Another Busy Day ...

A few months ago when I was lunching with some friends, we were discussing a topic close to my heart ... yes, you've guessed it - food, and in particular Penang food (but of course), and one favourite that we all love is good ole LAM MEE.

My take on it is that I don't really think much of those that are "store bought" as such, because, with apologies to our Muslim readers, a REAL Lam Mee stock must have pork in it. And not just any ordinary pork but BELLY of Pork. The other VITAL ingredient (apart from the crab meat and prawns) is PEE HU (dried plaice), and it must be served with kuchai and fresh coriander leaves, and a spoonful of home-made eu chang (fried onions). Of course the whole must be eaten with a good dollop of SAMBAL BELACAN.

However, when you are preparing it for a couple of hundred customers it's a bit expensive to include all these ingredients, so what you tend to get instead is some watered-down soup served with coloured omelette strips (as though that makes any difference to the taste!), and it's usually flavoured primarily by the sambal, although often that also tends to be quite insipid.

Someone in the group disagreed, saying he knew somewhere which served good Lam Mee, so (sorry about the digression but had to explain the background ma) this morning I had to get up particularly early (745am - ai yo that's like the middle of the night) to meet a couple of them at a coffee shop in Island Glades.

Verdict? Prettily presented - see pix - but suffice it to say that out of the three of us, two left half of ours uneaten, and only one finished his down to the last drop - guess who. He asked me, "You obviously didn't think much of it." I sort of murmured some nicety, then he insisted, "You didn't like it did you?". He deserved an honest answer, so I finally said, "Well, let me put it this way - it's OK, but not good enough to waste my stomach space on." The other friend, when asked her opinion, replied, "I liked the prawns ..."! Wimp!

I proceeded to brag about how I could cook it better (pee hu, belly of pork, blah blah blah). So guess what? My bluff has now been called, and in order not to have to eat my words (better to eat good Lam Mee) I will have to cook it for these (so-called?) friends to prove my point!



So watch this space for the next part of "Hunt the Elusive Good Penang Lam Mee". (Although I WILL say that the last time I cooked it a few months ago another friend - see, I have at least three - enjoyed it so much she said she drank up every last drop of the soup ... but she could have just been saying that, although if that was the case she soon lived to regret it cos she got ANOTHER helping!)

By the way I'm delighted that I'm starting to really get hits on this website, especially as I couldn't keep it updated because of technical problems (and my inability to resolve them) before. A friend told me today, "I prefer your blog to your newspaper articles. It's funnier!" Gives you an idea of the restrictions I have to write within. But thank you dear friend! However, a few comments would make it even better so please do leave me some!

PS I'm also delighted to say that No1 Son finally decided to remove his tongue pierce - HALLELUJAH!

A Great Eye Deer

I'm a full time mother again, as both my boys are back for the Easter Hols. It's a strange but wonderful and fulfilling time, although I've often thought that although I look forward to seeing them again, I don't really miss them when they are away. I think that implies a GOOD and HEALTHY relationship: I have my own busy life to lead, and don't pine for them when they are not here.

So last night, together with Mom and No1 Son, we picked the younger one up at the airport, and headed back into town where, because he wanted some RENDANG for his first meal back here, we went to the NO EYE DEER in Tanjung Tokong. Usual friendly proprietor KEN was there, trying to keep his head above water because despite it being a wet and rainy Saturday night they were quite busy.

As I'd had a full lunch (took my cousin SUZE who was here for a flying visit from KL for Cheng Beng to my favourite THAI STATION and we really indulged ... yumm!!) I refrained from ordering a meal for myself, but as Ken is well aware, I like to pick so he put a spare set of cutlery in front of me.

Both boys opted for the briyani, one with rendang and the other mutton curry. Both plates were cleared in record time. Mom had a steak which was unfortunately rather overdone but surprisingly not too tough - although I've only just been told we weren't charged for it. Husband MacD had a Chicken Parmigiana which he really enjoyed.

I like the place - it's friendly and unpretentious, with a well-thought out, reasonably-priced menu of local and western favourites; not haute cuisine and not the best in the world but good enough, hence his many regular clients. The beer is great value too - just RM35++ for a bucket of five bottles!

It was quite exciting to be invited to meet Eddie Jordan and The Robbers, who were performing at the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa's posh Feringgi Grill last night.

I would have loved to interview him about his short stay in Penang, but unfortunately there wasn't time, although he did give some entertaining insight into his life in the fast lane during his time in Formula 1 racing.

The dinner was a simple 3-course meal consisting of good basic ingredients: their famous home-made tomato soup came with a dribble of pandan oil, which gave it a subtle quite [Photo]fragrant aftertaste, although it wasn't a "sweet" flavour as one would expect.

This was followed by lamb or cod (I chose the latter) which was served on a wooden chopping board (hence the name "Wood Plank Cod, although to be frank I didn't see what difference that made to it!), and a Chocolate Volcano without the lava - it was a bit dry, and would have made a world of difference if served with a molten centre or a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Still, one can't complain too much as I was an invited guest!

In between courses, Eddie kept diners entertained with some anecdotes and trivia about the famous race, and after that we adjourned to the Feringgi Lounge where we were treated to a loud but good bit of music from his four piece band, of which he is the drummer. For geriatric rockers they weren't bad at all. However, it's pretty sad but oldies like me found it a bit much (on top of the fact that I wasn't feeling too good and still aren't brill now) so I left at that point. They are off to KL today to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe for the next 2 nights, so do catch them if you can.

Last night my elder boy Tom returned for the first time since he started uni in UK in October, where he's for reasons unfathomable to me reading Chemistry. It's not that he's not bright - he is - but he isn't the most "with it" boy. Case in point being that I received an sms (I insist he does that every leg of the journey, OAOM that I am - in case you don't know what that stands for see previous blog) when he arrived at Dubai to say that he'd left the champagne on the plane. And oh by the way he was sorry. That's all!! I could have x**!@@#$ him quite happily.

On the way to the airport to pick him up we stopped at the Ubi Food Court in Tanjung Tokong to have a bite. It's by the traffic lights, one of the new ones which opened up a few years ago and closed down again cos the food was really quite inedible (I remember trying the lor bak which was abysmal and saying, "I give them six months if this is the standard of their food" - my prophesy came true - they closed down not long after). However, they reopened under new management a couple of years ago. I have to say the Kuey Teow T'ng I had was not bad at all. It cost RM3, but had two sizeable chunks of minced pork together with three firm and tasty fishballs and a couple of slices of pork. Well worth it.

The Kangkong Sotong however was a disappointment. It was RM6 for a small portion, but not very tasty. Still, you can't win them all. I will gladly go back for the Kueh Teow T'ng.

Anyway we got to the airport at about midnight to find out the plane had landed 10 mins before, so it wasn't too long a wait before my No.1 son came out. It was good to see him, even if he had done what I consider a relatively stupid thing: pierced not just his right ear lobe and bottom lip, but also his TONGUE! Oh my did I freak out. Still, at 19 he is an adult. However I did put my foot down - I'm not paying for any more.

Emily of Emerald Hill

On Sunday afternoon I took my mother and a girlfriend to see the nyonya play "Emily of Emerald Hill" at the Wawasan Open University in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. I'm delighted to say it was quite packed - apparently after my article about Pearlly Chua, the Seremban-based actress who plays the eponymous main and only character, came out in Star Weekender a couple of weeks ago, there was a surge of response.

The whole thing took nearly two hours which included a 15-min break, and Pearlly (or should I say Emily) held us in thrall throughout it all. She was really very good, considering it was a monologue and there was only her on stage.

However, I think I was slightly misled during the interview - Pearlly had said that this Emily was going to be a sharper, nastier, scheming woman. In fact, she actually came across as an ordinary obviously ambitious Singaporean woman of the times (1950s) who, due to some unfortunate events, had her own fair share of tragedies. She just didn't strike me as a conniving cow at all, and in one particular scene where she was supposed to have controlled her son to the extent that he took his own life, it just didn't seem a good enough reason for him to have done so!

Having said that, Pearlly did very well. She portrayed the character going through her life, from current to, at times, her youth when she recounted how she entered the Gan household as a young bride, to her old age towards the end, very well. So much so that she made my mother cry - and that's not often. I can vouch for that!

If you ever have the chance to see the play, do. It's an insight into a typical Singaporean nyonya household, which was probably true of other Chinese households (OAOMs, as my British sister-in-law used to call us - Over Ambitious Oriental Mothers), and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Well done Pearlly!

(Fairly) INSTANT THAI LAKSA

Last night we were supposed to be good, so the plan was to do some chores which have been outstanding for a while (like pay bills and cheques in, return library books etc ...) then go for a swim (a gal's gotta keep fit), then head to Gurney for the launch of the new i-Phone.

Unfortunately, a few things got in the way: laziness for one ... the rains started, which put paid to any ambitious laps, then thoughts of having to dress up just to go and spend money was just too much, even with the lure of free food.

So I raided my fridge again, and what did I come out with? A fairly passable Thai Laksa, even if I say so myself!

When I lived abroad, rather like the Domestic Goddess herself Nigella, I always had Asian ingredients on standby either frozen, dried or tinned, and this habit hasn't died, so I had all the necessaries for the rempah: frozen serai (lemongrass), lengkuas, turmeric and even some chian hom (Thai Coriander); and from the store cupboard packet long-life coconut milk (a must-have), onions and belacan. All quickly prepared then zapped with my new Premier blender - it was quite good I have to say, and MUCH cheaper than the Braun I normally buy (I have at least 3-4 in the cupboard, but the blades for the blender parts have all broken!).

However much to my horror I realised I didn't have any CHILLI POWDER - used up the last lot a few months ago I guess. I like to use it because, apart from the luak (spiciness) it gives a really rich red to the curry that fresh or even dried chilli (unless you use a lot) doesn't have (although I know Thai laksa isn't supposed to be red). So it was back to the freezer again.

Tumised (fried up) the whole lot up in some oil until it "separated", then added some dried prawns (optional), a small tin of sardines (or salmon which I prefer but which I'd also run out of), water and the santan, together with a small can of evaporated milk after bringing to the boil. Just throw in a stock cube, a few tau hu pok (thanks again to my trusty old freezer) and fish balls (ditto), and there it was.

Eaten with some spaghetti - although instant noodles would have done - and a few mint leaves and Thai Basil (from my back garden), it was not bad at all. The colour wasn't brilliant, but it tasted quite good. Saved going out, and it was a great night in out of the rain. And I have to didn't spend a single sen!

However it's straight out to the grocer's tomorrow to stock up on some basic essentials once more I think!

FANTHAIBULOUS

It's not often I rave about a place, but this unassuming little eatery in Penang's Prangin Mall is not to be sniffed at. The last time I went must have been at least 2-3 years ago, and this morning when I was taking a friend whose hubby has gone abroad for a week to lunch, I really fancied some good Thai food (my fav after all).

So we arranged to meet there - it's called Thai Station on the first floor of the back part of the sprawling noisy mall. I prefer this above any of the "designer" malls any time, because it's got CHARACTER, although I know many expats fear it cos it's a bit seedy. That, my friends, is where you get the best bargains and DIFFERENT things - not just stuff you can find in any mall in any part of the world!

Anyway I digress. So we met there and, being hungry, I rather over-ordered as is my wont when my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Ah, but was it worth it! Especially compared to some other places I have written or complained about.

Between the two of us we managed to tuck away a Papaya Salad, slice of steamed fish in Thai sauce (delicious - just the right amount of luak, sui and t'nee - spiciness, sourness and sweetness); a helping of roast pork and buah petai fried in sambal, and even a Red Curry (Panang) and rice. EVERYTHING was really good except perhaps the salad which used a riper red papaya instead of the usual young green which is crunchier - but it tasted good anyway. Even my friend who is a good cook of Thai food agreed. Just writing about it makes me lau nua (salivas flow) again!!

Then we complained about feeling too full, and promptly ordered a Chendol and Mango with Glutinous Rice. Like my sons used to say when they were little and didn't want to finish their main meal but wanted dessert, "Cos it was the right shape"!

And the whole fantastic meal cost a mere RM59. I'd go back there any time. Well done, and may you forever keep that chef!