The food: Yam Puff

Where to find it: Tong Kee Bakery, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

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I’m a Cheerios-eating American in Kuching, Malaysia. Here, the people eat spicy noodles each day for breakfast and consider bird spit a delicacy. This place exudes exotic vibes. As a guy who lives for novelty, my tastebuds dance here. But sometimes a traveler needs a break.

My Malaysian friend Sara runs a bakery that fits the bill. It straddles the line between the foreign and the familiar. Tong Kee Bakery’s yam puff flakes like grandmother’s apple pie; yet its taro root and shredded chicken filling gushes with Asian flare.

A sweet and savory treat, the yam puff offers some of my favorite contrasting qualities of traveling. It removes me from the usual. Seriously, there aren’t many places I can find a baked good crammed with taro root and shredded chicken. However, it reminds me of baked goods at home. As I continue to travel, I learn that we are all similar. Our stories end up feeling familiar, even if just slightly. Just like my Asian family’s struggle to live in America, Sara’s family created the Tong Kee Bakery so that her family could make a living.

So, for this #FoodFriday, munch over the thought of how the best in life often comprises of the familiar. However, it’s always good to add in a little spice to make life interesting, as well. It’s all about balance.