Jom Lah Makan

Selective religious practises

2011-06-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

This post might offend some. As I am not here to please anyone, it shouldn't matter.

Within my limited travels, from my young adulthood till now, I have eaten at various eateries, from street food in Siem Reap to (almost) fine dining in Kuala Lumpur, but I failed to understand a few religious practises related to food.

I failed to understand why some Hindus don't eat beef, but eat other meat. It's clearly stated in various Vedic scriptures that Hindus must be vegetarians. Some where in the past 4000+ years, this ancient religion's practise has changed. Now, some don't eat beef & pork. Some don't eat beef, but eat pork. Some don't give a damn.

I failed to understand the importance of halalness of the meat to a Muslim, but orders a glass of red wine to accompany his medium rare fillet mignon. Forgive me if I am wrong, but doesn't the Quran prohibit the consumption of alcohol?

Some have selective memories, but some selective religious practises, I suppose.

What do you not eat?

Alcoholic

2010-06-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

Both the photos above were taken on a Sunday. One in the afternoon & one in the evening. Both of them quickly earned me the title "alcoholic", as I posted them on facebook. It's amazing how much two simple images can put such an imagination into people's head.

Little did they know, the cocktail (which I loosely called Sangria) had 70% orange juice, apple juice, orange, apple and 30% red wine & Grand Marnier. On Saturday, my sister bought a bottle of red wine, which tasted bad (& had even worse after taste). Instead of forcing it down our throat, I decided to make a cocktail out it. I had two glasses of it, over the period of 3 hours. Later that night, as we were eating in a German Bistro (which played ESPN Live way too loud), I wanted to try a German beer, but unfortunate Belgium won & I had Leffe Blond. Of which, I had a bottle.

So 2 glasses of cocktail & 1 bottle of beer, had earned me the title "alcoholic".

How often do we assume, without asking the simpliest question?

p/s I am not promoting the consumption of alcohol on a daily basis, but anything done in moderation is acceptable. Many of us (including me), have seen or experienced how alcoholism breaks-up families & destroys careers.

Food Critics

2010-06-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

This entry is not about Roti Jala or Chicken Curry. It's about food bloggers.

Over the past months, I have been reading various food blogs as a preparation for my own food blog & to plan marketing strategies with food bloggers.

With technology, individuals with camera think they are photographers. Individuals with a blog, think they are writers. Right at the top are food bloggers, who think they are food critics.

If an individual wants to criticize a restaurant or cafe or pub, they should at least do some research on food they are not familiar with. For example, you don't order Chicken Fried Steak (or Country Fried Steak) & complain:
1. It's not chicken? or
2. The steak is not grilled ?

I almost embarrassed myself, thinking that the restaurant served me risotto instead pasta when the description said "served on orzo pasta". It was Valentine's & kept my complains to zero, luckily.

Saying that I am totally impressed with some food bloggers, for their attention to details, the passion & patience. Just wish, one day I can reach there.

You know who you are.

Are you a food critic too?

Pre Order

2010-05-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

You hear about it, you read about it & when you are finally there, you go "so?". The scones were good, but not great. On the other hand, ambiance, cool weather, birds chirping away and company certainly made the journey worth travelling.

This entry is not about the scones, but it's about the pre-order concept at The Smokehouse Restaurant, Fraser's Hill. As were enjoying our afternoon tea, we decided to book a table for dinner & we were introduced to this new concept (at least to us) of "pre-ordering your dinner a day before". Perhaps they were understaffed, perhaps they are being a snob or perhaps ...

Whatever the reason is behind the "pre-order food" concept, it's unacceptable. Specially when we were served mediocre food at above-the-average price.

Unless someone as passionate as the pioneers saves The Smokehouse Restaurant, it's glory days will be gone forever.

Do you have any peculiar restaurant policies to share ?

Food Crawl #1

2010-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

This was the first Food Crawl which I had organized for a client of mine. With 18 bloggers & 6 venues in a single night, it wasn't easy as I thought it would be.

The night went well, with no major hick ups. There was a delay after the third venue, but besides the 15 mins delay which finally added up to a delay 30 mins at the end, it was fun :)

And the bloggers were :
My story

Aly's Wonderland
Have Your Cake & Eat It Too
Brought Up 2 Share
PureGlutton
theQGuides.com
Ipoh Mali Talak Sombong!
QuiRkY Malaysia
You Got Me FLIPPING!!!
PieCe oF My MinD
Marcky.My (That Thing I Do)
You Get What You Give
MICHAEL YIP | 叶志坚
Babe in the City - KL

Food4Thot

Thanks to ALL of you for your time & participation.

See you at the next Food Crawl?

Light Lunches

2010-05-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

Not that anyone would have noticed, but I have not blogged for a week. With my days packed with back to back meetings, I barely have time to have lunch, even less time to blog.

My love for food does not allow me to go on a diet but occasionally I get to eat light healthy lunches. This is not due to discipline or anything near that nature, but merely because I don't have the time to eat. Therefore, I will settle for sandwiches or salad & continue to work while having my lunch. Work is my only distraction to eating.

For me, the best diet plan has been : work.

Do you even bother going on a diet ?

TV Dinner

2010-05-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I try to eat healthy (refer to the sandwich, not the wine) at home, for a few reasons:

1. I eat rather rich/unhealthy food outside

2. I don't spend enough time at the gym

3. Healthy meals are easier to prepare (most of the time)

This blog is not about healthy food, but it's about TV Dinners. With our busy lifestyle (work & pleasure), families rarely have dinner like how it used to be. We get back when we want to get back home. We stay late at the office. We get stuck in the jam & the list goes on & on.

I am guilty as charged as well. The only time we (my sister, my nephew & I) get to eat together is over the weekend(occasionally). As much as I still like to party over the weekend, I look forward to this simple (oh well, depends on who is cooking & how many guest we have) dinner we have at home. It's the only time we spend quality time together. Food certainly bring friends & family together, in this part of the world.

Perhaps one day, it will all be TV Dinners.

How often do you eat at home, with your family?

In Search Of ...

2010-05-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

One favorite pastime for Malaysian certainly is eating & some of us will go all out for the best of something. For example, some of us are willing to travel all the way to Klang for Bak Kut Teh, which apparently is the birthplace of Bak Kut Teh, but we are not going get into that debate today.

If it's Hainanese Chicken Ball Rice, we are willing make a weekend trip to Malacca. I can't really tell the difference between the Bak Kut Teh in KL compared to the ones in Klang, but I would certainly travel all the way to Malacca for the Hainanese Chicken Ball Rice (plus the fact that they have Satay Celup, Nyonya food & Portuguese Baked Fish).

My current search is for the best Crispy Pork Rice. Criteria:

1. Crispy on the outside

2. Tender & moist on the inside

3. Tasty oil rice (the "chicken rice" rice)

4. Clean restaurant is a bonus :)

Sounds simple & yet I have not found my perfect Crispy Pork Rice. The reason there is no rice in the picture above is because the restaurant ran out of "chicken rice" rice & I did not want to have it with plain white rice. Yes, I am fussy.

Have you found your perfect Crispy Pork Rice?

Banana Leaf Rice & Dining Etiquette

2010-05-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

I was told that my photos ain't that good. This is the best I can do with my phone & photography skills, but this post is not about my photography skills.

Being a Malaysian & an Indian, I must have my monthly(or more) dosage of Banana Leaf Rice. The two important factors in choosing the venue are : cleanliness & choice of freshly prepared dishes (ideally prepared ala minute).

Here, I was, at my favorite Sunday Banana Leaf Rice restaurant. As I was early, I had to wait for my sister, giving me a lot of time to observe the rest of the patron. As usual, there were more non Indian patron compared to Indian patron, perhaps it is because of the neighbourhood. I am not complaining, but merely an observation. At a table, a Chinese man was teaching this young son on how to fold the banana leaf after he finishes his meal. The right way is to fold the leaf towards yourself, to indicate that you like (appreciate) the meal. I was also thought that you fold the leaf away from you when you are eating at a funeral.

The next debate is "to eat with fingers or fork & spoon". I used to live with an Australian that constantly say that a civilized person should eat with fork & spoon, and this same person walks around the house in his underpants. I am pretty sure man started wearing pants way before he started using fork & spoon to eat, & I rest my case. When you are in an Indian restaurant or house, you are not required to eat with your fingers, but I believe one is required to respect the Indian tradition of eating with fingers. It's not about being civilized, but it's about tradition & dining etiquette.

Do you have any dining etiquette to share ?

Julie & Julia

2010-04-28T23:40:00.000-07:00

Not sure if "Julie & Julia" ever made it to Malaysian cinema. What a waste if it didn't, but thanks to the reliable DVD seller, I managed to get a good clear copy of the movie, which I enjoyed with a good company & a few glasses of wine. Meryl Streep's acting was suberb. On the other hand, I don't remember watching Meryl Streep's movie which I didn't like. It's amazing that she can play such diverse roles & yet do it so well, each time. Just love the way she rolls her eyes & deep inside I want to be Miranda Presley.

Grabbed the a book a couple of weeks later at Border, the "Buy 1 get 1 at 50% discount" was too good to resist. The other book, "The Kite Runner" sits along with all the books, which I have not read & "Julie & Julia" is my current bedtime story.

The book has inspired me in many ways. Simple because Julia Child started learning cooking at the age of 37 & I am 37 this year. What a coincidence? Actually, I am not sure if Julia Child or Julie Powell is the source of the inspriration, but it's doesn't really matter. When one does what he or she is passionate about, it becomes less work & more joy.

Did any book inspire you in any way?

Mother's Day Lunch

2010-04-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

If not today, when ?

Breakfast Time

2010-04-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what you think when you wake up, but the first thought that normally goes into my mind would be "What shall I eat for breakfast?", right before "What is my first meeting for the day & am I prepared for it?".

This breakfast was at a kopitiam which has been around since for 1928, Kedai Makanan Yut Kee (loosely translated as Yut Kee Coffee House).

The most famous dish over here is Roti Babi (Pork Bun), which I have not tried yet, perhaps one day, just perhaps. The other pork dish(that I have tried), which is well know here is Roast Pork. It's only served over the weekend & it's crispy on the outside, juicy & tender in the inside. The Roast Pork is served with Apple Jam, but it so good by itself. The dishes which I came back here for are; Belacan Fried Rice, Hailam Fried Mee Hoon & of course the Half Boiled Egg with Kaya & Toast.

One would probably say "You can get the same Hard Boiled Egg, Toast with Kaya & Coffee elsewhere". Which is true, but the ambiance & the fact that the business has been handed over from dad to son to grandson, cannot be duplicated.

What's your favorite breakfast?

Bruschetta & Dips

2010-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Technically it's not a Bruschetta, but who cares. This really old (dating back to the 15th century) appetizer from Central Italy is so easy to make. All you need is good bread, good olive oil, garlic and some imagination (or what's left in the fridge). The classic or popular version of Bruschetta is with diced tomatoes and basil. I like it with tomatoes and roast red & yellow pepper. Yellow pepper gives a nice contrasting color to the red pepper & tomatoes.

The dip (I used it as a spread) is Baked Eggplant Dip. The first time was a disaster, too much chili and too much tahini, ended up bitter, spicy and not edible.

The beauty of both these dishes is that you can make them in advance and just chill them. By roasting the vegetable in advance (while or after you roast the current dish that you are preparing) you save electricity (oh yes, you can add this to your "switch off the lights for one hour during Earth Hour" & "lets save the earth" list). Just roast the pepper and eggplant in advance and eat it when you are ready to eat. If you are throwing a party, you can prepare this a day earlier.

What I don't understand is, does rubbing garlic on warm bread add much flavor to it?

Caesar Salad

2010-04-16T10:55:00.003-07:00

Often, I am labeled as a creature of habit. Not that I am complaining about it. I have this of habit eating the same salad, almost all the time, Caesar Salad. For the same reason, I always drink Sup Kambing when ever I eat at a restaurant serving Sup Kambing. It's the search for the best Caesar Salad, it's the search for the best Sup Kambing.

In my opinion, a perfect Caesar Salad should have

1. Romaine Lettuce and only Romaine Lettuce

2. Coddled Egg for the dressing

3. Poached or what I call 3/4 Boiled Egg on the salad

4. Good Olive Oil

5. Parmesan Cheese

6. Courtons

7. Anchovies, on the salad or in the dressing, despite what Julia Child says - There are no anchovies in Caesar Salad - an excerpt out of From Julia Child's Kitchen

At the moment my favourite Caesar Salad(above) is from Delicious

What is your favourite salad?

Comfort Food

2010-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

We all have our Comfort Food. Comfort Food, in my dictionary is food that you eat when you are not well. Mine is soupy stuff, specially Maggi Mee (Chicken Flavour). If that is not available, it's Mee Hoon Soup or Plain Fish/Chicken Porridge.

The Maggi Mee Soup above was made by some foreign worker, like any other mamak shop these days. Me, being me, the fussy one, gave specific instruction: ONLY TOFU, EGG & TOMATOES.

What is your comfort food?