First of all, I have checked and found out that I was correct in that 'heong paeng' or 'heong peah' is actually called, 'beh teh saw' in Hokien. 'Heong paeng' would be correct in Cantonese but 'heong peah' is incorrect because it has got Cantonese and Hokien respectively mixed. It is even objectionable because in Hokien it sounded more like 'dirty biscuit'!
Anyway, it all started with an email from Richard's brother in Singapore:
I am sure you can also get it in KL. Check it out and try it. I need to buy some of these when I visit KL next time."
Then his email to me:
"I'll be going to Ipoh this Sunday. Do you know where I can buy Yat Pat Gao (189) heong peah in Ipoh?"
My reply:
"Never heard of the name and offhand, not sure where to find it. SP suggested that it could be a shop address 189 used as business name as well, most probably former Hugh Low St. Isn't it easier asking the student where he or she got it before? Locally, at one time, favourite heong peah was those made in Gunung Rapat, which is near your sister's place in Ampang!"
Richard and girl friend came to visit us today on a day trip, with a list of 'to do' which were mainly on foods to try and to buy, which included 'kai si hor fun', 'ngah choi kai', 'char siew pau' (Foh San), salted chicken, Tambun pomelo, white coffee, Funny Mountain 'taufu fah', Tanjung Tualang prawns and so on.
After a quick chat, mainly on our collectibles which interested Jen because it was her first visit, we set off to Kong Hing for 'kai si hor fun' and 'po piah' and had their white coffee. The original white coffee was left for another time because of the short time we had. Richard's purpose was to visit his sister in Seri Ampang which we had to help find! Asked her about the heong paeng and she had no idea. Anyway she invited us to her daughter's coffee shop nearby where we had a long chat. His brother-in-law made a few calls to find out '189' and was told it was closed but could take us there for next time. The person must be really lucky to have us trying so hard to find his place. Anyway, called him to ask if he has any distributor in KL, and he replied he had no idea!
We showed them Sunway's Lost World before we look for our usual pomelo farm in Tambun. For the first time, we were told there was no stock. Went to a neighbouring farm and was directed to their shop on the main road leading to Tambun town. Bought a few and headed back to Ipoh town to look for Funny Mountain. Bought the 'taufu fah' to have it in the car while SP tried her luck to buy some 'kaya puff' for them to try. She gave up when someone told the shop assistant her order was for 16 boxes! This was the shop by the name of Sin Eng Heong where once we were asked if we had telephoned earlier, if not, then no need to ask!Then we headed towards Menglembu where SP bought one salted chicken for them to compare with the famous one. Much to her surprise, she found some 189 'heong paeng' which we had been trying to buy earlier in Ipoh! She also bought some 'char siew pau' (for them to compare), from the shop whose tenant is famous for his wantan noodles.
We reached home around 5 pm and headed towards Tg. Tualang for sea food dinner. They followed us in his car so that they could go back to KL via Malim Nawar instead of back tracking to BG. I should have taken a picture of the 600 gm. (or 1 kati) of prawns because I still believe the last time, Overseas Restaurant next to Armada Hotel in PJ might not have overcharged us by insisting their price was correct at Rm180 per kg. but they had definitely given us less than 600 gm. when they charged us for 1 kg.
It was a good job SP insisted that I show them the way out to Gopeng interchange to join NSE because I was not too sure after a lapse of almost two years since we last went on that route. On the way, I noticed a sign to Gopeng on the left and it was after that we realized there is now a new road which could take us to Kota Baru (not to be confused with Kelantan's) and to the interchange, via Lawan Kuda! Felt like a fool while driving from the Malim Nawar junction at the old trunk road and going northwards towards Gopeng for quite a distance before they could join the NSE. Lesson learned. But to our guests, I bet they did not know the difference... unless and until Richard read my post!
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