Musings from Dennis #265. Flying up from Singapore, I first began working in the Malaysian market in early 1998 during my Disney days (and even lived there for 18 months in the mid‑2000s). I continued later with Viacom International from 2013. Malaysia was a direct market for both the Disney and Nickelodeon brands, and the achievements in licensing, retail marketing, events and promotional partnerships are still imprinted in my mind.
But then… there is the food.
I can never forget the incredible flavours that filled the
gaps between meetings — and sometimes became the meetings — shared with
co‑workers, licensees, mall partners and friends across the industry. To bring
out the true “flavour” of this post, I’ll have to ignore calories and
nutritional guides entirely haha. Here goes.
In the late ’90s, Lapkeng Wong and the Disney CP team
introduced me to Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang, where we devoured street‑side
Char Kway Teow (stir-fried flat rice noodles). We even found the “world’s best
char siew” (BBQ pork) somewhere there (and also at Restoran Imbi Oversea). Years later, Claryss Tan brought me to
Restoran Sunrise in Seapark PJ for their legendary roast duck — so popular the
rice ran out when we were there and we had to wait.
I still remember the curry fish head in Sungei Besi, eaten
under a zinc roof cut around a tree trunk, hosted by Albert Aw, our apparel
licensee. And the steak dinner with Anthony Dylan at Victoria Station USJ.
Opposite the Dorsett Grand Subang, Taj Curry Subang Jaya (for all things
wonderfully Indian and spicy) became comfort‑food staples. And who could forget
the sizzling steam from the hotplate steaks at Coliseum Café in Mid Valley and
Sunway Pyramid.
Street food was its own adventure: morning roti canai (Indian
flatbread) at Wangsa Maju before our Aeon (then Jaya Jusco) meetings; KL wantan
mee (Cantonese noodles) at Jalan Raja Abdullah/Sultan Ismail near our first FCI
office; and the time I treated my cab driver to satay after retail checks at
Parkson Kajang — and yes, I know exactly why the sauce there tastes extra delicious!
Madam Kwan’s, Indian curry in Bangsar, wok hei and roti
kahwin in Sri Hartamas where I lived… the list just keeps going.
A business trip to Penang was never complete without Penang
Char Kway Teow — but never from Gurney Drive, as our footwear licensee insisted
that was “too touristy.” And after a feast of lok lok (skewered dishes) in SS2
Petaling Jaya, we ended the night with a glorious durian buffet.
Just thinking about all this is making me gain weight.
