The Reader

Capati

The first thing I ate capati (as shown on the right)was when I was in SDAR,Tanjung Malim way back in 1965.We did not have Indians and mamaks in our kampung Pondok Beris,Kelantan until today;so my breakfast was nasi belauk,apam and pulut tanak in early 60's.

Nowadays,many of us Malaysians eat our breakfast,lunch and dinner at mamak shop.Capati is not as popular as roti canai but lately I am trying harder to eat less carbo and light dinners to reduce my weight.At the same time,I also do walking and cycling exercise.

Looking back,I blamed myself for eating too much teh tarik and roti canai that made  me fat.More than 40% Malaysians are obese and I am not proud to be in that group.Let us eat less and exercide more to reduce the probability of getting chronic illnesses like diebetes,high blood pressure,heart attacks etc.

To my friends who are fat,just accept it and do something about.I decided to live a healthy lifestyle by doing brisk walking and cycling three times a week.And I stopped smoking about 30 months ago.The CHOICE IS YOURS AND YOU SHALL OWN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DECISION.

At the bakery..

I love the smell of people baking bread and cookies..Even though I do not plan to buy anything,if I ever pass by a bakery at a shopping complex/shophouses,I will just drop in for free smell;-)

My favourite is Sun Moulin at Isetan,KLCC.Next is Rotiboy at Alamanda,Putrajaya.I will order a hot latte and a piece of cake and sit there for 30 to 60 minutes writing my journal or surfing the Internet using my iPad or do some sketching(as shown on the right) while waiting for my wife to do her grocery shopping.Another bakery where I frequent at Presint 8,Putrajaya is Baker's Cottage.

I love scones for my breakfast and afternoon tea.So far, not even one shop in KL or Putrajaya that I knew which bake really nice scones.For the time being,I buy my scones at cold Storage.

Whenever I go to Europe,you can find me at three places-bookshop,cafes and bakeries.If not,you can look for me cycling along the canals of Amsterdam or the narrow streets in Cambridge.

Some restaurants..

Eating out is normal nowadays.Working singles or couples are too tired to cook or  they just don't have time to cook.For older couples like me with one son left staying at home,we sometimes just go out for dinners/lunches for a change from our daily home cookings.Or at times,it is cheaper to eat outside.

Last night,when we went out to at at a restaurant inside the Taman Warisan Pertanian food court complex,we were badly served with beehun soups!What I got was beehun in hot water with some vegetables!Luckily the satay was good!

I live in Bandar Baru Bangi with so many restaurants but only few are worth going for my dinners.They spent a few hundreds of thousand for renovation works but they don't have the good cooks!I honestly don't know-are we short of good cooks or our restaurant owners don't pay them well?One of my favourite restaurant in KL is Cozy House in GE Mall along Jalan Ampang.They have six cooks and they never fail once on me!

After my weekly cycling,I alway stop by at Umai Cafe by the lake,Presint 2 Putrajaya for my snacks.Yesterday,I asked for my favourite mee basah or mee goreng.Sadly,they are not available in the morning.Why?I guess they don't have enough cooks around!Here, I can have good food with reasonable price but it is always delayed!I hope the management really make the effort to improve their service because now it is getting popular especially during weekends.By the way,the location is quite nice,next to Masjid Sultan Mizan and by the lake..

Alamanda has a few very good restaurants but I cannot afford at some of them.However,I do go on special occasions.My usual is The Rasa Food Court.Here,at least 50% of them serve good food at reasonable price.

When people talk about properties, they say location,location and location..When it come to restaurants,in my humble opinions,good food+good service are all that matters.A few of my cycling buddies will cycle 35km for a good nasi lemak/nasi dagang;-)

I love free smells and..

Every time after my roti cani and teh iced breakfast at a mamak shop located at Presint 8,Putrajaya,I will step next door on my right.It is The Baker's Cottage.Once I am inside,I walk around for free smells of freshly baked pasteries and breads.

One of my favoutes is raisin sticks.They come in a pack of 6 pieces and they cost RM3.20.

Another one is the The Famous Amos.I used to buy some cookies form this shop but not lately.I have not many teeth left to bite the cookies;-)

Similarly with Rotiboy...I love the smells but now the roti cost twice the original price!

May be I should change my profession..

Good bye Nandos

I love chicken and salads at Nandos.For my family of three(father,mother and son),I only pay not more than RM60 for our family dinner.Two nights ago I got a shock of my life!Now for the same things that we used to have every month,the price has gone up to RM82!This is too much for older folks like me to pay for a dinner for three even though it a once a moth affair.

Lately I also discovered a a few new local dishes at Buryani Bangi.Dave's Deli at Subang Parade also serves good chickens ,English style.Their prices are more affordable!

When it is time to change,just change-and don't be sad..

Photo: Iced lemon tea

This is one of my favourite drinks..no more bottled fizzy drinks for me.Now,I am getting more health conscious...with very little sugar only.

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!