Malacca is the cultural mixing pot of Asia, but food is its specialty. Most notable of all is the Peranakan cuisine which is a mixture of Chinese and Malay cooking with most dishes being spicy in nature. Interesting dishes of the Peranakan include Itek Tim (a soup containing duck and vegetables), Ayam Pong (chicken casserole with salted brown-bean sauce which is usually served with potatoes) as well as the famous Nyonya Laksa.
The Portuguese colonization of the early 16th century also contributed dishes like Devil's Curry and Portuguese tart to the town's already rich cuisine. The interesting Chinese cuisine in Malacca includes the popular Chicken Rice Ball as well as durian dodol, a sort of solidified pudding generally made with durian and coconut.
Ikan Bakar (baked fish) restaurants are also popular in Malacca with places like Umbai, Serkam and Alai being the choice of the populace. The average tourist can find most popular Malaccan cuisine at the food courts or medan selera as they are referred to in the local Malay language. 'Medan means centre and 'selera' means appetite.
Malacca's ethnic Portuguese population is a unique cultural and historical legacy of Portuguese colonization in the 16th and 17th century. Even to this day, many of the ancient traditions passed down since the Portuguese occupation are still practised, i.e. "Intrudu" (a water festival that marks the beginning of the Catholic fasting season, the season of Lent), "branyu" (traditional dance), "santa cruz" (a yearly Festival of street celebrations)