...lam mee, lam you...

Hahaha!!! Got ya!!! This is not a love story, nor something erotic!!! It's about noodles!!! Birthday noodles or more locally known as Lam Mee.

In those good old days, Lam Mee is usually prepared at home during auspicious days, especially birthdays. When a patriach or a matriach celebrated a birthday, Lam Mee was a must, since noodles have always been a symbol of longevity in life to the Chinese. The whole family would get themselves involved in the preparation of this dish - taugeh to be liam (peeling the bean sprouts), koo chai (chives) to be cut, meat to be boiled, prawns to be blanched. Eggs will be beaten and colouring added - yellow and red - then fried and cut into stips. Garnishes include spring onion and fried garlic. And boy, the amount they had to cook for one day!!! The Lam Mee will then be served to guests and even sent to homes of kins in tiffin carriers.

Nowadays, like anything else, Lam Mee is available commercially in coffee shops and restaurants. In this blog, I would like to recommend the one in Fettes Park morning market. This aunty sells Lam Mee with soup that you will want to ask second helping for. There is only one stall selling this noodle in the market. The stall is the first stall you will walk pass the aisle. For RM2.50 per bowl, you will get a fair share of noodles, a prawn, some filament crab stick, chicken meat, garnish with spring onions and fried garlic. And the best, is the sambal to go with the noodles. The soup does not really have a strong aroma, but it leaves you wanting for more.

Ratings : 7/10

Then there is the Lam Mee made by Lao Tze Amy (Yoga teacher). As hers is not for commercial purposes, although she made them for charity food fairs, she has lots and lots of leow (extra garnishes with meat, crab meat, prawns, etc.). Always told her, if she sells hers at that price, she will close shop in no time!!! It is usually Lao Tze Amy's mum who cooks the soup (giving credit where it's due). Hers is truly yummy...and a hot selling item in charity food fairs.

Ratings : 8/10