Not Too Sweet #4

Daun Pisang

Malaysian. Saturday, April 25, 2026.

I grew up partly in Kuala Lumpur, and if I could only keep one cuisine it would be this one. Nasi lemak off a banana leaf on the sidewalk, laksa on a hot afternoon.

Daun pisang is Malay for banana leaf, and for this dinner the leaf was the plate. Every main was cooked before Saturday, because all of them get better overnight. The only thing cooked on the day was the rice.

The Daun Pisang table, bowls of curry on banana leaf around the printed menu
Nasi lemak on a banana leaf: coconut rice, sambal, ikan bilis, egg, cucumber, and peanuts
Curry laksa bowls lined up for the second course

The menu

On the leaf

Second course

  • Curry laksa, coconut curry broth, rice vermicelli, tofu puffs, prawns

Dessert

  • Cendol, pandan jelly, gula melaka, and coconut milk, served in a drink pouch

Drinks

  • Pegu Club, gin, orange curaçao, lime, bitters
  • Jungle Bird, blackstrap rum, Campari, pineapple, gula melaka
  • Beer and spirits
The Daun Pisang table, bowls of curry on banana leaf around the printed menu

From the night