Thursday, May 24, 2007

Teochew porridge in SS2, PJ

different dishes
I used to eat porridge only when I was ill. And no matter how good the stuff was, it would taste bland to me because my tastebuds were totally screwed up. So naturally, it didn't come as a surprise that I was never fond of porridge when I was growing up.

The funny thing about being an adult is the contradictions that occur when you compare your life now and when you were 12. I hated brinjals and ladies fingers, and now they are my favourite vegetables. Thosai? I would have rather thrown up. But now, I go out of my way to look for it, perhaps because I don't live with my parents anymore, and so I don't get to enjoy the thosai that mum so lovingly makes.

I now eat porridge because I want to, not because I have to. It does bring a sense of comfort to me as I eat it, though.

chicken
The teochew porridge at Teochew Porridge Restaurant in SS2, PJ is not outstanding, but it certainly isn't bad. There is a limited selection of meats, normally braised or cooked in soy sauce, but what I like is the fact that there is a whole section dedicated to different types of vegetable dishes. The selection isn't varied, but I was happy with the dishes that we picked.

porridge
The consistency of the porridge was just right. Teochew porridge is normally a little watery and the grains are recognisable and not completely mushed up. Eaten alone, it is certainly bland, which is why the various dishes, salted and spiced, are perfect complements to the porridge.

dishes
The meal was good value at RM13 (approximately US$3.50) for two persons.

Restaurant Teo Chew Porridge
Jalan SS 2/24 (Next to Korea House)
Petaling Jaya.

22 comments:

Lee Ping said...

Dear Lyrical Lemongrass,

I love the side dishes for porridge. Unfortunately, to make all the side dishes from scratch is tiring. I buy canned peanuts, gluten (vegetarian meat) and pork sung.

My FIL was in poor health, so all he ate was porridge, morning, day and night. Sometimes, when my MIL is not around,he sneaks in a snack or two but he ate mostly porridge. Reading your post, reminded me of him. He died two years ago.

p/s I wanted to tag you for favorite food but WMW tagged you first. I just found out that one can be tagged twice. I will remember that for next time.

Also, your post on Chicken wings inspires me to cook that for next week when my husband comes home from his conference.

tigerfish said...

Porridge has always been my fav! Love love love it since birth :D ...Cantonese, Teochew...any style.
Some chai po egg, mui cai....can make me happy. ;p

sc said...

was just there last friday. wanted to eat at korea house next door, but looked so quiet, decided to pop over here for porridge. we had almost the same dishes as u :)

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

y the usd conversion?? haha appealing to an international crowd eh..oh yeah i enlarged my photos..but it still looks squarish..not the longish photos u do..i think have to take my photos vertically from now on..

porridge is good..all kinds..watery or thick..i miss my pork ball porridge from my childhood days..

k.t.x said...

hey hey, we do share the same liking for the dishes. i'd hv picked the same ones.

but porridge has not much substance, stomach will growl in no time, thus i always opt for porridge when i dont hv a loong night.

the other version of porridge(cantonese??) is cool too. the thicker one with ingredients.

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

lee ping: I'm sorry to hear about your FIL. Porridge always seems like a healthy alternative when one is sick, but it all depends on what you eat with your porridge, doesn't it? My husband doesn't enjoy porridge so much, so I normally eat porridge with friends. And your comment reminds me that I should start working on WMW's tag. ;-) I'm glad my post has inspired you to cook chicken wings...tell me how that turns out, k.

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

tigerfish: I love love love it too!! Can even eat it everyday. hehe.

sc: I must have missed you by a couple of days then! hehe. Korea House - went there last nite...will blog about it soon.

joe: 1/2 of my blog visitors are not from Malaysia, so it makes sense to use a more universal currency. :-) Maybe next time, I'll use AUD as well. Next month, Euro. :-P Looking forward to seeing your HUGE pics. hehe.

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

k.t.x.: ^5! I like all kinds of porridge too. :-) U're right about the fact that it's easy to get hungry...but somehow, with age, I don't get hunger pangs like I used to! hehe.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

i realise yes its huge..but can see da pixels..grrr that means if i wan big pics i cant upload directly..what server do you use??

Pink Elle said...

Yum, nothing heats the spot like Teochew porridge does! I love fried dace with black beans and choi keok with mine. And I spy a yummy slice of luncheon meat in your last pix! :)

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

joe: I upload my pics on flickr.com. I then copy the html into my posts. Not sure if it's the most efficient way to do it, but I'm happy with the results.

pink elle: Oooh I love exactly the same stuff too!! I normally get those dishes when I eat porridge at Pudu which has a better selection. Sadly, we both seem to like the processed/canned stuff which may not be that healthy. lol.

Anonymous said...

I also seldom have porridge unless I'm sick. And I used to have those sticky, mushy type cos my mom used to cook it that way. Accompany with salted egg and black dace... Yumz!

Lee Ping said...

US$3.50 is very cheap. US$3.50 will only buy me a cup of Latte here.

I just brought the kids to makan at a salad house. It was close to US$20 for 1 adult and 2 kids (baby was free). And thanks for the conversion.

If I ever go back to Malaysia, I can treat everyone to teochew porridge :)

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

jason: woohoo...another fried dace fan. :-) I love salted egg too.

lee ping: Whenever I go to the US, I spend quite a bit on food. I normally have a couple of starbucks lattes a day. Come to think of it, that amount could have fed a whole village with porridge. *grin* I'll take u up on ur offer, lee ping! :-P

Lee Ping said...

Dear Lyrical Lemongrass,
I noticed a new banner. Are those new Malaysian candies?

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

hi lee ping. The candies have been around for as long as I can remember! They are like sugar-coated jellies. They are sold by weight and are extremely addictive!

Xiu Long Bao said...

i luv ur new blog heading! so colourful :)

wmw said...

I'm sure you know what I'm gonna say about your trip here...so, I shan't say it. ROFL....Wait till Precious Pea sees this! Hee hee

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

xiu long bao: thanks! I had so much fun shooting the pic (and eating the sweets after that!).

wmw: just as well Precious Pea's away, eh? lol. Anyway, I have no secrets. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I used to think and feel that porridges are only for the ill too. Hated to eat it.. unless i am not feeling so hot..! but now.. i would love to have some.. especially with the teochew porridge.. where you can have a variety of condiments.. ;)
Never knew what i was missing.. till i can't have it.. :(

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

mama bok: it's always like that, isn't it? I hope you get to eat your porridge soon. Can you get all the condiments easily? Salted egg, fried dace, etc?

Melting Wok said...

woww, look at all the side-dishes *sob sob* What a good change aside from my spicy hot bean curd, 1k yr eggs and salted fish :( Hmm..craving some peanut, ginger ground pork porridge now, hate u !:P