Unfortunately, we were drawing close to returning to Kuala Lumpur. We had tried everything there was to try (with the exception of chicken rice; our stomachs were too full to eat anymore rice at this point), and we felt rather accomplished with our overall "food coverage" of Ipoh. But of course, we were not completely ready to head back home yet.
Before we left, we stopped by Concubine Lane, an area known as the heart of Ipoh's nightlife. Although we weren't able to witness the Lane in its most happening state, we were able to see a more quaint, modern side of Ipoh that seemed to cater to the younger crowds.
Concubine Lane had lanterns hanging from thin wires throughout the walkway, and it was very much Chinese-inspired like the rest of Ipoh. Not many places were open for drinking yet, but there were many interesting, odd little toy shops and candy shops that were intriguingly strange. The artwork along the walls of the Lane were also very intricately crafted, and it was plain to see that the Lane intended to take visitors back to olden Malaya.
After walking for a few minutes and taking everything at Concubine Lane in, we decided that we had to sit down and relax before we officially headed back to Kuala Lumpur. So, we entered a daint, little cafe situated at the opening of Concubine Lane: Saffron Bistro. The bistro was extremely casual, and the interior decor was worldly and inspired. The food items on the menu were rather expensive (as were the drinks), but the ambiance of Saffron Bistro made it worth the money.
The only thing we ordered at the bistro were a few expensive beers (after all, we did have two beer enthusiasts in our team: our very own Alo Roy and Aaron Lian. In addition, a bucket of three was RM36.00). To their delight, it was very much a needed pick-me-up that put a good end to our day.
After taking our time to chit-chat and finish our beers, we decided that it was time to finally head back to Kuala Lumpur, and thus, this brought us to the end of our glorious one-day Ipoh food hunt. From visiting Ipoh for the purpose of trying local foods, we were able to learn more about the local culture there than ever before. We now understand that it is not solely about the food - it is also about the stories and legacies that the recipes and ingredients carry. To top everything off, we realized that the utilization of all six senses is important in order for us to truly experience anything that comes our way, and as far as gastronomic tourism goes, this will only be one of the many destinations we seek to cover.
Come find me!
Saffron Bistro
Address: 24, Concubine Lane, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Phone: +60 16-787 8825
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