Monday, July 16, 2007

Pau Yut Loy On NST 16 July 2007

50 years of eating outlets: They travel far and wide for this ‘pau’
By : M. HUSAIRY OTHMAN

Chong Cheen Yee is the third generation to run Yut Loy, famed for its ‘pau’ that comes in four flavours. —NST pictures by Jamah Nasri
Chong Cheen Yee is the third generation to run Yut Loy, famed for its ‘pau’ that comes in four flavours. —NST pictures by Jamah Nasri

Mention Kuala Kangsar and one of the first things that comes to mind is Malay College Kuala Kangsar. But when MCKK students reminisce about their alma mater, what comes to their memory is a little restaurant called Yut Loy, as M. HUSAIRY OTHMAN discovers


Megat Mohd Shahrin Hamdan says Yut Loy is a students’ meeting place (right),Azemi Zainol Abdin says ‘pau’ like this is not available elsewhere (left)
Megat Mohd Shahrin Hamdan says Yut Loy is a students’ meeting place (right),Azemi Zainol Abdin says ‘pau’ like this is not available elsewhere (left)
IT is almost a ritual for former Malay College Kuala Kangsar students Megat Mohd Shahrin Mohamed Hamdan and Hussein Mohd Ariff.

Their annual old boys’ reunion is incomplete if they do not drop by at Yut Loy.

"It’s a great place to catch up with your seniors and juniors and exchange hilarious stories about the time when we were students," said Megat Mohd Shahrin, 38, who is a a television producer.

He remembers the days when the "naughty" ones would stroll into the shop and head upstairs via the wooden staircase for a quick cigarette or two.

" It was worth the risk. Of course, once in a while, a few would get caught by prefects for smoking and being in an out-of-bounds area.

"It has almost become a tradition and till today, MCKK students continue to come here," Megat Mohd Shahrin said, with a laugh.

Despite being based in Kuala Lumpur and saddled with a hectic work schedule, he makes it a point to drop by whenever possible.

"The moment I’m in Ipoh, a quick drive here is a must. After all, it’s not even 50km away."

Hussein agreed that Yut Loy was a great place for networking.

"During the old boys’ weekend here, you meet senior politicians, corporate figures, the rich and famous. Basically the who’s who of the country.

"We get to know each other and exchange contact numbers for future dealings," said the 37-year-old.

Former Tenaga Nasional Bhd staff Azemi Zainol Abdin, 61, who made a brief stopover at Yut Loy on his way to Kuala Lumpur from Bukit Mertajam, said: "This (detour) is just for the pau. You can never get it (pau) like this anywhere else in the country."

A regular customer sitting nearby was overheard telling his amused friends that a good pau would not stick to one’s teeth.

Meanwhile, a local who wished to be identified only as Lim said he takes his friends to the coffee shop and treats them to the famous pau whenever they drop by.

"A visit to Kuala Kangsar is simply incomplete if one does not try the pau," he said, as he watched his friends, happily munching away on fresh pau.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Pau ayam 10 daging 10!!