An immediate sensation of welcoming, a homeliness, shocked my body (from my tongue downwards) as I chewed the first bite of my debut clay pot chicken rice in Penang, Malaysia.  It was a sense of comfort, relaxation, like I could sit there all day and eat, a great feeling, leaving me ultimately satisfied, and craving more.

Walking through one of the many food court, hawker centers in Georgetown, Malaysia, I noticed a lady cooking a dish using multiple clay pots.  The smells were unworldly and I immediately without hesitation had to …