Cracked Pepper: Market Day!

In Malaysia, everyone is a food expert. And everyone is always eating. Whatever your location in KL, you will never be more than 50 meters from the delicious sent of intermingling cuisines. Indian, Chinese, and Malay foods being cooked in outdoor kitchens tempt you to eat just one more snack before you head home.

Cooking at home is a rarity in Malaysia. The hawker food is so cheap and so scrumptious that few people bother. This, and the fact that few kitchens are outfitted for proper Western style meal preparation. Many homes do not have ovens and my apartment only has two burners. But sometimes a girl just wants to eat at home! This past weekend, Mr. Happy and I headed out to the Imbi Wet Market, also known as the Butik Bintang Market. Wet Markets are where you buy your produce, meats, and fish. Then, at the end of the day the entire area is hosed down for a cleaning. The market did not disappoint!

The aisles were stacked with fresh, exotic fruits and vegetables. We piled colorful lemons, kiwi, papaya, and pineapple into our bags. We bought Japanese eggplants and stocked up on onions, garlic, and hot sauce. We even stopped for a bouquet of flowers on impulse. After this, we hit the hawkers!

Of course we were now the proud owners of quite a lot of food, but by the time we got it home and cooked it up, we may have starved to death! We couldn't resist a few pick-me-ups!

These vegetarian popiah may now be my favorite food in Malaysia. They are made using a sweet sauce, turnips, crispy bits of flour, spices, and additional ingredients of goodness. I'm glad I managed to take a photo before I gobbled it all up!

This dish is what draws the hoards of people -- including VIPS-- to the market. It is a Malaysian classic breakfast of toasted buns, a slab of butter, and kaya (coconut jam). The set meal also comes with soft boiled eggs. We topped it off with refreshing iced coffees.

Here's a close up of the butter as it melts into the coconut jam. I enjoyed this more than Mr. Happy who thought it was too sweet. I'm sorry, wha? Is there such a thing?

This is how you are served your soft boiled eggs. You must keep the bowl on top of the water for four minutes and then the egg should be good to go! Stop watch anyone?!