Tapau: The Best of Malaysian Food Writing 2000-2022

by May Chong (Editor), Jason S Ganesan (Editor), Wan Phing Lim (Editor)

A simple spice can open up meditations on love and life.

In food, we find connection to one another, like a homesick student searching for the perfect cup of teh tarik. Yet, paradoxically, food is a polariser, like a Muslim convert craving a pork bun. From tracing the origins of our hawker food to a love letter for Ipoh told in local favourites, these works are an eclectic mix of the Malaysian obsession with food.

For all our differences, Malaysians find commonality in one thing: we want you to be well-fed. Savour these small packages of good writing, covering a wide array of foods to please every palate, from laksa and sambal telur belimbing to french fries and Bru coffee. Come for the carbs. Stay for the whole menu.

281 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

forgot to log this, but an enjoyable read overall!! i got it from areca bookstore in penang, and it features a diverse collection of fiction, nonfiction, comics, poems, etc. about malaysian food— some fun and whimsical, some historical and informative— all personal and intimate.