The Malaysian Seven Clans Association Food Carnival

Making Guangxi Egg Pancake (Tan Kok in Chinese). A mixture of fish paste, minced meat and chopped chives (kau choy in Chinese) is wrapped in egg.

Last Sunday, my friend S and I visited Thean Hou Temple for this food carnival. We vowed to get there early since we knew it would be packed with people. Despite us arriving around 10 am which is when the carnival starts, it was already chaotic in the temple hall.

The pancake is pan fried till golden brown and served.

The food carnival is organised by the seven major Chinese clans in Malaysia which consists of the Federation of Kwang Tung Associations of Malaysia, the Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia, the Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia, Malaysia Guangxi Associations, the Federated Teochew Associations of Malaysia, Malaysia Federate of San Kiang Associations and the Federation of Hainan Associations of Malaysia. It was an excellent opportunity to try the various clans' cooking styles. What was even better we discovered was most of the items were home cooked hence they felt very authentic.


Another Guangxi dish - tofu puffs stuffed with chopped chives, minced meat and chopped peanuts.

The good food really got snapped up quickly and some of the ladies from the various clans had travelled from Ipoh to join the carnival. My favourite stall was from the Guangxi clan right next to the main entrance. There was a lady making pancakes with egg and a mixture of minced meat, fish paste and chopped chives which was delicious. Chopped chives is featured a lot in Guangxi's cuisine as they also use it to stuff tofu puffs and tiny bittergourds. The mix is similar to the pancake except they add chopped peanuts in it.

Guangxi stuffed bittergourd with chopped chives, peanuts and minced meat

Not only do they use the chopped chives to stuff in tofu and vegetables, it is also used as a flavouring with ginger and garlic for poached chicken. Once fried with these items, the chicken is fragrant and delicious.


Guangxi Chicken with chopped chives, ginger and garlic

Hakka Lui Cha with all the vegetables on top of rice


Ladling the tea mixture on top of the vegetables and rice. Peanuts are sprinkled on top.

The Hakka clan were doing brisk business with a selection of mua chee, yong tau foo and a Lui Cha stall. A bowl of rice will be filled up with the various vegetables before the tea mixture is poured on top. Really delicious and again, it felt like something your Hakka grandmother would have made at home for you.


Hainanese Coconut Dumplings known as Yi Buak

The Hainanese were selling the famous Chicken Rice, Curry, Mutton Stew and these sweet coconut dumplings called Yi Buak. They're filled with shredded coconut, peanuts and sesame seed filling. We also tried the Mutton Stew which was good - more herbal tasting and not much oil. The mutton pieces were tender and great with the crunchy wood ear fungus.


Shanghai Dumplings

There was also a stall selling Shanghainese food like these dumplings. Served with shredded ginger and black vinegar, this was really good stuff. I liked the filling. They also sold Shanghai Pau which we didn't try and the Lion Head Meatballs.


Shanghainese Lion Head Meatballs


Teochew Or Nee in a Pumpkin

The Teochews had a huge stall and they were selling Or Nee (Yam Pudding) topped with gingko nuts in a steamed pumpkin shell. It looked really tempting but was quite pricey hence we didn't get to try it. They also have cai kuih (filled with shredded yam bean) and peach shaped dumplings (toh kuih) that is filled with green bean paste.


Chopping up Teochew Spiced Duck

There were quite a few other clans I did not feature since they were serving dishes we commonly see. Some were so difficult to get near as crowds of people will be pushing their way to queue and buy the food. Also saw Ipoh Salt Baked Chicken, rojak and etc at the other stalls.


Cai Kuih filled with shredded yambean filling

Although you may not have caught this year's food carnival, I have been told this a yearly affair. If you do read the announcement, remember to visit it as it's a good opportunity to sample home cooked Chinese food and try the various clans special dishes.

The Malaysian Seven Clans Association Food Carnival
Contact the Secretariat of the Seven Clans at Tel No: 03-2141 0199 / 03-2141 6199

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Malaysian Food + Guangxi Food + Hainan Dumpling + Hakka Lui Cha + Shanghai Dumpling + Teochew Or Nee