KUANTAN: In small cities all through Malaysia, one would almost definitely discover previous eating places with many years of historical past. These companies, typically household run, use recipes which have been preserved and handed down from one technology to the subsequent.
Certainly one of them is Kedai Kopi Tan Kow Po within the quaint city of Bentong, Pahang. Regardless of its identify, curiously, this store is common for his or her home made ice-cream.
The enterprise is at the moment helmed by second-generation proprietor, 90-year-old Tan Kow Po. Talking with FMT Life-style, he shared the enterprise’ historical past which dates again to pre-independence Malaya.
That’s when his father migrated from China and settled in Alor Setar, Kedah. To make a residing, he offered ice cream on foot. “Again then, ice cream was not common,” Kow Po stated.
The senior Tan subsequently moved to Bentong in 1956 the place he continued his enterprise. Within the Sixties, Kow Po began serving to his father and subsequently opened the store within the Nineteen Seventies.
Chee Oon, Kow Po’s son, joined the enterprise after finishing his Type 5 training. “I made a decision to assist my father as a result of I used to be within the enterprise,” stated Chee Oon, 58.
Whereas Chee Oon is “completely happy” to play his half in persevering with his household legacy, he added that he would go away it as much as his three youngsters to resolve in the event that they wished to do the identical.
In accordance with Kow Po, their ice cream remains to be home made – and the recipe, he added with a smile, stays a secret! Apart from ice cream, in addition they promote ABC and cendol.
One chew into the ice cream and it’s simple to know why it’s so common – they’re merely decadent with nice texture!
The chocolate ice cream is wealthy and indulgent whereas the candy corn flavour is clean and creamy. The espresso flavour can also be scrumptious, as are the coconut and pandan flavours – actually, it’s robust to resolve which is finest. Different out there flavours are vanilla, strawberry, peanut and banana.
In the meantime, the Kow Po Particular is a decadent bowl of shaved ice, inexperienced jelly, corn, purple beans, fruit cocktail, palm sugar and thick coconut milk.
It’s topped with a dollop of ice cream and the workforce loved theirs with durian flavour. Chee Oon revealed that it’s made utilizing contemporary fruit from Bentong and it’s merely decadent!
Searching for one thing savoury? A stall outdoors the store sells a wide range of native favourites like nasi lemak, pulut, sambal sotong, ayam and beef rendang in addition to cucur udang (prawn fritters) and “tauhu sumbat”.
In accordance with Nurmaini Zaher, 63, she has been working the stall for 23 years. The meals, she added, is made utilizing recipes that she inherited from her mom and sister-in-law.
Nurmaini’s nasi lemak in the meantime comes with fluffy and aromatic rice wealthy with santan. When paired with the flavourful ayam rendang, it’s actually delicious.
The fried egg has a stunning runny yoke and is ideal when paired with the piquant sambal, which leans in direction of the sweeter facet.
Additionally, don’t miss attempting the pulut or steamed glutinous rice. Deliciously sticky and never too oily, it’s good with a facet of sambal sotong, ayam or beef rendang.
In case you nonetheless have room in your tummy, deal with your self to a second serving to of this delicious dish.
For teatime and even to enrich your most important meal, how about some cucur udang or prawn fritters?
Fried to perfection, they’re crispy on the surface however moist on the within. When paired with the peanut gravy, this may be relatively addictive.
Having fun with a meal at Kedai Kopi Tan Kow Po is an easy affair, however a no-frills eating expertise can be a memorable one.
Kedai Kopi Tan Kow Po
2, Bentong Peak
28700 Bentong
Pahang
Enterprise hours: 11am-6pm every day
Contact: 09-222 1258
