Tag Archives: Spicy Food

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Best Nyonya Food in Kuala Lumpur

Sambal

Also known as Peranakan cuisine, Nyonya food is deliciously diverse, having come from the early Chinese migrants who settled in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. A combination of Chinese, Malay and other South East Asian flavors, these are some of the best restaurants to head to in Kuala Lumpur if you want to have a taste of authentic Nyonya cuisine.

Sambal Chili
One of the oldest Nyonya restaurants in the country, Sambal Chili is known for making everything they serve right from scratch, including their blend of Nyonya spices that make up the base of the majority of their dishes. There are many items on the menu that are worth trying here, from the lemongrass, ginger and coriander encrusted chicken bites, otherwise known as Inchi Kabin, to the spicy Sambal Petai Prawns. If you are visiting the restaurant in a group, give the Asam Pedas an order, as this deep fried seabass is served up in a claypot with an Asam Pedas broth, along with tofu, tomatoes and okra.

Beef rendang

Old China Café
The Old China Café, as well as its sister restaurant Precious Old China, is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, and is decked out with traditional Chinese furnishings, from the marble tables to the Chinese paintings to the wooden details. This restaurant has truly traditional roots, merging together flavors from both Northern and Southern Peranakan cuisine. While the Beef Rendang and Fish Head Curry are both well worth trying, the highlight of the menu is the Lemak Nenas Prawn dish, which features the freshest of seafood simmered down in a creamy concoction of coconut milk, pineapple and other tangy flavors.

The Tranquerah
Having only been operating for a few years, The Tranquerah is quite the newcomer to the Nyonya restaurant scene in Kuala Lumpur, but it has already managed to make quite the name for itself thanks to its hard-to-find Straits Chinese dish of Ayam Buah Keluak. Buah Keluak are large brown nuts, that are native to the region, but actually contain large amounts of hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal. The preparation method for this ingredient is incredibly time-consuming, which is why the majority of restaurants choose to emit it completely from their menu, making The Tranquerah a must-visit if you are hoping to try this unique dish.

Laksa

Limapulo
Situated in a renovated 1940s shophouse, the recipes served up at Limapulo have been handed down from the chef’s mother, meaning that you will find many family favorites on the menu. The star dish of this restaurant is, without a doubt, the Nyonya Laksa, which is only served on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays due to the fact that it has such a lengthy preparation time. With simmered chillis, lemongrass, candlenuts, galangal and other secret ingredients, this stand-out dish perfectly embodies all that Nyonya cuisine is.

The majority of Nyonya recipes have been passed down through many generations, and take a huge amount of precision to ensure that the flavors are balanced in the right way. While there may be many authentic Nyonya restaurants scattered throughout the city, these are some of the finest, and will give you a true taste of the flavors of Nyonya cuisine.

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Spicy Filipino Inspired Dishes

With an abundance of seafood and tropical fruit across its 7000 islands, the cuisine in the Philippines is quite diverse, but is never usually lacking when it comes to heat. From sticky slow-braised oxtail to a local empanada, these spicy dishes will each introduce you to some of the vibrant flavors that come from Filipino cuisine.

Ilocos Empanada
While the name of this dish may point towards Spanish origins, all of the ingredients used in its creation are local. The filling consists of a local pork sausage mixed with egg and grated unripe papaya, which is then stuffed into the empanada before being deep fried, and is always served up with a spicy vinegar sauce that gives each bite a fiery kick..

Kare Kare

Kare Kare
Kare Kare is a dish that originally features slow-braised oxtail, but the more modern versions utilize a number of different meats, with short rib being a particularly popular option. The meat is slowly cooked in a broth, along with some vegetables, such as eggplant and beans, and plenty of peanut butter. This gives the dish an incredible base onto which other exciting flavors, usually onions, shrimp paste, calamansi, and spicy chillies, are then added.

Dinuguan
Cooking with blood is a concept that is shared by many cultures around the world, and the spicy Filipino dish Dinuguan is one that is created with the use of freshly slaughtered pork blood. This hearty stew makes use of many different cuts of pork, from the liver to the belly to the cheeks, and is usually served up with steamed rice or sweet rice cakes.

Kinunot Na Pagi
Kinunot Na Pagi is a dish that originates from the Bicol region of the Philippines and is absolutely packed with so many different mouth-tingling flavors. The dish features either stingray or crab, which is then cooked in coconut cream, along with malunggay leaves and a huge heap of potent chilli.

Bicol Express

Bicol Express
Another fiery dish that has been developed into a unique version in the Bicol region, the Bicol Express is a spicy stew that features long chillies as one of its star ingredients. These are cooked with coconut milk, shrimp paste, onions, pork and garlic, resulting in one of the most famous spicy Filipino dishes out there.

Tapa
Tapa is a dish that features dried or cured meat, and is usually available in two versions; a mild and sweeter dish, or a hot and spicy option. Served with a fried egg and some garlic rice, this is often eaten as a breakfast dish in the Philippines, but it is also well-suited to being a hearty snack in the middle of the day.

In many regions of the Philippines, the cuisine focuses on a combination of sweet, salty and sour, but there are a number of areas that bring a strong heat into this too. From the fiery but creamy pork of the Bicol Express to the tangy and spicy vinegar that tops an Ilocos Empanada, these dishes will all guarantee a truly tongue-tingling experience.

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Calming Redness & Rosacea

Sad woman

Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition that can affect all skin types, although is usually seen on fair skin. While there may be no cure for rosacea and the redness that this brings to your skin, there are certain ways in which you can calm these flare-ups, keeping all of the irritating symptoms at bay.

Avoid Triggers
There are many different factors that can trigger rosacea, from spicy foods to alcohol to stress to extreme temperatures. While it may be impossible for you to cut out all possible triggers from your life, it is worth keeping a journal so that you can try to work out exactly what your triggers are. While some triggers can easily be avoided, others cannot, but at least if you know what they are, you will be much better equipped to deal with them when they arise. The National Rosacea Society has a complete list of known rosacea triggers, so it may be a good idea to skim over the list, just in case there are any triggers that you have never previously considered.

Woman moisturizing skin

Moisturize Daily
Moisturizing daily is important for everyone, but even more so for those who have rosacea or redness. However, choosing the wrong moisturizer will only make your redness worse, so make sure that the one you use is oil-free and fragrance-free. A good moisturizer will help to create a protective barrier on the surface of your skin, locking out the irritants that exacerbate rosacea.

Controlling Flare-Ups
When your rosacea begins to flare up, it is important to tackle these symptoms as soon as possible rather than allowing them to worsen. Placing an ice pack on your face will help to reduce inflammation, while green tea extract is known to be extremely soothing. Keep an eye on the temperature of products that you apply to your skin, as anything that is hot will only make the redness more severe.

Woman applying sunscreen.

Regular Sun Protection
As mentioned above, heat will only worsen your rosacea symptoms, and the same applies to heat coming from the sun. 81% of people with rosacea find that sun exposure is a major trigger for them, so it is important to regularly apply sunscreen, wear a large-brimmed hat, and remain in the shade as much as possible. Just like with all the other products you use, make sure that your sunscreen is gentle enough to be used on your skin. Sunscreens that contain physical rather than chemical blockers, such as zinc oxide and titanium, are usually the better choice for those with rosacea or sensitive skin.

The National Rosacea Society estimates that there are over 16 million Americans suffering from rosacea. While there may still be many debates on what actually causes rosacea, these tips should help you to calm the redness and return to a clear and bright complexion. If you find that your rosacea is only getting worse, then you need to speak to your dermatologist about other options that may be available to you.