Thanks for refreshing my memory about Menglembu's goodies. In my recent visit to Ipoh, I did not venture into that part of the city because of time constraints. I have tasted the much-talked about wanton mee umpteen years ago but I cannot recall which stall it was. Nevertheless, I do remember that Menglembu is also famous for its jumbo "Ham Yuk Chung" (glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves). Is this still a popular item in this day and age? Talking about soft-shell crab, this happens to be a "must-try" entree in many Chinese restaurants in the U.S. The season for these sumptuous crustaceans is from late April to early June. The crabs are usually lightly fried and sprinkled with salt and pepper, then topped off with toasted garlic and chilies. I wonder if the soft-shell crabs in Menglembu are prepared in the same way.

For someone who enjoys good food, I do admit that I am still familiar with some old-time restaurants and stalls in the New Town area, mainly because those places use to be my regular stomping grounds. However, the food business is fiercely competitive. Restaurants and stalls come and go through the revolving door all the time. That is why I am so thrilled to discover a website like Ipohtalk.com which keeps me posted with the latest developments in the city even though I am thousands of miles away.

You are right on the money in your assessment of Chinese food in western countries like U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia. Apart from barbeque meat and roast duck, the Hong Kong chefs have also raised the bar on the quality of Dim Sum significantly. Last August, I was in Beijing and Seoul, and as usual, I took the opportunity to check out some of the eateries there. The food was not bad but in all honesty, I can get food of comparable or even better quality from good Chinese and Korean restaurants in Chicago.

When it comes to overall quality and affordability, Ipoh's restaurants and hawker stalls are hard to beat. A big city like KL attracts many food vendors from all over the country but the prices are comparatively more expensive. Penang's food is more affordable but it is still a tad pricier than Ipoh. We get good value for our hard-earned money in Ipoh and that is why many former residents like me are willing to make the long pilgrimage home to whet our appetite for those gastronomical delights that our hometown is so famous for.

That's enough of food talk for the day. Hopefully, we will talk food again at a later date.

Carry on eating and/or drooling! Bye and best wishes.