The only sound is the humming of the car engine, sound of the tyers on the road and the rushing wind as the car sliced through the air. We turned reflective and slightly melancholy. I always felt this way coming to the end of a wonderful journey.

But the journey wasn’t over for I remembered the delicious Patin fish I had in Temerloh, in a restaurant I stumbled in by accident 10 years ago. 3 years later I sought it out and enjoyed the fish again. But it was now 7 years later. Is that restaurant still there?

It was pitch dark by the time we reached Temerloh and we were consumed by ravenous hunger. I only had a very rough idea where the restaurant was and the only time I was in Temerloh was to stop over for food. I remembered it was in front of an open field. When we finally found it, our hearts dropped for the restaurant had shifted. Luckily, on top of the shuttled door, there was an old banner informing its new location even though it had already shifted two years ago. And we were fortunate that apparently no one has rented that place since. We managed to find “Wee Kee” restaurant in its new location and a few rounds.

We were so hungry that I did not stop to take good picture before digging in. And what a delight to dig into nostalgia with every bite. The dish at the top is brinjal or egg plant. It is not unlike any brinjal dish you’ve seen, right? They are usually sliced or diced but Wee Kee served it mashed. It rich flavor (which it borrowed from the other ingredients it is cooked with – be it minced meat or dried prawns) literally melted in your mouth. The fried prawn with dark soy sauce is a common dish but the simple seasoning really brought out the succulent taste of fresh prawn without overwhelming it. The “Tau Chui” pork on the other hand is richly enhanced by the strong taste of fermented soy bean paste. The “house specialty tofu” is fried with minced meat and is also excellent.

But the highlight of the feast is of course the delicately steamed Patin fish which is also called “silver catfish” which Temerloh is most famous for. I always liked this fish for its smooth slippery texture and sweet taste. If done well (and depending on the fish), you will not get the slightly earthly flavor. Why I say depending on the fish is because you can buy Patin pond bred in stagnant water at RM5.00 per kilo, Patin grown in river cages for RM12.00 and wild Patin at RM100.00 per kilo! Connoisseur swore the difference in quality is worth the prices. It is said that you can tell the difference by the shade of silver, the longer/shorter pouting of the mouth, its gill and eyes but for a layman like me; I won’t be able to tell the difference by looking. So I won’t know which Patin I’m eating (not the wild one for sure!) but this restaurant has always served a good dish for me so I laid my trust in it. The fish was excellently done and our hunger only accentuated the great taste.

Having satiated ourselves, we got into the car and continued our way home. It is a most satisfying conclusion to our marvelous journey to the East.

The End.