I Eat Nasi Lemak @ TM Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur (2)

I Eat Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak, as you know, is our very own staple food favourite, the very best, as most Malaysians would proudly declare without a second thought. It is so uniquely Malaysian that it's impossible to live in this country and not eat this dish, served in eateries all across the country, at road side stalls at every turn and corner, in all manner of warong and kopitiam everywhere, and even in fancy restaurants. It is one of the first dishes a tourist would eat coming into our fair country.

A complete meal in itself - rice, gravy, vegetable and protein - nasi lemak perfection, to us Malaysians, is still the 'bungkus' type. The banana leaf which wraps around the nasi lemak tight, the sambal (chilli paste), the boiled egg, the freshly-cut cucumber slices and the deep-fried, deliciously crispy ikan bilis (anchovies) blend to make the unique signature flavour that is our beloved nasi lemak.

Thus, as a tribute to this unique food staple of ours, Fried Chillies Food Network, Malaysia's first homegrown Food Channel, gathered the top 10 best nasi lemak vendors in the Klang Valley and placed them under one roof for what is known as the "I Eat Nasi Lemak" event. Held on 9th November 2013 at the Telekom Malaysia Convention Centre (TMCC), Kuala Lumpur, "I Eat Nasi Lemak" was a unique invitation to nasi lemak lovers to experience the unique taste of each of these nasi lemak vendors.

The ten vendors were invited to participate based on their own special recipe or blend of nasi lemak, from the way they cook their rice and sambal to the dishes they offer. Some have excellent fried chicken, while others have great sambal sotong or fried paru. "It's a nasi lemak extravaganza", remarked an official of the event. And to add to the extravaganza, both participants and attendees were also treated to an exclusive screening of Malaysia's first food drama, 'I Eat KL', at the location itself! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of ticket coupons was donated to Reach Out, a community organization that donates nasi lemak to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur.