Nasi lemak is irrefutably Malaysia’s national dish. And that’s not because Wikipedia says so.
A few years ago, I was traveling to London to attend the World Travel Mart and while looking for a suitable hotel within my budget, I came across an advertisement by a Malaysian-owned hotel promoting its property with this tagline: “Nasi Lemak included for breakfast for the Malaysian contingent”.
No prize for guessing my choice of hotel. I was not the only one who took the bait, as evidenced at breakfast on my first morning there. No matter which part of Malaysia we were from, we all made a beeline for that familiar whiff of santan (coconut milk), made even more tantalizing by London’s temperature in November. You can also imagine that it made a good icebreaker and bonding agent among compatriots away from home.
By no means is nasi lemak served only to cure homesickness among Malaysians abroad. Back home today in almost every respectable hotel, you will find nasi lemak served at breakfast in one form or another.
