fabulous ciki of cumi dan ciki fame

This tree
Is not only a tree
It is a special tree,
that is always watching over you.
This tree
Is not only a tree
It is a magical tree.
That feeds you and feeds you,
Thirst is quenched,
And nerves are soothe.
This tree
Is not only a tree,
It is where everything started.
It is the tree of nourishment.

Big Tree Foot or ‘Tai Shu Keok’ in Cantonese has the most amazing Yong Tau Foo (YTF) I have ever eaten. As a matter of fact, this place is a ‘cannot miss’ every time I go north for work.

Even the laksa here is good. It is not unheard of to order your laksa and dunk chunks of YTF into the soup as you eat the bowl of laksa. The lai-fun (thick chewy rice noodles) are to die for. So springy in texture. If the lai fun were a MAN, it would walk with a bounce in its stride 

First up, my colleagues order for us some cold drinks – red bean and  the other, water chestnut. Unbelievably good on a hot day. The red bean and water chestnut are not too sweet at all, but full of flavour and really quenches the thirst. I notice that they use a lot more red bean in the drink, instead of cutting back on quality and just using a lot of sugar. This is evident in the aroma that comes out of the drink. A delicious thirst quencher!

I kill for the Yong Tau Foo here.  The yong tau foo bits that I cannot miss include the turnip, bitter-gourd, lady fingers, green chili, eggplant, fried beancurd or beancurd skins. The YTF served at big tree foot are lightly fried, flaky and crunchy. They are served fresh before they have had time to harden or loose they fresh crunch!

Fried Stuffed Sar Kok (Turnip)

This is the one special YTF item that you cannot miss. The stuffed turnip is rare in KL. I’d go so far as to say that YTF shops in KL don’t do this form of yong tau foo. It is unique to Ipoh and I am LOVING IT! Crispy, crunchy with turnip texture and slightly sweet to the taste, this is the most satisfying morsel of YTF in the world. Why am I even explaining.

The beancurd skin is to die for. Sliced really thin and incredibly crispy, beware your expanding waistline!