The Reader

Eating out..

Have you seen any restaurants open 24 hours in other countries than Malaysia?Very seldom! In my country Malaysia,we can see every where Mamak Shops advertisements that they are OPEN 24JAM(HOURS).People are eating every where..day or night!I could not deny if someone were to say that eating is our Malaysian pastime!Some even dared to say that no Malaysians has died due to starvation but due to eating too much.

I am now living in Bandar Baru Bangi(BBB) where UKM(National University) is located.BBB is also called Bandar Ilmu(town of knowledge).Yes, I believe we have more educated people here per square km compared to other towns but we have many,many restaurants.I would love to call it Bandar Kaki Makan(town of great eaters).I have yet to see a proper bookshop but we do have a few stationery shops.For my reading needs,I have to go to MPH at Alamanda, Putrajaya or Kinokuniya at KLCC.

I am not talking about others but about me who loves to eat.When my mother complained yesterday  that I eat too much I told her I cycle 3 times a week.What excuses can I give.From now onwards,I must eat less or if I still crave to put something into my mouth,I must add more fruits and vegetables.The photo above is one such example.

Eating out is one of the culprits that make me eat a lot.There are so many that seduce you to eat and many of us just can't say no!We eat, and eat and get fat in the middle.If you don't believe what I said now,just look down and see that extra 10 or 20 kg hanging  right in front of you and me.

So,what shall we do?I am not qualified at all to offer any advice to anyone.I am guilty as charged!When my mother made a remark yesterday about my eating,I must take note to do something about it.Old habits die hard-so I must modify my bad eating habit to a better one by eating less portion and change the menu to healthier food and drinks.What says you?

Note on photo: Taken at Tarbush,Ampang Point.

Mee bandung

Last night I told my friend Saifuddin that his family restaurant-Nim's Little Island hidden in Taman Sg.Ramal,Kajang(but closer to Bandar Baru Bangi Seksyen 8) sells the best mee bandung.I always order Mee bandung Muar Special.This one [shown on the right] is as good and at times better than what I eat even at Muar!

If you are in Klang Valley or Putrajaya and crave for it,I recommend this dish.By the way,my view may be a bit biased because the restaurant owner is my school mate and riding buddy;-)

Oh one more thing,the Ceria drink goes well with this mee bandung.

Food Republic!

I love to eat at food courts...

My first choice was the food court at KLCC.That was one year ago...

Now,my choice number uno is at Food Republic at Pavilion when it comes to high quality and choice.However for normal days,the RASA food court at Alamanda is more than good enough for me.On weekend,I love to eat at Teja Food court,Presint 11 Community Hall.

 

Home made chicken pies..

My family is quite small and most of the time there are only three of us eating at home-my wife,my youngest son and me.It is usually cheaper to buy than make pastries,cakes etc.I don't know what wind blows to my house,but suddenly I saw my wife and son came home with some dough and they told me they are going to make chicken pies.I told both of them that my favourite dish is beef pies during my student days in UK.I hope  it will turn out well because it must be years since my wife bake a pie!

Thanks God,they managed to make a reasonably good pies and I ate three pieces for dinner!

Every piece .....

I love the BIG apple new motto-Every piece is  Masterpiece.That is a tall order but it is Big Apple's corporate tagline!Cooking is indeed an art in its own right.When the food is good at home or at the restaurant,I usually told my wife about it(in fact,she keeps asking about it anyway) and at the restaurant I will get the waitress to convey my compliment to the Chef.

To customers like you and me, we usually eat what were served to us.If it is no good,we won't come back to the restaurant again.To the chef,it is HIS reputation is  ON TRIAL-being dissected by forks and knives and judged by his customers!

Writing this note  reminds me of a special cook that I always asked for whenver I eat Japanese dinner at a hotel located along Jalan Ampang.His name is Encik Khamis.His tempura dishes were superb and my kids loved his antics while he is cooking for us.

40 Malaysian restaurants in London?

I have been to London more than a dozen times in the last 35 years but I know only a handful of Malaysian restaurants in London.Last night I got a pleasant suprise reading Puan Zaharah's article in The New Straits Times on Malaysian Flavours in London.Below is the last paragraph I cut/pasted here:

Jennie was there at the Taste Of London event recently. So was Rassa, making mysterious appearances on tents and posters there. Chef Norman Musa of Ning Restaurant in Manchester gave a demonstration too and sold his books to the crowd. He is also doing his bit as chef for Lotus F1, introducing Malaysian food to entice foreign tastebuds at the circuits. Yes, of course there are other big players doing the ambassadorial job promoting Malaysia and Malaysian food. But walking around the huge grounds of Taste Of London recently, I randomly stopped I asked several people: “Can you name one Malaysian dish? Do you know that there are 40 Malaysian restaurants in London?” Sadly, the answer to both questions was “No!” Hopefully, efforts of Malaysian Kitchen at the Taste Of London will change it all. And judging from the crowd flocking around the three stalls there, it will happen. Did I mention Jalil the teh tarik ambassador? He was doing his bit there too!

From my experience visiting other countries,local food is a great pulling factor.The first thing I do when I landed in Jakarta,I will go to my favourite nasi padang restaurant!I think our Malaysian Tourism bodies must put more efforts promoting Malaysian restaurants in London.

By the way,if you happen to know any Malaysian restaurants in London,please share with us here.Terima kasih.

Read more: I’M EVERY WOMAN: Promoting flavours of Malaysia http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/I__8217_MEVERYWOMAN_PromotingflavoursofMalaysia/Article#ixzz0sez1mQLm

Say cheese...

The above is a blurred snapshot from my moleskine notebook of passion.I wrote a short note of my 'alien encounter' with cheese..

Restaurant Tuk Din,Craven Road,London W2

Congratulations to my dear friend Tuk Din for having his own restaurant as mentioned above.According to my friend Tuan Haji Zainal@Pak Unggal, the restaurant is located about 5minutes walk from Paddinton Station.I have not been there yet, but I love his cooking when he was the cafeteria operator of Malaysia Hall when it was at 44/46 Bryanston Square.To Tuk Din,my best wishes for your business success!

[Nal: I stole the above photo from your Twitpic.Mohon di benarkan]

Thailand mango rice

Yesterday,when my wife and me were at TESCO,Ampang we decided to eat Thailand mango rice for our lunch.It cost us RM5 each plate.My first taste of this delicacy was when I was posted as the District Engineer of JKR Alor Setar,Kedah way back in 1981.It is made of mango,pulut(glutinous rice) and santan.

 

Forbidden indulgence!

After keeping to my 'restricted' diet in order to keep my weight  close to my desired BMI,I decided to give myself a pat on the belly for its obedience by having this favourite dessert of mine at KLCC at the end of this month.It took a lot of discipline to maintain my weight after Ramadhan.