Yum Yum

You know what I would love to eat during these cold winter days ?

A steaming pot of bah-kut-teh. I know most would go for steam boat, but I've never been a big fan of it. I like it, but I don't love it.

In no particular order, the food and people I can't wait to be reunited with is...

1. Saturday morning bah kut teh at the place next to the Indian temple. Can't remember the name of the area, but it’s off the LDP around Giant. Sorta. The soup there is the bomb! The young fella that takes orders can sometimes be a bit impatient but the food makes up for it. I'm also a fan of the one opposite the church along the LDP, the Kelana Jaya shop, with the high pitched screaming aunty that takes your order. Sometimes I think I might as well screech for another shuit-cha myself.

2. Hong Kee Dim Sum in Damansara Jaya. I love the one that’s crispy yammy on the outside and savoury inside. I hate when there's only one left cause although I really want it the polite Ms. Ng offers it to others. Unless I'm eating with close buddies then too bad, its mine! We became quite regular there throughout 2009, some of the staff recognized us and I like having that relationship. It’s comforting. Maybe not where everybody knows your name like Cheers, but you are remembered.

3. Fajar rojak, named so because he used to be on a motorbike outside the old Fajar in Uptown which is now Starbucks. My family have been buying from him for YEARS. The rojak man moved to the Uptown hawkers and he makes the best fruit rojak ever, while his wife is Grand Master of popiah.

4. Pinapple fried rice/ Thai fried rice at Say Huat Skt 17. Every week after church when deciding where to eat I tell the rest, "Don't ask me cause I'll say Say Huat." An interesting story attached to this guy - he used to make BKT in the original Mau Tak Teng (before it moved and changed owners) and my family would go for our BKT in Taman Tun donkey years ago. Then he went away and year’s later ta-dah he's in Skt 17. He made good BKT and now he makes great pineapple friend rice. Its yummylicious.

5. Village Park nasi lemak OR little kedai kopi in Kampung Sg. Penchala's nasi lemak. I'd go for daging over ayam rendang, ayam rendang over fried chicken and fried chicken over sotong. Only made complete with a glass of teh ais. I definitely prefer these two over Maybank nasi lemak. Their standards have dropped now I'm afraid... Like all tepi-jalan makan places, once it gets too popular you know it’s time to look for somewhere else.

6. Which brings me to another place I used to haunt weekly, Williams in Taman Megah/Mayang. I think his food is really good, but has gotten to the stage where it’s just way too overpriced. Eating there among the rats and roaches costs the same as eating at Italianies. No joke. I remember once upon a time you could get a big, yummy pasta dish for RM8. Now it'll cost RM20 for the same thing. What's worse, and I think it’s very mean of him, when you ask for a recommendation William will list all the things that are Rm25 and above, without telling you the price! So after returning from USM and finding this out the hard way, my once weekly visits became quarterly.

7. Cendol from the DU roundabout Cendol man. He scares everyone because once in a while he'll disappear and the locals would wonder if he's gone on holiday or gone for good. He has family up in Penang and I found out that’s where he usually goes off to for a month or so. But last year I seriously thought he wasn't coming back; he was away for months! Just when I thought he was really gone, he returned before I left Malaysia. Sadly I didn't get my last bowl of cendol so he better not die before I return.

8. Cendol man is connected to soya bean man because I usually have to choose between the two desserts. Soya bean man is associated with Fajar rojak because the two of them used to sell their fare side by side. Now only soya bean man is left, outside the gap between the former Fajar and a shop that is forever changing hands. It’s a reflexology place at the moment. My soya bean man is tall and skinny, always in his full white uniform; I guess to represent the product? Haha... He never seems to age. I dunno why we have never really chatted before, I've known him at least 10 years and know nothing about him. Anyway, I like his tau foo fah with black sugar. The way he scoops up each flesh-like thin layer is an art form.

9. Further down the road is the Apum Balik couple. He makes them, she cuts and bags them. Not sure why but she never smiles at me and seems grumpy all the time. With apum balik it really depends on my mood at the time - I like both crispy and soft, but which I like more is decided right there and then. Changes every time.

10. Last but not least is Indian Rojak man; he completes the Holy Fajar circle. When he came along, he used to park his van between Fajar Rojak and Soya Bean, but there just wasn't enough space for the 3 of them (this was years before the AB Couple came along) so Indian Rojak had to move location - but just about 50m away, in front of Maybank. Which works out great cause he gets loads of customers coming outta the bank that stop off for ais kacang and cendol. With Indian Rojak it’s all about the sauce, and his is superb. It’s just thick enough, it’s just the right amount and it’s got a spicy kick to it. My order- no cucumber, no tau geh, extra tauhu. Perfection.


Hmmm, looks like there's gonna be a Part 2 some other time.