KL and Far Eastern Tales

One of the best food moments I had on this trip was in Kuala Lumpur. One of my brother's very good friends arranged for a superb lunch in the old Governor's home. The Gulai House had all the allures of ancient colonial far eastern times. You could almost picture William Somerset Maugham taking his tea on the terrace, right under the old fan beside a potted banana tree. He'd be watching the city lazily while he jotted down notes for his collection of Far Eastern Tales. Waiters dressed in crisp uniforms served us efficiently with all the class and flair of english butlers.

The food was exquisite. A harmonius marriage of the three great asian civilzations: chinese, indo-malay and indian. On the menu was Mixed Satay, White Rice and Ghee Rice, Eggplant with Soya Sauce, Grilled Lamb Rack with Tamarind Sauce, Chicken Curry, Prawn Sambal Petai, Naan Bread and Mixed Fruit with Sorbet. We washed everything down with a very crisp and cool Pinot Grigio that blended well with all the spices and tangy flavors. I particularly liked the Lamb with tamarind glaze... The eggplant was also cooked to perfection so it melted in your mouth. All the sauces mixed with the slightly sweet Ghee rice... Simply marvelous! Malaysian cuisine is so alive and full of character. A real melting pot of influences. I suppose even through its cuisine, Malaysia is truly Asia!