INTRODUCING KACANG POOL HAJI TO A TESL FRIEND

The mission of this morning gastronomic adventure was to introduce Kacang Pool Haji to a TESL friend from Kuala Lumpur. We set to meet at Selera Johor Food Court at 7:45 a.m. as the place was expected to be crowded on Sunday morning.

Fried Oyster Mushroom

Cekodok Pisang
[Banana Fritters]

Kacang Pool Haji

I am glad that Puan Hayati Burkhan liked her first attempt of having Kacang Pool, and she loved the Cekodok Pisang too. Mission accomplished. She and her husband had a flight to catch at 11:40 a.m. so we bade farewell for now. Hope to see them again some other time for other series of gastronomic adventures in Johor Bahru.

MEETING TWO TESL FRIENDS IN KAMPUNG MELAYU FOR DINNER

 

Puan Hayati Burkhan was in town with her husband, Mr. Amin. They attended a wedding reception of a relative's in the afternoon in Kota Tinggi but was putting up the night in Johor Bahru. I was excited to introduce her to the local food for the first time. However, I met the husband in August for Kacang Pool when he was here [READ HERE].

I just took them to the food court in Kampung Melayu for its Murtabak at Murtabak Azo Food Court.

Puan Salmiah, another UPM TESL friend, and her daughter were also in Johor Bahru because they went to watch the Festival Zapin, a kind of traditional dance event. We invited her to join us and she happily obliged even though they were staying at Kota Iskandar area which was 30 minutes away from town without the traffic jam.

We had to bid each other "goodbye" by 9:30 p.m. as it had been a long they for these people from Kuala Lumpur/Selangor. There will be one more gastronomic adventure with Puan Hayati before she flies back to KL after that.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT TANJUNG PIAI, PONTIAN

   25th OCTOBER 2026    ~ The gastronomic adventure this week took place in Tanjung Piai, Pontian. We wanted to try the food at Aiskrim Dulang by Pikapi after reviewing the TikTok video.

I was in Tanjung Piai for a gastronomic adventure was back in March 2024, with other friends [READ HERE].

As suggested by the name Aiskrim Dulang [TRANSLATE: Tray Ice Cream], the specialty of the place was its ice cream but we did not get it after the meal.

We arrived at about 2-ish p.m. and there were not that many people as it was already past lunch hour.

The chose the Dulang Set, something like a lunch set put on a big tray whcih comprised of a few Malay dishes.

The lunch set cost RM79.90 excluding drinks, and was meant for 4 pax. Surprisingly, my friend and I could finish it all because the portion of the food was not actually suffice for four adults.

MY HONEST UNPAID REVIEW: We had had better lunch at a more reasonable price somewhere else.

However, the gastronomic adventure must go on. We now have to think of the next eating venue for the upcoming weekend.

GOING WESTERN FOR DINNER IN PORT DICKSON, NEGERI SEMBILAN

   18th OCTOBER 2026    ~ After too much Malay food in Melaka, we decided to go western for dinner when we were in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. My co-pilot cum gastronomic adventure buddy, Mr. Redzuan, found this place called "Kafe Santai" which was not that far from the hotel where we were staying.

We ordered the Dulang Set [TRANSLATE: tray] which contained a piece of chicken chop and lamb chop, French Fries and two portions of fried rice. Western but Malaysianized as some people just could not live without rice.

The meal size was sufficient for two people and taste wise, all the food in taste was tasty that we finished everything.

That was a good start for our gastronomic adventure in Port Dickson and we would continue with the next episode the next day.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT KEDAI MAKAN SAKDIAH IN ALOR GAJAH

   18TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ Before leaving Alor Gajah, Melaka, and heading to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, we decided to get lunch. Recommended by a friend who is residing in Melaka, we searched for Kedai Makan Sakdiah and there were already many people filling in the dining area for lunch.

My friend had Ikan Baung Masak Lemak, and I chose Asam Pedas Ikan Duri. Both were traditional Malay dishes, eaten with rice. As for the vegetable, we both took Fried Bean Sprouts.

One minus point was the place was not air-conditioned. The food was hot [i.e. spicy] and the weather outside was hotter. That would be the way to enjoy authentic local meals. One thing we discovered there were many eating places along the stretch of road and there could be possibilities for us to come back and try, time unknown.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT A FAMOSA RESORT, MELAKA

   18TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ I am always happy to get the breakfast package when putting up a night at a hotel or resort.  Most of the time, it would be cheaper compared to the walk-in price. We were among the early birds to drive to the Club House of A Famosa Resort for breakfast, the place where we stayed and the same venue for the wedding reception attended the night before.

Omelette

Puri

Pancake + Honey

Tom Yum Noodles

I met two old friends, the ex-Fourth Collegian of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, who also attended the reception.

All in all, I was happy with the breakfasts served, especially when there were two rare items found for breakfast: Puri and Tom Yum Noodles. Besides, there was a wide variety of food to choose for breakfast from the stations and counters.