The Baba Nyonya culture belongs to a very interesting group of people, their DNA is so colourful and vibrant. They usually come from a line of estbalished well-to-do families, they carry themselves as amabssadors of thier own blood line and heritage. They are wanderlusters by nature, absorbing all they come across and adopting the best of what they learn into thier lifestyle. From spices infused in their cooking, to the batek motifs and crafts adopted from Indonesia and Thailand. They came from China, and like good citizens of the world,  you can find communities of them in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and strong essence of their identity in parts of Malaysia, predominantly ; Penang and Melacca. The Brittish called them the Straits Chinese , but they were in Malaysia way before the Straits Settlements.

The Baba Nyonyas are Taoists, yet they embrace and respect all local rituals and beliefs. They have a very large green artistic thumb, they love nature so much that they dedicate and worship their thanks to mother nature by filling thier everyday lives and tradition with  flowers, leaves, happy animals and colorful birds. I think if they could, they would fill this world with rainbow colored peonies, roses, and dust everything over with sprinkles of gold and jade and silver. A kind of glittery Narnia on steroids perhaps.

I went for lunch at Li Er Café with Joy of DelishAsia , she says the “Nasi Kari Ayam” (Rice and Curry Chicken) is to die for. I do like the Nyonya curry, its creamier and richer with herbs and spice and less of the spiciness, the way I like it. My Grandmother is a Nyonya, a Chinese- Indonesian , which may explain my funny taste buds. Baba Nyonya cuisine and culture is to infuse local ingredients and styles. They integrate their ancestral traditions into what they find from thier new homes. For generations this has been their way, thats why you can find some Indian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai and even European traits in thier dishes.

UNFORTUNATELY , today, they were out of Nasi Kari Ayam , excitement screeched to a stop. The other food and sweets made up for it though! I’m comming back here to claim my curry chicken cravings on Friday (they close on Thursday). Salivate over the photos below:

We came throught the kitchen door, the back entrance of the café, I like how they allowed us to do that, the kitchen was clean and busy . I came face to face with a tub of sweet potato,  I was allowed to capture that:

Nyonya kuih, using rice flour, lemon grass, coconut milk

Nyonya sambal (home made sweet chilli sauce for dipping and taste)

Pink Miku and Pandan Kaya. Doughy steamed bread with coconut lemongrass jam and margarine) comes in a set with coffee

Our local coffee is rich but wont make you as jittery and energised like the Itlain Espresso.

For reservations / Enquiries call: +6 017-464 3757

Li Er Café

7.30 am -4.30 pm Closed on Thursdays

349, Jalan Burma
George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Type: Restaurant / Café

Price range: Low to Low/Medium

If I could describe it in 3 words: “Home cooked quality”

Good for: Families with kids, friends, corporate