LUST for LIFE

Charcoal-toasted roti kahwin (set of 2 pieces of bread) coated with yummy butter and kaya. Alternatively, spread condensed milk on the roti. Plus half-boiled eggs spiced with soya sauce and pepper for taste. Wash down with hot freshly brewed teh, kopi kau or cham (mix of tea and coffee) in stained porcelain cups and saucers, with the familiar green-coloured motif. That’s the age old kopitiam culture.

Today, this culture lives on. There are still a number of the so-called ‘old style’ kopitiam around, especially in KL, Ipoh and Georgetown. But, slowly and surely, the ‘modernized’ kopitiam are taking over as the melting pots, blending perfectly in to the new lifestyle culture. It’s little wonder that these homegrown new-style coffee cafés – a ‘cheaper alternative to the likes of Star Bucks, Coffee Beans and San Francisco – are mushrooming. Business is prospering, with a few such as Uncle Lim’s Café, Kluang Station and OldTown White Coffee – having set up a chain of outlets.

I say it is ‘cheaper’ because at RM2.50 for a cuppa, it is definitely more affordable than what you pay at the  up-market cafés. Of course, the same cuppa will cost you RM1.20 or RM1.30 at the more down-to-earth ordinary kopitiam.

I was told that the story of OldTown White Coffee Café started as a kopitiam in Ipoh Old Town in 1958. Ipoh is, of course, synonymous with its so-called white coffee. It’s actually a misnomer as in reality the coffee beans are roasted with margarine to get the distinct aroma. There’s no such thing as ‘white’ coffee.

To cut the story short, OldTown is accredited with pioneer the 3-in-1 instant white coffee product in 1999. It’s now distributed worldwide and is available in supermarkets and mini-markets in countries like China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

A few years back, in the midst of the coffee culture popularity, OldTown expanded to setting up a chain of kopitiam. Like other cafés, OldTown’s menu includes noodles and nasi lemak. It also offers ice blended coffee and milk tea on its menu.

OldTown’s latest outlet at the Jusco Bandar Sunway (Sunway Pyramid)

Nasi Lemak Special (RM5.80)

Nasi Rendang Chicken (RM7.80)

Curry Chicken Rice (RM6.80)