Koey Teow Th'ng is a type of noodle soup using a flat rice noodle, and is one of my favourite breakfast meals in Malaysia. Usually sold as a simple dish of broth and noodles with varying amounts of garnishings, it is nevertheless packed with flavour and a great way to start the day.

Penang Assam Laksa is a fishy, sour, spicy noodle soup, and is probably the dish that has had the most impact on my cooking experience. It's also the first Malaysian dish that I expected to really dislike. The mix of oily fish, sour tamarind, pineapple and hot chilli was not something my western sensibilities were looking forward to when we first went out to eat it. I was so wrong!