Following my previous feature on Malaysia’s Jalan Alur, this week, it’s all about KLIA2 Gateway’s JayaGrocer. A typical grocery centre or store, JayaGrocer is one of the many places you can visit when inside KLIA2’s Gateway mall. The shop is home to a gazillion of finds that you can munch on, keep and take home as a souvenir. My best bet? The many food find nibbles lining their shelves.
Malaysians are not wild about the formal settings of restaurants when it comes to local cuisine. For most, JayaGrocer is not your first or last stop when in Kuala Lumpur. I agree. However, as you learn to embrace the fact that your hotel is an hour away from the city proper, you’d look at the nearest and most convenient shopping mall you could ever find as your ultimate refuge – any time during your visit. For a shopaholic (I admit…to an extent!), finding one that is just a stone throws away from the airport and your hotel is a shining diamond under the Tuscan sky.
Personally, I love their many aisles and quaint arrangement of shelves. Not to mention the many details they added to make the shop more appealing. Its rich light makes it more enticing – unlike other grocery marts I have been to. Hence, it was natural for me to scout the whole area and eyeing on some particulars that I happily hoarded on my cart before catching my return flight.
Malaysia’s national fruit is, like ours, the coconut. That is why you’d find so many edibles with coconut in them. Of which, I love their Gula Gula Kelapa or Coconut Candy by Tan Kim Hock. A Malaysian favourite, every candy is individually wrapped and boasts of rich, aromatic smell you’d expect from a coconut. The candy itself is a revelation. I love how you can nibble one and lose count after the third.
Speaking of coconut, grab a Biskuit Kelapa or Natural Coconut Biscuit before heading out. Textured and aromatic, I love that it’s not too thick and hard. It was even chewy. Each pack is vacuum sealed hence the inviting coconut smell upon opening. Again, perfect with a cuppa of Joe or tea.
Up on their shelves, near the front, are colourfully packed filled breads. Massimo by The Italian Baker has four available Roti Krim Favorito selection that will have you hungry in an instant. Choose from Jagung (Corn – a personal favo!), Blueberri (Blueberry), Vanilla and everyone’s favourite, Coklat (Chocolate). Each bread is soft and generously filled with sweetness that pairs well with either a cup of dripped coffee or tea.
If bread is not your cup of tea, then you can choose from their selection of drinks that ranges from fruity to milky to coffee-y. My personal choice is Nippy’s Iced HoneycombFlavoured Drinkthat was refreshingly milky. One downside though, each carton weighs like a ton. Still, every drop is worth it. Not to mention, every ringgit cent paid is so worth is.
One food souvenir you cannot leave without is Malaysian’s Dodol Durian Mama. Likened to our kalamay hati or Muslim’s dodol, it’s a dish that exudes depth and culture. The stickiness connotes that the dodol was cooked according to how it should be. Ialso love that they are individually packed and sealed. Again, one small pouch is never enough.
Admittedly, I love myself some trail mix—especially when I’m writing and cannot do nothing else. Since I bought a pack from Singapore, I got hooked. Lo and behold, the Asian trial mix was made in Malaysia – of genuine happiness in my heart. It’s not with chocolates or pretzels; each pack is filled with crunchy nibbles of shapes, colours and sizes. The best thing about them is they are packed in a resalable bag hence a perfect travelling companion. If you do, try to buy a variety and you’d surely thank me later.
There are still tons of sweet and savoury nibbles on their shelves. Truly, the selection process made me to – almost – separate from my friends. Oh the joy of exploring the aisles of JayaGrocer. And to help save yourself some cents and help Mother Nature regain her beauty, forego the plastic bag and have the items in your bag. Happy shopping!
Want to know my latest food finds? Follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and my blog theroyalchefeats.wordpress.com.
