The Msytery of Nasi 100 Unravelled

PESTA NASI 100 2008

Pesta Nasi 100 Kelantan came to a close yesterday on 14th July 2008 after being officially opened by YAM TengkuMuhammad Fakhry Petra Ibni Sultan Ismail Petra, Tengku Temenggong Kelantan who is the Patron of Kelantan Tourist Association. There was supposed to be a closing ceremony but I couldn't wait to see it though I was there after attending the event at Sukimi Group's head quarters. I couldn't wait for the closing ceremony of Pesta Nasi 100 since I had to immediately edit the post on The Official Opening of Sukimi Group's Headquarters. I have posted that blog without waiting for the actual event to happen. Now that I have the appropriate photographs, I must complete the blog.

The Pesta Nasi 100 Kelantan was officially opened by the YTM The Tengku Temenggung of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Putra ibni Sultan Ismail Petra at noon on 12th July 2008. This is my take on the event.

Kelantan Tourist Association is the organizer with cooperation from The Kelantan State Government, Visit Malaysia Year Secretariat, Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Negeri Kelantan and Beras Era is the sponsor.


The logo of Pesta Nasi 100 Negeri Kelantan.

For your pleasure here is the opening ceremony in pictures.
The opening gimmick is a boiling rice pot after the gong is sounded by the Tengku Temenggong. This two guys must be worried that the gimmick may not work.


The Tengku Faris Petra Secondary Science School waiting to perform.


A young girl being given the final touch up.



Pretty fairy girls waiting to do their bit during the event. Somehow I didn't see them being made to perform anything at all during the function.
The man and his boom with a camera connected to the end of it. This is the gadget they use to take sweeping overhead views. It is definitely great to have one in any production.


Finally Azman from MPKB who was the MC for the event announced the arrival of YAM Tengku Temenggung. The MC plays an important role in such a function. I remember having butterflies in the stomach when doing such a job during my working days with KESEDAR. All the more so when it involves royalties where the protocols alone can be mind boggling.


When the MC announced the arrival of YTM Tengku Temenggong, they were ready to accompany him to the stage under the big tent.

The Tengku Temenggong being accompanied by the reception committee led by En. Nik Amir the Chairman of KTA.
Serving the drink to YAM Tengku Temenggung

Nik Amir the Chairman of the organizing committee who is also the chairman of Kelantan Tourist Association delivering his opening speech. According to him this is the fifth Pesta Nasi 100 which was started in 2001.


After the gong is sounded three times, the event was officially opened.

Smokes seems to bellow from underneath the pot much to the relief of the organizers.

Photographers professional or otherwise taking a shot. I prefer to shoot at the photographers.



Some of the crowd attending the launch of Pesta Nasi 100.


Top spinning was demostrated immediately after the opening ceremony. This one was special and it was dubbed the 'gasing terbang' (Flying Top) and mind you the top weighs almost a kilogram made from a wooden core with sold tin surround.

It took great strength to place the special rope to the top. One end of the rope was tied to an electric pole to ensure tightness.


It is almost done and the master spinner from Pasir Putih is ready to spin the top. The second man will play the catcher and catch the top on a special holder with a metal covered end with a depression for the top to spin on.


Unlike the normal top spinning, the platform where the top is too land is made of a wooden box covered with a piece of carpeting material.



Upon landing on the small platform the impact and the springing action of the box threw the top backward towards the ctacher to a height of a meter and the catcher expertly catch it on a stand.
After living for 58 years, this was the first time I saw such a feat being performed. Normally a scoop (called cokak) is used to scoop the spinning top to place it on the stand.

The top is so balanced that it will spin for hours and will not wobble even at slow speed. Anyway what has top spinning to do with Pesata Nasi 100 you might ask. Well after spinning tops for the whole day you could eat a hundred rice. Such tops are only played by grown ups. It is not childplay.



The Tengku Temenggong went round the stalls. Of course he stopped at Celebrity Chef Liza Zainol's stall. Somebody egged the Tengku Temenggong at trying his hands at cooking and he sportingly picked up the spatula from Liza and started stiiring the almost done fried rice. Somebody quipped that this may be the first time the Tengku has had any cooking experience. I was lucky to be there as I managed to record that historic moment.
Liza posed for my camera while doing a cooking demonstration. I was quite amused to notice that half of her eager fans were Chinese females. Here in Kelantan and in Malaysia too we enjoy each other's dishes.

I would like to share with you one of Liza Zainol's recipe which she gave away at the stall. Click here to see it.
Some of the major participants of Pesta Nasi 100 year 2008 are as follows:
Guest states:

1. Sarawak
They brought along their much sought after highland rice.
Kopi beras must be really special. Didn't have the chance to try it so I cant tell you how it tastes.

Their lady in their traditional costume.

2. Sabah
Quite a popular stall with one guy in traditional dress playing the bamboo flute. I had this nasi Tinambah which is nasi impit tanah tinggi at their stall. It comes with a delicious soup and sambal.

3. Pahang
Pahang brought their lemang periok kera.
Taken with rendang, the lemang is delicious. When I tried it on the first day the price was RM3.00 which include 1 lemang and one packet of rendang. Later the price was adjusted to RM5.00 with an additional lemang. It was delicious as the santan was thick.

I wonder why Thailand was not represented at this event.

These are some of the local participants at the Nasi 100 event held from 12 - 14th July 2008.

1. Hotel Renaissance
2. Hotel Grand Riverview 3. Hotel Ridel
4. Hotel Juita Inn Primer

Sorry no photo for this paticipant.

5.Perdana Resort

6. PCB Beach Resort (Sorry no photo)

7. Hotel Raudah

8. Zainun Palace

I dont have a photo of their stall but I have a photo of the owner Puan Zainun who happened to be my classmate from my former Sultan Ibrahim School Pasir Mas.

9. Ala Carte Restaurant
I think they were the one who serves the international nasi goreng going by the name of the countries.

10. Leena's Delight Restaurant


11.Kedai Makan Kak Rah

12.Mum's Recipe

13. Docnan Catering.

Didn't meet Dr. Hasnan so I didn't know of his venture into food business. All I know was that this veterinarian is into production and trading of souvenir items.

14. Aini Jaya Food

15. Alwan Enterprise

16. Saba Enterprise

17. Puspanita Pasir Putih, Jeli, Machang, Kuala Krai.Each district with their own booths.


and several others.

Conspicuosly absent this year is Perdana Hotel which is being taken over by PNB and currently closed for massive renovation.

Around The Stalls

The crowd was there for all the three days. There were cultural performances during the day and the night too. Unfortunately I missed them all.

The first day crowd

There was a competition among the booths and these were the judges. They must have had a tough time judging the winners.

Some of the beauties gracing the Renaissance booth. On this alone the Renaissance booth could have scored big points with the judges.That is if they are a factor.

The chefs at this booth doing last minute touch up before the judges arrive.

Unravelling of the mystery of Nasi 100.

Many readers are anxious to know about the names of all the nasi that made up Nasi 100. For this event it was declared that in all there were 200 nasi!

I will show you how they are counted.

The nasi lemak alone has several kinds.The oly difference is the lauk.Have a look at this menu.
Menu nasi lemak

Nasi beriani too can come in so many varieties depending on the lauk.

Nasi beriani hati
There are nasi beriani limpa, daging, ayam............

Nasi Kelongsong Nasir kelongsong ayam BBQ

Nasi kelongsong ayam bakar madu....and many others.

Then there is the Phat Phets

Enlarge the photo to read some of the names.

I will list them for you, Phat Phet Kerang, Burung Puyuh, Telor Puyuh and Daging. There are more on the left side but out of the picture.

Nasi Goreng
There is one stall displaying the nasi goreng about 10 in all with such names as Nasi Goreng Portugal, Nasi Goreng Indonesia, Cina etc. He could also come up with the traditional fares like Nasi Goreng Kampong, Nasi Goreng Pataya and the likes.

Nasi Udok
This is how nasi Udok looks laike as displayed at the Renaissance stall.

They have this grilled lamb on display too.

By the end of the fair, this is all that is left.

Nasi Tumpang.

Traditionally there are only 2 kinds of nasi tumpang. Either nasi tumpang ikan or nasi tumpang udang. Either kind will have sambal daging inside it.

Sambal daging or serunding daging can go along with almost anything. The beauty of it this dish can last. I will never leave for my overseas trip without it. Could come in handy when you are in a country whhere pork is the primary meat consumed. Beside the sambal daging there is also sambal ayam and sambal udang.
Then there is the nasi kerabu. Nasi kerabu alone has so many varieties. The most popular is of course the Kerabu Hitam. It can be the kind with tumis or just ulam. There is also nasi kerabu kunin and nasi kerabu putih when the seller runs out of nasi kerabu hitam and kuning.

Dont forget the traditional fare of Nasi Dagang.

Nasi dagang Kelantan

Nasi dagang Terengganu.

Gulai ikan aya or tongkol or tuna that goes very well with nasi dagang.

Gulai ayam for nasi dagang Kelantan

Beside gulai ikan and gulai ayam, gulai udang goes very well with the nasi dagang.

Pulut kuning

Rendang ayam

Rendang daging.
Both rendang goes very well with pulut kuning.

Nasi tumpang

Pulut bakar is made of glutinous rice. It can be very filling but regarded as kuih.

Tables were laid for visitors to eat the food.

Fruit Carvings

Fruit Carvings will always make food display look great especially at posh hotels when food is feasted via the eyes more than the mouth.






Rock melon carving.

Faces at Pesta Nasi 100 Kota Bharu

Going to such pestas mean the chance of meeting some old friends that I know from the days when I was participating in travel promotions. Here are some familiar faces.

Napi the NTV9 cameraman.

My friend Czarina covering for NST Travel.

Alex and Abang Pa.

Tuan Haji Supram

You don't need much make up when you are pretty.

Andrej Hovart from Brisbane City, Qld, Australia was so happy to have his picture taken.

A youngchef with a problem.

Celebrity Chef Liza Zainol. Immediately agter this event Chef Liza is flying off to Labuan for another event.

This gentleman asked me to take his photograph.

NTV9 interviewed the other half but the shot was not carried on the night's news. Maybe it will be aired on their other programmes.

Below is the citizen reporter who covered the event. I hope you enjoy this lengthy coverage.