Gallery: Baba Nyonya life and food in Penang

The culture and cuisine of the Baba Nyonya people can still be seen and experienced in certain places in Penang

By Derrick Chang 21 September, 2010

Peranakan Mansion

The courtyard of the Peranakan Mansion was where the Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee entertained his guests. He was a leader in the Penang Chinese community and a colorful personality.

Peranakan Mansion sitting room

The sitting room of the Peranakan Mansion where Kapitan's wife and children sat.

Chung family dining room

The dining room for the Chung family.

Peranakan Mansion shrine

The family Buddhist shrine in the Peranakan Mansion.

Baba Nyonya kitchen

The heart of the Baba Nyonya home is the kitchen where three or four generations of family females prepare meals.

Dragon King Baba Nyonya restaurant

Mrs. Liew, chef and owner of the Dragon King Baba Nyonya restaurant explains cooking methods and ingredients to curious diners.

The Dragon King Restaurant's dining room is located in a traditional Baba Nyonya building. Its original floor and two dining rooms are divided by a carved wooden wall.

Baba Nyonya spices

Local spices used in Baba Nyonya cooking include (clockwise from top): galangal, Chinese Kuy, turmeric, ginger flower.

Jeu Hoo Char

A finely shredded mixture of stir-fried carrots, onions, mushrooms, pork and cuttlefish.

Kerabu Bok Nee (Black fungus salad)

A fragrant salad of black fungus, vegetables, shallots marinated in lime juice.

Curry Kapitan Chicken

This is not your ordinary curry. It has a tangy flavor made from tamarind juice, candlenuts, fresh turmeric root and belacan (shrimp paste.)

Sambal Udang

Prawns sauteed in chili sauce.

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The Baba Nyonya people, also known as Peranakan or Straits Chinese, are mainly of Chinese descent, originally from Fujian Province in Southeastern China.

They settled along the coast of Malaysia mainly in Penang and Melaka as well as parts of Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

Penang has a long and proud Baba Nyonya heritage, which has integrated their Fujian background while adopting many aspects of local culture.

Not forgetting the food

Due to its close proximity to Thailand, Penang's Baba Nyonya cuisine has been influenced by Thai cuisine as well as local Malay and Fujian ingredients and cooking methods.

Nyonya food is painstakingly prepared by the females in the family and they take great care in grinding their ingredients to make wonderful pastes and sauces. The resulting dishes have a delightful depth with strong flavors and aromas.

The best place to experience the traditional Baba Nyonya life is a visit to the Peranakan Museum on Church Street. To taste Penang’s finest Baba Nyonya food head to Dragon King Restaurant on 44 Nagore Road.

For a slice of Baba Nynonya life and cuisine, click on the image above for a photo tour.

Derrick Chang is a Canadian photojournalist based in Hong Kong. His work has appeared in Time, the New York Times, CNNGo, Huffington Post, and other Asian media outlets. He enjoys hiking from one mountain village to another, waiting for the golden light and dining on street food.