THE name Gurney Drive brings to mind a famous neighbourhood in George Town, Penang renowned for its vibrant culinary scene and offering a wide array of delicious, authentic street food.
But Gurney Drive is also present in the heart of the nation, for Gurney Drive Penang @ The Linc KL, in Jalan Tun Razak brings the best flavours and experiences of Penang food to Kuala Lumpur.
It is perhaps the newest destination for Klang Valley folk to savour Penang food that possesses the actual Penang ingredients and cooking techniques.
Instead of making a six-hour trip to Penang, fans of Penang food can now have the Gurney Drive experience adjacent to the Ampang Park Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.
NASI DULANG
This holy month of Ramadan, several interesting recipes are in store for customers. First and foremost comes Nasi Dulang which is a northern region Malay dish that is suitable for two people.
Gurney's Nasi Dulang was crafted by Penang-born Chef Din, who focuses on the Penang style of Nasi Melayu.
He said that Nasi Dulang features a set of mains - chicken, sotong and prawns, vegetables, kuih, fruits and refillable drinks, as well as ulam from the restaurant's Ulam Station.
"Our buka puasa set focuses on providing a comfortable, high-quality dining rather than the usual rush and bustle of buffet settings," he said.
CHAR KWAY TEOW
Gurney Drive's trademark Char Kway Teow is ever-present on the menu.
This beloved stir-fried noodle dish is a must-try, which consists of flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, bean sprouts, chives, eggs, and a combination of soy sauce and chili paste.
The smoky flavours make it incredibly delicious and the Gurney Drive version comes with large prawns and hotate scallops to generate the desired seafood aftertaste.
ASAM LAKSA DRINK
Another foodie favourite, Asam Laksa is a tangy and spicy fish-based noodle soup.
Asam Laksa is a Penang specialty made up of thick rice noodles served in a flavourful and sour broth made from tamarind juice, mackerel fish, and a blend of spices, giving it a rich and appetising taste, plus a distinctive aroma.
Gurney Drive's chefs believe that only mackerel should be used for laksa instead of the regular sardine.
A most novel concoction has cropped up in Gurney Drive too, for the restaurant has introduced the Asam Laksa Drink.
Using most of the ingredients found in a typical Asam Laksa, the Asam Laksa Drink is refreshing, with a hint of spicy, sweet and savoury courtesy of fresh vegetable condiments in the concoction.
It is a definite must-try, as the drink comes complimentary with any order of Asam Laksa.
CAREFULLY MADE
Penang Hokkien Mee or Penang Prawn Mee is a spicy noodle soup dish topped with bean sprouts, water spinach, eggs, prawns, chicken and sambal.
The broth is something to crave for as it is carefully made by frying and cooking prawn shells with shallots and chilli paste in a chicken stock, giving it a rich flavour and pleasant aroma.
The process of making the highly flavourful broth takes an intensive 6 hours, making t is the most challenging soup to create.
SWEET AND TANGY
Rojak is available all-year round, a delightful mix of flavours within a fruit and vegetable salad with a sweet and tangy sauce.
It typically consists of sliced tropical fruits like pineapple, jambu air and guava, green apples, cucumber, crispy tofu, and deep-fried dough fritters, all covered in a savoury shrimp paste dressing.
The key ingredient shrimp paste is the key to the success of this dish. This paste comes from a renowned supplier in George Town, Penang who makes and distributes only to key fruit rojak hawker stalls around the city.
EDGECUMBE ROAD
The famous Edgecumbe Road Mee Goreng Mamak is also present in Gurney Drive, both the neighbourhood and the restaurant.
This unique Mee Goreng Mamak gives diners a warm and moist texture, with deep flavours.
Topped with sotong, potatoes and cucur, it is a must-have dish at Gurney Drive.
Most of the sauces and even the cucur are still made by the stall's third-generation owner Jamal.
DELIGHTFUL SALAD
Pasembur is one of the signature dishes in Gurney Drive.
Also known as Indian salad, Pasembur is a delightful salad consisting of various deep-fried ingredients such as prawn fritters, tofu, potatoes, bean curd, and cuttlefish.
These crispy items are tossed together with shredded cucumber, turnip, bean sprouts, and a special sweet and spicy sauce made from a blend of chili paste, tamarind, spices and sugar.
The dish is typically served with a sprinkling of crushed peanuts, adding an extra layer of texture and flavour.
Pasembur is much loved for its unique combination of textures – crunchy from the fried items, crisp from the fresh vegetables, and creamy from the sauce.
NUTMEG AND NIPAH
Penang Ice Kacang stands out differently from the usual Melaka and Kuala Lumpur variants.
Packed with big red beans, corn and the regular cincau, it also features uniquely Penang nutmeg slices, nipah fruit, raisins and fresh banana slices added into a yummy concoction.
A finished drizzle of Penang-made rose syrup, sarsi and high-quality evaporated milk completes this Ice Kacang recipe which comes from Pulau Tikus, specifically from a cafe that is currently managed by a third-generation owner-chef.
OYSTER OMELETTE
As for the kuih, there is of course Baba and Nyonya favourites such as Kuih Talam. Bouncy and packed with pandan leaves and coconut milk, it gives diners the right sweetness and saltiness all the way.
Ask any Penangite about Fried Oyster Omelette, and most will say that this simple fried egg dish with oyster is absolutely different out of Penang.
The chef took months to perfect this simple but uniquely textured dish in Gurney Drive.
Penang fried oyster egg comes with a slight starchy finish that is used to fuse together the eggs, oysters and chives.
This provides diners a unique omelette texture rather than a regular fried egg in whole piece.
MUST VISIT
These are just a few examples of the amazing street food one can find at Gurney Drive Penang @ The Linc KL.
The vibrant mix of flavours and the unique culinary experience makes it a must-visit destination for Penang food lovers in the Klang Valley.
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