IPOH, Feb. 22 -- I visited Buntong for the first time last year, despite having been to Ipoh multiple times each year for as long as I can remember.

Truth be told, I didn't know much about Buntong beyond its reputation for kacang putih, and I was only there to track down a story about a family-run, old-school wantan mee spot run out of a house.

This year, as part of my family's annual Chinese New Year pilgrimage back to Ipoh, we were faced with the same inevitable conundrum we encounter every year: reunion dinner is settled, as are lunch and dinner on the first day, but what do we eat besides that?

Ours is a small family - I don't have any cousins on this side - so there isn't much in the way of visiting or even playing cards, and most...