APlace 39 Khao Jam and Nasi Ulam

Lunch today: Kelantan-meets-Penang cuisine at APlace 39, a cosy spot owned by Catherine Koay, whose Penangite parents emigrated to Kelantan many years ago. Catherine spent 12 years of her growing up years in Kota Bharu, and acquired a taste for Kelantanese budu (fermented fish sauce). Over here in her restaurant, Catherine serves a very good budu with khao jam, the native Siamese-Kelantanese rice salad.

'Khao jam' - Kelantanese rice salad with fish, toasted coconut shreds ('kerisik'), cucumber, onions, herbs and crackers ('keropok').

To hedge her bets, she also offers Penang-style Nasi Ulam - a very beautiful one, at that.
Order your nasi ulam a day in advance, to make sure you get yours. The khao jam can be ordered from the menu straight away.

'Nasi ulam', with sambal belacan, ikan bilis, chopped herbs and salted duck's egg.

This is the only place in Penang to offer khao jam and nasi ulam side-by-side.

We also ordered a very inspired pomelo salad, with fresh shrimps and toasted peanuts in a refreshing sweet & tangy Thai dressing, as well as an ambitious stir-fried free range eggs dish called, simply, APlace Fried Eggs on its menu.

'Yam som o' - Thai pomelo salad, with prawns and toasted peanuts. It was very good.

APlace Fried Eggs - scrambled free-range eggs.

Note that the eatery has just moved earlier this month from its long-time 26 Bangkok Lane location to its current one at 39 Birch Lane, hence the rebranding from APlace 26 to APlace 39.