After picking them up, I drove around before we finally decided to head over to Sun Yuet Kee, the old Chinese restaurant along Cintra Street. I blogged about this restaurant in my post here. We ordered the same dishes - wat tarn hor fun (absolutely superb!!!), barbecued spare ribs, chicken in plum sauce, curry fish and sambal kangkung with prawns. If you have never dined there, please go there when you are free...You will not be disappointed!
After dinner, we had a good time sharing our experiences as we enjoyed our drinks. I was just so amazed that Amy's mom, who is an artist, rears her own cattle, has a big farm where they enjoy home-grown olives, blackberries and make their own olive oil. Oh - to be so close to nature...and to enjoy their own steaks that do not have hormones at all! Sheer bliss indeed!
Feeling very stuffed, we walked around Campbell Street and made our way to my favorite ham chim pang stall where I got them three varieties of ham chim pang and also the famous Chinese steam cake.
After dropping them, I went to my uncle's house to pick up the present that they had left for me. While driving home, I had a look at the box and was thrilled to discover that it was something from Japan :-). Ahhh...They flew from US to Narita to Singapore to Penang :-). Regular readers and my friends/relatives would know that I love Japanese cuisine and culture...
When I reached home, I took a photograph of the beautifully wrapped present...
I shook the box. No sound at all. No movement. Hmm...What could it be? A decorative item? A plague?
Slowly, I unwrapped the present. Presto! A beautiful box.
Typical Japanese style - they emphasize a lot on packaging although I lament the wastage of paper...not too environment friendly.
Gingerly, I opened the box...and to my delight - it was my favorite MOCHI!!!!
Mochi is something like the local muachi that we can get in Penang but is finer and much tastier :-).
The exquisite packaging and wrapping style is a work of art by itself. But the best part is the mochi...behold - my favorite Japanese rice cake..
Mochi (sticky rice cake) is an important food in Japanese culture. For example, people decorate their houses with special mochi called kagamimochi and eat zoni (rice cake soup) during Japanese New Year's holidays.Hard mochi pieces can be grilled, deep-fried, boiled, and more. Cooked mochi is very sticky, so be careful not to choke it. It's important to take a small bite at a time.
Steamed mochi rice (glutinous rice) is pounded to make mochi. Traditionally, wooden mortars and pestles are used to pound mochi rice. Fresh mochi is soft, but it hardens quickly. Prepacked mochi blocks, which are flattened and cut into square pieces or shaped into rounds are available at grocery stores. Mochi get mold easily, so it's best to cook soon. (extracted from here)
Usually, I will ask my godson or other friends/students to get me mochi when they return to Penang. Taiwanese mochi is sweeter but the best is definitely the original Japanese mochi.
Thanks a lot, Andrew and Amy for this lovely gift. Most of all, thanks for dinner, the connection and the friendship ties which we have sealed in Penang. Have a great time in Langkawi and may we meet again either here in Penang or in San Diego. Till we meet again...please keep in touch!
As for you dear reader, have you had mochi before? Do you like it? Do leave a comment if you wish...Have a lovely weekend and take care!
amyjolou Hi Paula, I think not I can actually post.... I may try really quick just to see. I have been having technical difficulties.
~ Amy