I’M DONE WITH “THE HUNT” FOR THE PENANG MAMAK MEE GORENG

OK … it’s almost 4 weeks that I’ve had a craving for Penang-style Mamak Mee Goreng in the Klang Valley … and how’s the “hunt” going ?

Not good at all !!!

In fact … it’s getting worse !!!

I’ve been EVERYWHERE !!! … PJ … Shah Alam … Subang … USJ … Puchong … Cheras … right smack in the middle of the Golden Triangle …

NOTHING !!! NADA !!! ZIP !!! ZILCH !!!

I cannot believe how un-Penang the Mamak Mee Goreng in the Klang Valley is … it’s NOT spicy … it’s NOT dry … it’s NOT MAMAK MEE GORENG !!!

So … as Locutus of Borg said “resistance is futile” … and I have to agree … no sense resisting it … I’ll just eat it and try my best to enjoy it.

I think I’ll move on to Mee Rebus now … and I know what you’re thinking … why give up so easily ?

I’m NOT giving up … I’m just saying there’s no sense in trying to flog a dead horse cos Penang-style is Penang-style … and the Klang Valley has its own style.

But for Mee Rebus … I KNOW I can find good ones around … honestly … the ones in the “corporate” nasi kandar places like Pelita and Kayu are pretty decent … in fact … there’s a really good one that I like near my neighbourhood … it’s called Wau Penyu at Solaris Dutamas !!! … they have a HUUUUGE piece of meat in there … I’m sold and I go there all the time !!!

Can someone explain to me the difference between Mee Rebus and Mee Jawa ? … they pretty much “taste” the same … but they kinda “look” different.

Drop in your comments ya !

THE HUNT GOES ON

In my last post … I spoke about my new obsession … authentic Mamak mee goreng.

I sure ain’t gonna drive back up to Penang to my favorite haunts in Swatow Lane, Bangkok Lane or padang Kota for the delicious (but potentially artery clogging) delicacy !

So I started searching for it in the Klang Valley … anything even close to a Penang styled Mamak mee goreng would suffice … what I didn’t realize was how tough the search would be.

I’m not proud of it … but I headed for the chain “Nasi Kandar” places around the Klang Valley … so to Pelita … to Kayu … to all the chain ones la … NOTHING EVEN CLOSE !!!

I’m not saying the food wasn’t good but when I ordered mamak mee goreng … I expected this plate of dry fried fiery red noodles … what did I get here ? … it looked like any other fried yellow noodles … it was brownish … wasn’t spicy … no sotong (unless you requested) and it was just … unexciting !


I’m gonna broaded my search this week … we’ll see what turns up but if you’ve got any suggestions … drop me a line … the only people benefiting from this little “treasure hunt” of mine are the petrol companies and parking attendants.

MY NEW OBSESSION

TV … is dangerous !!!

I’m not talking about the radiation … not about how the vibrant colors can mess with your eyes …

NOPE !!! … none of that !!!

TV is dangerous … to my waistline !!!

After watching an AFC show recently that had the host cruising around the streets of Penang looking for the best hawker food … and he found a classic one … Mamak Mee Goreng !!!


The host had a very in-depth session with the proprietor of the stall at Lorong Bangkok … I initially did not recognize the place but the moment he spoke to the guy behind the enormous wok … I was like “I KNOW THIS PLACE … I’VE EATEN THERE BEFORE !!!”

There’s something very unique about Penang style Mamak Mee Goreng … you can go to any nasi kandar chain here in KL … you can go to “Penang styled” makan places … nothing … and I mean … NOTHING … comes close to the original.

Is it the water ? … the weather ? … the people ?

Who knows ?

But now … I’m on a mission to find the BEST Mamak Mee Goreng in KL that can closely match the mediocre ones in Penang … let’s not even talk about trying to match the best la !!!

It’s gotta be spicy … fiery RED … dry … and has “sotong” (calamari) and the works !!!

If you know of any place like this in the Klang Valley … tell me about it … I’ll have a taste test and we’ll see how it matches the ones in Penang yo !!!

Leave your suggestions in the comments bin y’all !!!

AFTER 4 YEARS ... IT'S BACK !!!

Footie fan or not … you can NOT deny the fact that the FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest event on the planet !!!

Everything revolves around it … commerce, news, entertainment … food even !!!

So what is it about this competition that fans the flames of rivalry between fans around the world ? … I mean … look at us here in Malaysia … our national football team has as much of a chance of making it into the competition as a salmon has escaping a Grizzly’s jaws !!! … so what is it ?

I think … it’s got everything to do with MARKETING !!!

I think the World Cup is one of the best marketed sports competitions in the world … even surpassing the Olympics … everyone (and I mean everyone if the Americans now want a piece of the pie). If girls watch it (and we know how much most Malaysian girls despise football) … then you know it’s been marketed to them as well … how ?

2 words !!!

Handsome men !!!

Suddenly … women are fans of the beautiful game (happens every years la) … they’ll be able to name players like Iker Casillas … Christiano Ronaldo and possibly one of the Italians … tell ‘em about Carlos Tevez … they go blank !

Guys are just plain football freaks la … we support national teams of other countries like we lived there … and every 4 years … we risk the wrath of our bosses (if you’re working) or our teachers/lecturers (if you’re a student) by either going in to work/class late or just not plain going at all (I’m sure production of MCs skyrocket during this time).


So … I hope you’ve been prepping for this … we have been waiting 4 years for this … and it’s happening in around a week … I’m excited … are you ?

Who’s your pick for this year ? Italy again ? … or do you fancy Brazil again ? … or a dark horse perhaps !

RIP OLIVE

I kinda knew it was gonna happen … it’s been a couple of days and my favorite hamster Olive hasn’t looked her usual self.

She’s usually very affectionate, very active (she runs the wheel like she was possessed) and eats a heckuva lot. On Saturday … she seemed a lil under the weather … which happens to hamsters so I wasn’t overly worried. So … to make her comfy … I moved her into her other cage (she has 3) and gave her new bedding, fresh water and a lot of food. Evening came around and it didn’t seem like she touched the food nor the water and she kept changing positions to sleep … she seemed really uncomfortable.

Sunday morning … I wake up … check on her … and she’s asleep … which is odd cos in the morning … she’s usually (as usual) running the wheel. This time … she wasn’t. Her breathing seemed a little shallow and her eyes were closed tight … a little teary. I’m getting a little worried now.

So Sunday’s kept aside for her … my buddy … Olive … my favorite. I take her out of her cage and hold her in my hands (which she loves) and she’s out cold in my warm hands … I hope she’s comfy. “I hope she can sleep this off”.

Monday comes around … and I’m off to work again after a couple of days off and I’m busy with work … running around after that for an event and I’m home late … a little after dinner. I’m exhausted but I check up on her … she’s still asleep … good news is that she managed to drink some of the water I gave her but her food bowl is still full. “I’ll just let her sleep” I thought and went to bed hoping that she’ll be fine tomorrow (Tuesday).

Then Tuesday comes around and as usual … I’m up at 4am … I shower, have a bit of breakfast and check up on her … she’s AWAKE !!! Yay … but she still looks a little groggy … I pet her … and she gave me an approving nod … which is always her signal to me to say “I like that” (I assume). So I’m off to work … with a renewed hope that my best friend … a hamster … might just pull thru and recover from whatever illness she had.

I get home in the afternoon after work … excited to see how she’s doing … and what do I see ? She’s sleeping again … waitaminute … she’s not breathing. I open the cage and pet her … no response. My WORST fear … Olive has passed away. The time we had in the morning was the last time I got to hold her and pet her while she was still alive.

Not realizing how close I’ve gotten to this tiny hamster … I felt a sense of loss I haven’t felt in a long time. When my other hamster Pepper passed on … I was sad … but this time, with Olive, I was literally floored. I can NOT begin to tell you how much I miss Olive … I’ll miss the times she walks on my computer table while I’m happily typing away … or how she comes to me after letting her roam my living room floor … she was more than just a hamster … she was my best friend … and I’m gonna miss her !

ON A BREAK AND AGEING !!!

Been looking forward to this break for a while now … Dilly and I are taking some time off from The Red FM Breakfast Show and thanks to our producer Yin and to Terry for covering for us.


Also … something else happened recently … yesterday … I celebrated my 33rd birthday. I got to celebrate it the way I liked … quietly ! Hehe … I’m not big on birthdays these days. When I was a kid … 33 seemed like such an old age. Now that I’m approaching my mid-30s … it ain’t no biggie. I don’t mind a small do with my family and close friends but having a huge party … I dunno.

I just don’t see the point of celebrating anything that isn’t significant at the moment … for instance … going from 19 to 20 … big deal … 20 to 21 … even bigger deal cos it’s “from a boy to a man” time … then nothing really significant happens between 21 and 29 … except for the fact that you’re in college and you just look for an excuse to party !

When I turned 30 … I thought it was kinda huge … so I celebrated. But then I also got a little freaked out cos I was leaving my 20s behind and it was time to be a “responsible adult” (which hasn’t really happened yet by the way).

So … from now till I’m 40 … I’ll be happy with small birthday celebrations … but (expensive) gifts are always welcome hehehe !!!

Right now … I just wanna enjoy my break and I’ll be back on-air next Monday !

See ya !!

I GOT TO MEET EDDIE JORDAN !!!

Eddie Jordan … the very mention of his name in motor racing brings forth memories of the Formula 1 champions he’s brought into the sport … Aryton Senna … Michael Schumacher. I always thought he never got the respect he deserved especially considering what a great team Jordan Racing was.


So how did I … JD … a fan of the sport get a chance to meet the great Irish racer ?

Well … it’s Formula 1 season and everything in Malaysia around this time revolves around the sport and while it’s a great money spinner for retail outlets but it’s also a great time for organizations to think of the less fortunate … and think of them they did. By “they”, I mean the wonderful folks from the Shangri-La group in Penang (Rasa Sayang, Golden Sands and Traders).


Sulaiman TAR (the Director of Comms for Rasa Sayang) spearheads this charity drive for The Lighthouse in Penang where they offer food and clothing to the under-privileged and homeless on the island. Great job by him and his team in raising funds to help out the folks at Lighthouse but with the F1 race in Sepang rolling around … there’s always an opportunity for a big name to add glamour and exposure to this calling … and in steps the great Eddie Jordan.


He was cool … he was a charmer (as Dilly will attest to) … and along with his band The Robbers … he entertained the crowd with a medley-after-medley of cover songs. They absolutely rocked the crowd and as emcees for the event … Dilly and I got to get up close with the man.

We hope we helped the Shangri-La group in Penang with their fundraising drive for The Lighthouse charity and also thanks so much for having us there as well … and giving me a chance to meet one of my heroes when I was a kid !