AS soon as he finishes his tour of Kampung Morten's Villa Sentosa, Shaukani Abbas glances at his watch and declares, "Dinner time!".
The sun is still high up in the clear blue sky when we leave the unique Malay living museum, but as we retrace the route back to Melaka's Unesco World Heritage quarter, the evening sets in very quickly.
Always passionate to share his beloved hometown with others, Shaukani continues to point out prominent historic monuments along the route to Jalan Chan Koon Cheng before bringing the car to a gradual halt at a parking spot by the road opposite SMK Tinggi Melaka.
Skirting school's perimeter towards a nearby eatery, the cheery tour guide proudly states that this famous educational institution, popularly known as Melaka High School, is his alma mater and has churned out many prominent personalities, who have contributed generously towards our nation's progress over the years.
Arriving at our destination, Shaukani points out that its owners are so proud to be in close proximity with the school that they named it Nasi Lemak Balut High School Corner.
ALL WRAPPED UP
Unlike the usual nasi lemak that is packed in banana leaf, the stall has its coconut milk-infused rice wrapped in a plain, thin omelette.
This "balut" or omelette wrap not only seals the flavours but also allows diners to savour the contents piping hot with their choice of side dishes.
The cornerstone of all the side dishes is the delicious homemade sambal that is slow-cooked for hours to bring out its full potential.
The sambal is reasonably spicy with a hint of sweetness and sourish aftertaste, and comes in five varieties, which includes the mouth-watering sambal sotong and udang.
Other sides are the signature ayam rempah (fried chicken that bursts with a delightful mixture of spice infused flavours), Thai rendang and sambal kerang selections.
The portions are large and come with generous helpings of sliced cucumber, crispy anchovy and crunchy peanuts.
At RM8.50 per set, nasi lemak sotong is slightly pricier but after a mouthful, the price tag takes a backseat.
Tasty enough to savour on their own, the sambal infused cephalopod rings burst into a myriad of flavours when sampled together with rice.
The same can also be said for nasi lemak udang, a homage to the fresh prawns harvested off the Melaka coast. Priced at RM9 per set, it is the most expensive choice in the ensemble.
At the end of the meal, I cannot agree more with Shaukani that delicious meals do not have to be expensive and confined to fancy restaurants.
Nasi Lemak Balut High School Corner's legions of loyal customers can testify to that. Its laidback ambience coupled with ample parking space and attentive service are additional plus points for this place.
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