Selamat Hari Raya 2015

Amazing Crab Curry by Mr. JS *his first attempt*

After numerous invitation by Peakie D to their beloved home for crab curries, and after so many tasting of this outstanding dish cooked by her mother-in-law, JS somehow has something in his mind.

A week later, he sourced all the ingredients including the "murungai" leaves. It's the leaves from a tree with long pods u call, drum sticks. Native at the foot hills of Himalayas, in Msia Indians community eat them in curries. For this dish, only the leaves were used. It's not easy to buy/get murungai leaves it seems, so Mr. JS got his staff to harvest some from his home and brought to the office. This one is KPI beyond job scope man....bahahahaha.

JS concocted his own Garam Masala with the portion of spices he preferred and took less than an hour to cook this blue swimmer crabs. When I tasted it...OMG..it tasted exactly like Peakie D's mom's cooking!!!! *clap clap clap*

So Selamat Hari Raya my dear readers...who said u need to eat only ketupat and rendang for the festival. Being Malaysians u can have anything u want as long as u are happy. Just like how we had CNY open house with ketupat and rendang :)) So here to a blessed Raya celebration with Indian Crab Curry!!! That's the beauty of being Malaysians and I am proud to be one.

Be safe wherever you are :))) and we are heading off to Doraemon's hometown. 

The Nasi Lemak Quest

 *pic sent by Lanatir*

It all started last week, when Monkey received picture montagne from different friends. Every new day, I have a few pics of Nasi Lemak being forwarded to me. Friends were sharing their favourite joints and how they prefer their nasi lemak.

Monkey was in silence, did not contribute much to share for she couldn't have Nasi Lemak, she was extremely busy juggling 2 main events and sales numbers.

okie except on last Monday coz one of her dearest colleague surprised her with warm Nasi Lemak all wrapped in banana leaf. It's really funny how that I am in the beverage industry, I see for the first time *nope not how they drink* but how they ate non-stop in the office. These ppl and colleagues of mine are all foodie. The pantry is fully stocked and will put the convenience store downstairs to shame.

so last week, Monkey sulked it up to all the wonderful pics of Nasi Lemak posted by dearest friends...my nasi lemak...u wait for me ok? I am gonna eat ya!!

Everyone has their own lil favourite, be it the fluffyness and richness of the coconut rice. Or the savoury sweet spicy sambal. It could even be the crispy fried chicken coated with local spices. Or even how it's served, wrapped with banana leaf for its full aroma. Or it could even be how crispy the fried anchovies and groundnuts. With so many elements involved in this local dish, where can we find one that suits best to our personal palate???

that is when, then quest for Nasi Lemak begins in my household. JS decided he will take charge to make everything from scratch himself for maximum quality control and everything will be customised to our own likings.

We prefer our sambal dry with strong belacan taste, sweet and heat level should be balanced. The rice must be fluffy and grainy, hence mixture of different grains are advisable...yes u dun just use normal rice...but a mixture with basmati too. Oh while the fried anchovies must be really really crispy and light minus its oiliness....

Hard-boiled eggs are not so welcomed in our household, so fried eggs will do. Anyway with or without eggs are just fine. To us the main Actor and Actress would be the Sambal + Rice.

the end result - Ta DA!!!!

of a few days of readings through the ingredients compound, texture, flavours to achieve this. JS really did well. The rice was amazingly fluffy with just the right amount of richness fr the coconut. U'll be surprised that the trick is to used boxed coconut cream instead of fresh ones. This is because processed coconut cream has more consistency. Oh well it's processed so.....then there's also coconut water involved.

Sorry it's payback time now friends...now just stare at my plate of homecooked Nasi Lemak!!!! The sambal base paste that JS made could be used to make many other dishes....seen here in this picture is our favourite sambal sotong :))))

u can also fry some fish to go along with it. Best would be selar and kembong. The amount of sambal here was just for illustration purpose, in the end I whacked one bowl of rice with the same amount of sambal...yes exactly one bowl, to be eaten with my japanese cucumbers. :))))

Since it takes quite some preparation to make the sambal base paste which can also be stored in ur fridge/freezer, JS re-use it to make sambal petai last nite.

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I know....I am so so blessed. Always :))

Thank you JS for all the hardwork. Now we need to seek another quest for you to conquer :))) hehehehe.

Do you have your favourite nasi lemak stalls/joints? Share with me :)))

Traveling with Hobbits

Labbit, Sheep Sheep & Berr

I have a whole contingent of hobbits at home but only 3 can tag along for the trip, I am sure the rest will understand that it is impossible to bring all of them.

Only the tiny tots that are easy to pack into my handbag are able to travel for holidays.

we took an almost midnite flight and touched down in Paris early in the morning

so by logic the meal that they served b4 the plane touched down was petit dejeuner

I had to have a croissant onboard so that there's a benchmark on how bad local croissant can get vs those in France. Yup it was bad though it's one of the better ones compared to other croissants in KL.

It's only the 2nd day in Paris, and I've already had like errrrrr 5 croissants?

:P

JS had mixed grill for breakfast

yeah I know it looked so heavy and just too much

I dunno how can he finish that......

while I had nyek nyek nyek Nasi Lemak

JS just rolled his eyes

I can never miss this on board

but I've missed the satays coz we went straight to zzZZZZzzzz way b4 the plane took off *they served satays for supper*

JS secretly took pic of Monkey with Hobbits

-_-"

the air hostess asked if I slept well, I just nodded while my eyes were still glued on to the TV screen

he then added cheekily..."of coz u slept well, u have all these soft fluffy one...two...three...tiny tots with ya."

>.<

oh well.....that's Ms Monkey with her hobbits

hehehehehe

weather is lovely and we are having a smashing time

hope yours is lovely as well and Happy Week ahead there folks!!!!

Claustrophobic Satayman

oh yummy yummy yum yum
hmm I just noticed I've been into "stick" food of late

Satays was my dinner last Friday bcoz I was stucked in KL's traffic for 2 hours
this means I will missed my appointment with Shell Shell
so Monkey cancelled it and reschedule my evening to do dinner with JS
that also failed >.<
coz the jam was so horrible it didn't budge

"Sorry!!!! Can u do dinner on your own????"
JS: "Sure sure no problem. U need anything?"
"Oh yes!!! I need a toilet now coz I am in need of one and I'm stucked inside the not-so-smart-tunnel"

JS: "I mean, do u need packed dinner?"
>.< yes pls....u r the sweetest

According to JS when he arrived at Satayman place he wasn't ready for biz yet
so JS had his dinner and sat there waiting for Satayman to start his fire charcoal
fanned them till it turned amber

I think satayman must been so agitated bcoz he's cooking with a "paparazzi" behind him
hahahahahhaa
he must been thinking...customers these days.....
and dearie JS continued to hog him all around snapping pics from top under sides left right zoomed in and hovered around poor satayman till he's done with my order :P

yum yum yum yum
really satisfying to have comfort food after a freaking jam at the comfort of your own home

it's Friday again so wat are u having tonite?

We are gonna be double 0 seven and have our martinis stirred AND shaken this evening at a charity event
muahahahahahahahaha

Have a eppy happy weekend folks!!!!

Village Park Nasi Lemak, Damansara Uptown

my favourite food and breakfast...
anytime anywhere :)))))))))

the joy of chomping coconut milk infused rice with loads of cholesterol paired with spicy awesome sambal with intense heat, crunchy fried peanuts and anchovies with choice of hard boiled eggs and fried eggs which has got so high cholesterol on its own....that one egg yolk's total cholesterol is the total maximum allowance allowed for each living adult.
*244mg of cholesterol per egg yolk*
**yes that's the only allowed total per day**

so tell me how many eggs u eat a day?
nasi lemak with fried eggs for breakfast?
fried rice with eggs for lunch?
carbonara pasta for dinner? *the sauce is egg based*
oysters omelette aka "oh jien" for supper?

okie let's not divert...else this post won't be interesting anymore apart from the total cholesterol for the above plate :P

JS had this beeflicious beef rendang nasi lemak.
I didn't try it coz too distracted with other things *which u'll know wat soon*
I guess the key to any rendangs would be its taste, texture, and the balance of everything else

N.S. Queen Laily introduced this place to me.
N.S. = Nasi Lemak
that woman knows every single nasi lemak eatery at every corner of the town.

Village Park is very popular with regulars here...
we reached this place at 9.20am and we couldn't find a seat, despite that the shop has set up tables and chairs on its neighbouring shoplots, put up marquee right in front of its restaurants...there were hundreds hungry Malaysians gobbling down their plate of warm Nasi Lemak

WTF??? It's only 9.20am...
Monkey's first and only response was to get JS to queue up bcoz I was so worried about my "Fried Chicken"
hahahahhaha Kiasu-ness kicked in.
JS later confessed that he was pretty worried too at the queue bcoz the chickens were fast gone...but as fast as they were removed from its huge basket.....fresh ones were being added in.
PHEW!!!!

This was my distraction~~~~
Nasi Lemak with all of its condiments and the famous deep fried chicken

the rice was steamed to perfection with fluffy grains
however it lacks the coconut milk flavour, nose and taste. Instead it has got very strong galangal and lemon grass nose. Some ppl actually like it this way. :))))))))))

The sambal was a disappointment bcoz it wasn't spicy nor sweet enuff.
perhaps the owner was too stingy with it...hohohohohohoho

but the chicken was a totally different story
super crunchy on the outside....on the inside it was moist and tasty
really marinated well bcoz as u sink ur teeth in....the taste of all of its spices namely ginger burst into your tongue

if u gonna lick ur screen, u'll definitely need a bigger pic..
there u go.....
*lick lick lick*

I don't mind coming here again for this fried chicken only!!!!
hahahaahhahaha

however service sucks during peak hours.
and u have to queue for your food even though you dine in.
lastly, the queue to pay money is even longer than the TOTO queue!!!!
coz u see, I dun like the idea of queue-ing to pay money.
plus parking is an ASS here.

Village Park Nasi Lemak
5 Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: 603 7710 7860

I am so sad about Malaysia Airlines

Yup I know...today's posting is supposed to be a continuation from Versailles
then this silly Monkey forgotten to upload pics from the other computer
last time it was one computer for the whole household........those were the days
Today, there's 5 to be used among the 2 of us
sometimes it got so confusing I forgotten which file in which folder in which computer

just like last nite, I was seeking hi and lo for important photos to be submitted to a publication
"Where is it???"
JS: "errrr I think it's in the iMac."
"NO it ISN'T!!!!"
JS: "definitely not in the Macbook Air. Maybe u can try the Macbook Pro."
"grrrRRRRrrrrrrrrrr................."

so back to Today's posting...it's gonna be Airline food
many ppl despised food served onboard
coz it's pre-packed food which was cooked like hours earlier, or days????
while some ppl really enjoy airline food coz every airline has got some special menu

well, I'm neither.....it depends...
I'm a bitch coz I'm choosy...usually I'll ask wat they gonna serve, checked their menu
then decide to have it or not....
later if I see other ppl are having some yummy food then I'll change my mind
:P beeaaatttchhhhh

One thing I never turn down is MAS's satays...
coz it's yummy
well....allow me to rephrase...it USED to be yummy until 2011
now wat??? did u change caterer? or recipe? or more like CUT COST???

it's so disgusting these days...are those chicken hair on the meat???
wat happen to nasi impit/ketupat that u used to serve???
sometimes I get my piece of onions and well in this case there isn't...
only the 1st pic on this blog has got a slice of the white onions coz it was fr a different route/flight

and notice the first pic looked more appetizing???
agree???

and what happen to the satay sauce???
there's more peanut butter innit now
:(((((
not the way Malaysian Satays should be unless I'm in Garuda Airlines and they are serving Indonesian Satays...
*well indon satays has got more peanut butter in their sauce*

Since the satays were untouched, I had to settle for main course
well u gotta feed a hungry stomach don't ya?
judging from its looks u know it ain't yummy rite?
my local mamak has got better food than this

in the end I was left hungry, nibbled all my fruits
*while JS was bz nibbling nuts like a squirrel*
when they served dessert and cakes...
I was already smacking my forehead....
sorry no pics, coz I couldn't be bothered anymore...

just shocked!!! what happen???
since when did the food standard became this bad???
well it wasn't one of the best airline food...but tolerable...and now....
I'm gonna find time to write to MAS this week...
oh wait...I wrote to them 4 months ago with regards to my loyalty card and no one has gotten back to me....and I re-wrote to them 2 months ago...
*bangs head*
**why should I be the one banging my head??**

my most shocking revelation was NASI LEMAK
MAS has got wonderful nasi lemak...and I alwiz alwiz look fwd to it!!!!
it has got the best sambal and the rich grains cooked in creamy coconut milk

and now....the sambal is gone....only prawns cooked in chili sauce
the creamy rice is now....errrr slightly brown spiced ginger un-nasi lemak rice
wat happen to my crispy anchovies and fried peanuts???

*bangs head*

:"(((

yeah I am an ungrateful bitch for all the complains
when some kids elsewhere are dying of hunger
and here I am whining about food

ok wait till u pay for your ticket and got these in return
especially when u've been flying with them for so many years
and noticed how the standard dropped year after year

as at 1st January 2012, MAS has cut 7 more routes to save costs
Adios Rome
Goodbye Capetown and Johannesburg
Tata Buenos Saires and also Dubai
:"((((

this isn't the way to save an ailing company
even the head steward was telling me this in deep sadness in his eyes
"......:((((......management decision....despite majority opposition....."
I gave him the :(((((( face too...

I will definitely head to Kiasu-Land to get my connecting flights next time
Singapore :)))))))))))
well I can't vote any airlines as the best coz there's so many more I haven't been into
even those that I've tried, each has got their own specialty in terms of service and hospitality
and price too :)))

so in the mean time, I better learn to "fast" like JS on board
*or nibble on nuts*
especially on 13 hours flight when food is a problem...

oh wait...I can fly with so many other airlines...
Emirates :)))) Etihad :))))
KLM :))))) Thai Airways :))))
Singapore Airlines :)))))
Cathay Pacific :)))))
and even Qatar Airways :))))))
and yes I WILL FLY WITH AIR ASIA TOO!!!!

MAS pls buck up!!!
and this was only FOOD...
I haven't go to the part where u are never on TIME
and u change ur planes configuration as u wished n passengers only got informed upon check in....wat can we do by then??? this is a SCAM!!!!
gRRRRRRrrrrrr

Read about really old posting of some airlines:

 *Cathay Pacific*

*MAS: Mana Ada Standard*
*MAS's Nasi Lemak last time!!!! was so good*
*another miserable meal onboard*

Gathering with Kindy Chai

FAT pizza for FAT ppl like us :P
yes we are FAT at heart kekekekekeke with lotsa FAT FAT LOVE

it's not very often we managed to gather so many of us and rolled out the red carpet for Kindy Chai
she comes back prollie once and if lucky twice a year fr the States
or even luckier if she de-toured fr her Japan meetings and make pit stops in Msia 

thank u for making efforts to see us :)))))

Mommy Connie, Mommy Carol, Su San, Chan Lu
these days, everyone has got busy schedule...
they are all now CFO, CMO, COO of huge ass companies :P
while Monkey is still a CEO only....Chief Entertainment Officer
wwwuuaaahhahahahahahahaha

Nasi Kerabu looks so yummy!!! and sure tasted like one :))))))))))

Alexis is one of the best place to hang out with variety of food to cater to everyone's preference
East meets West
from pasta to fried bee hoon
steaks to nasi ayam

Pasta Marinara
I prefer mine spicier
anyway we ordered so much food to share :P
really tam chiak.

Beef lasagne
hmmm maybe one day.....just one day I should attempt to make this :)))))))))))))
akan datang dalam seribu tahun

Mee Siam Msian style
the Spore style is served with "soup"
Malacca style is served with gravy
think Malacca style is still the best of the lot

while I had Laksa Sarawak which was recommended by Sage Fendi

must be too spicy and drown it with lotsa Lychee Martinis
tummy must b churning after that with all the East Meets West food and drinks
kekekekekekkekeke

Ass Kickin Vonne, u dun talk talk only ok....
I just found the last posting of us having dinner with Kindy Chai last year and u mentioned that we should do a cookout outside somewhere or do some outdoor activities....
-_-
so this round of Janda Baik u must plan....
*refer old posting with evidence here*

Shell Shell joined us at the very last minute :)))
Thanks for coming babe!!!!

Kindy Chai my kindergarten friend :)))))))))))))
even though we are no longer in our lolly dresses drawing cute fat flowers with crayons, with even cuter and fatter fingers *kekekekekkeke*
I'll still treat u like a lil 5 year-old gal :))
and lurve u as much as hell

sweet dinner with SWEETER ppl must have sweet ending
Strawberries Pavlova

 Tiramisu served with Berries compote that looked like chili sauce hahahahahaha

Bread pudding

All pics were stolen fr Kindy Chai's camera :D

All of us :))))))))))))))))
after all the food *burped*
hehehehehehe

and then everyone back to their own way from Tokyo to the States to Melbourne
while Monkey is still in Msia playing CEO :)))))))))))))
okie let's put more pressure on Ass Kickin Vonne
Janda Baik Janda Baik Janda Baik
dun make me peel onions can already ok? this one ask Chan Lu to do...she has got experience

hehehehheheheh great outing with u ladies
and we shall look fwd to the next one :))))))))

Curry Noddle, Imbi Market

I enjoy my curry noodle FULL SPECS

with everything innit!!!! :D

Every weekend, JS & Monkey will have their slow yummy brunch together

but well sometimes when we're bz with work or personal social life....

then it will be dinner together :)))))

usually I'll leave home with just a cuppa of Nespresso

plant kisses on JS & Berr and then zoooom I go

but the day finally arrived, when it was JS's turn to attend to work on a Saturday

*wakakakakakka*

instead of doin wat I've alwiz done...

he drove out and bought my favourite Curry noodle + full specs

woke me up, brewed fresh coffee for me...

made sure I consumed my breakfast while it's hot....

planted kisses on me...and left for work

*awwwww I felt like a million dollar monkey*

**he's such a darl and the sweetest!!!!**

so after the yummylicious breakfast prepared with love

Monkey went back to zzZZZZZzzz

heeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Curry Noodle with chicken strips, lotsa fresh cockles,

toufu pok, crispy fried pork skin, fat beansprouts, green long beans, 

and more dashes of its hot spicy chili oil + belacan.

AWESOME!!!!

hmmmm question is, will I do the same for him?

ok ok ok ok ok

even if JS dun whack me, my readers will kill me

I promise that I'll learn how to bake pastries for his breakfast next time

next time next time

akan datang....coming soon~~~~~

Mee Mee's Bday - Part 2

Mee Mee & Nee Lee can't decide wat to eat
yeah I know we can damn eat....after having a medley of desserts at Honeymoon Dessert,
we hopped over to this Otak-Otak Place

as the name says it....they specialised on Otak-Otak
both Mee Mee & Nee Lee asked: "So Bee Ree, which Otak-otak u want?"
"there's fish....fish nicer right?"
"there's also steamed ones or fried ones..."

Monkey O_O "so wat's the difference steamed and fried apart fr its obvious description"
Nee Lee: "Steamed ones u have to eat with forks, fried ones u have to eat with hands."
Mee Mee: "yes and use fork less tedious."
-_-"
Ladies, the next time I asked for difference on food item....
kindly list down in terms of taste and texture...
no the level of ma fan-ness in consuming it.
T_T

"why so ma fan??? just order the damn thing lar...the usual ones."

Shell Shell has got no comment....
coz she's no eating....
she had yummy chicken rice for lunch dy......

we cam-whored for a bit....
and let the other 2 choose their Otak Otak
whether they want fish/prawn/watever meat
and its' preparation method...grill/steamed/fried
and its accompaniment....with rice/without/with gawd knows wat/etc

notti kiddo next table was curious
with our conversation and all the cam-whoring she decided she would like to join in
"u come here...let jie jie teach u how to....."
"NO!!! BEE REE!!!!"

yes I'm a bad influence
bad bad bad bad~~~~

finally the normal usual steamed otak-otak came
not too bad consider this to be the "commercial" type
actually it's quite yummy

and the fried ones....oso very yummy
I guess this place is worth trying
will definitely return for more of its Otak Yumminess

Nee Lee & Shell Shell bz checking quality of their pics

Happy Belated Birthday Mee Mee
thank you for making time despite being a "cow"
:)))))))))))))
hope Baby Rei didn't cry too much when u were out.
anyway that's wat teofu is there for.
kekekekekeke

Otak Otak Place
IOI Boulevard
Puchong