I love August.
Lots of good things happen in the eight month of the Gregorian calendar. The weather is mild, peak season is over, it is summer in most places, it is the Malaysian national day... and it happens to be the time of my annual month-long feeding frenzy!!!!!!!!
Heh heh heh heh... the eating spree officially started yesterday at Chilli's in Bangsar. Kian Leong, Su Fong, Lai Peng and I had a blast... we are all kinda nutty to start with anyways. The food was great, the company was excellent and of course, there was plenty of laughter around the table... we had a great time!
Already the bookings are piling up. Weekends are the most popular. Thanks to my move to Wangsa Maju, the only time my friends can meet me is over the weekend. So that means I 'll be working on shedding off some weekend fat. But.. who cares? Heap on the fats!!! Oh yeaaaaah.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Dull Food
Ever waited at a restaurant known for good food... only to be disappointed? I know that feeling. My family went to New Paris in SS2 recently, a neighbourhood restaurant known for its delicious food and reasonable prices. We eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Captain's reccomendations - steamed grouper, marmite ribs, fried veggies, tofu with minced pork and bittergourd braised chicken.
The dishes arrived looking like they had been precooked and microwaved. My dad immediately pointed out the telltale signs - cold plates and there was no smoke emanating from the dishes! We finished the food, but could definitely say that the experience had been a tepid affair. Wonder how the cook would have felt if we have made a complaint. But we were just too polite and continued swallowing.
Today, more than others, I felt that the students in the bible class were swallowing too. I do not know if they understood what had been taught. It started with them all being anticipative at the beginning (they even took notes during a little icebreaker word game!) However, I felt the lesson nosedived for some reason. Just one of those days... and I really felt like a chef who has let the diners down. That despite the preparation and prayers throughout the week, the hours spent thinking about it, not to mention the sleepless night caused by it!
Such is human evaluation.
I m glad God just expects me to be faithful and not a super-skilled chef all the time.
The dishes arrived looking like they had been precooked and microwaved. My dad immediately pointed out the telltale signs - cold plates and there was no smoke emanating from the dishes! We finished the food, but could definitely say that the experience had been a tepid affair. Wonder how the cook would have felt if we have made a complaint. But we were just too polite and continued swallowing.
Today, more than others, I felt that the students in the bible class were swallowing too. I do not know if they understood what had been taught. It started with them all being anticipative at the beginning (they even took notes during a little icebreaker word game!) However, I felt the lesson nosedived for some reason. Just one of those days... and I really felt like a chef who has let the diners down. That despite the preparation and prayers throughout the week, the hours spent thinking about it, not to mention the sleepless night caused by it!
Such is human evaluation.
I m glad God just expects me to be faithful and not a super-skilled chef all the time.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Too Many Eggs
A couple years ago, a health shop opened on the row of shops across the street from my house. It was an instant hit with the residents, especially since they were dishing out freebies every few hours after their organised health talks were over. If you had ever been a victim of these sales gimmicks, you would know that it was really a cheap way of ensuring a crowd. The topics ranged from age-defying tactics to relationship boosting methods, peddled by young, enegetic speakers duking it out with very loud background music!
My dad was a frequent visitor to the talks. One day he came back from the shop and announced, "Everyone quickly! Get to the shop now coz they are giving out a carton of fresh eggs to everyone who attends!" Needless to say, every breathing soul in the house - my parents, the maid, myself and even my then 5-year old niece - darted across the street to secure our seats.
We spent 30minutes listening to a sales pitch. Then returned home with enough eggs to last us for months, since we don't usually eat a lot of them to start with. We realised we've created a storage problem. The eggs will go bad before we can finish them. In our greed and haste, we failed to see the consequences of our actions. We just hoarded. My memory gets fuzzy at this point, but I think we gave most of our eggs away, and even had to beg some people to receive them!
Sadly, in that sense we were not that different from the infamous children of Israel who grumbled, moaned and complained in the desert; as described in Exodus Chapter 16.
And when God miraculously provided food from heaven, the first thing they did (despite specific instructions to the contrary from God) was to - you've guessed it - hoard!
Sure, the need to acquire and possess more helps assuage the fear of insecurity. Who doesn't want some measure of security... savings, property, investments.... ? All these are good stuff, given by God. However, the unhealthy emphasis on good stuff can often distort our perspective of the true value of things. And life. Especially when it edges into our priorities unnoticed.
The Israelites' greed revealed a blatant failure to trust the God who had rescued and provided for them all these while. Either they thought God was unable, or unwilling to. My eggs incident may seem miniscule compared to the problems of the Israelites, but they are certainly in the same basket! The familiar ugly traits of unbelief, over-indulgence and reluctance to live in daily dependance are all evident, being thrown into the mix for good measure.
Too many things, God, compete for our love and trust in You. Help la... help us understand that submission to Your will should always take priority over our immediate needs. It was a lesson to the Israelites, let it be a less severe lesson for us.
My dad was a frequent visitor to the talks. One day he came back from the shop and announced, "Everyone quickly! Get to the shop now coz they are giving out a carton of fresh eggs to everyone who attends!" Needless to say, every breathing soul in the house - my parents, the maid, myself and even my then 5-year old niece - darted across the street to secure our seats.
We spent 30minutes listening to a sales pitch. Then returned home with enough eggs to last us for months, since we don't usually eat a lot of them to start with. We realised we've created a storage problem. The eggs will go bad before we can finish them. In our greed and haste, we failed to see the consequences of our actions. We just hoarded. My memory gets fuzzy at this point, but I think we gave most of our eggs away, and even had to beg some people to receive them!
Sadly, in that sense we were not that different from the infamous children of Israel who grumbled, moaned and complained in the desert; as described in Exodus Chapter 16.
And when God miraculously provided food from heaven, the first thing they did (despite specific instructions to the contrary from God) was to - you've guessed it - hoard!
Sure, the need to acquire and possess more helps assuage the fear of insecurity. Who doesn't want some measure of security... savings, property, investments.... ? All these are good stuff, given by God. However, the unhealthy emphasis on good stuff can often distort our perspective of the true value of things. And life. Especially when it edges into our priorities unnoticed.
The Israelites' greed revealed a blatant failure to trust the God who had rescued and provided for them all these while. Either they thought God was unable, or unwilling to. My eggs incident may seem miniscule compared to the problems of the Israelites, but they are certainly in the same basket! The familiar ugly traits of unbelief, over-indulgence and reluctance to live in daily dependance are all evident, being thrown into the mix for good measure.
Too many things, God, compete for our love and trust in You. Help la... help us understand that submission to Your will should always take priority over our immediate needs. It was a lesson to the Israelites, let it be a less severe lesson for us.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Just Another Breakfast...?
Expect the unexpected.
Such a well-worn phrase. Happens to be the story of my life too.
This morning I woke up early and went to the wet market. Then, as I sat down to have breakfast, I ran into an acquaintance whom I had not seen in 13 years. We recognised each other instantly, but for the life of me, I could not recall her name. She sat down at my table and both of us simmered in pretend mode - each trying to out-wait the other asking for identification.
Our conversation centered around small talk - her family, my family, who's doing what, where, etc etc. Then somehow the dialogue veered towards the gap years between 1997 - 2001 and I inadvertently shared my testimony.
She sat and listened, her eyes welling up with tears as I recounted how my parents came to the Lord. She appeared visibly moved and was wiping her eyes. Just before going our separate ways, we exchanged numbers (and names!). Whether we would keep in touch remains to be seen, but this incident really reminded me of one thing I keep putting off - I have to get going on writing the memoir... and preferably before I become senile too.
Sigh.
Such a well-worn phrase. Happens to be the story of my life too.
This morning I woke up early and went to the wet market. Then, as I sat down to have breakfast, I ran into an acquaintance whom I had not seen in 13 years. We recognised each other instantly, but for the life of me, I could not recall her name. She sat down at my table and both of us simmered in pretend mode - each trying to out-wait the other asking for identification.
Our conversation centered around small talk - her family, my family, who's doing what, where, etc etc. Then somehow the dialogue veered towards the gap years between 1997 - 2001 and I inadvertently shared my testimony.
She sat and listened, her eyes welling up with tears as I recounted how my parents came to the Lord. She appeared visibly moved and was wiping her eyes. Just before going our separate ways, we exchanged numbers (and names!). Whether we would keep in touch remains to be seen, but this incident really reminded me of one thing I keep putting off - I have to get going on writing the memoir... and preferably before I become senile too.
Sigh.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Two Months
August and September were months of extremes, if you ask me. Firstly there was the sense of a post-mission low after 3 glorious weeks in Port Dickson and Hanoi leading the OM team. It was a great, although unevnetful trip where 'grand action' was concerned. We were instructed to play tourists whilst we had prepared to dig trenches. Oh well...
Then there was of course, there was my adopted father's visit from Virginia Beach for almost a week. A totally shameless 'makansutra' outing. The binge continued with my birthday bash(es). This yeah was tremendous! I was eating non-stop with friends, family and more friends! (The last meal is lunch tomorrow with my buddy... almost one month after my actual birthdate!). I am truly blessed.
Then came the lowpoints. I had fallen ill. Was in bed for 12 days, drugged and drugged again. Not fun. Anymore sleeping and bedsores will peek outta my skinpores! Sigh. A-n-d then, my left arm started acting up... nerve pain! Yikes. This time round it had all the classic symptoms of CTS and freaked me out big time. I was walking around with a bent elbow and clawed hand, probably resembled the person who inspired Frankenstein had it not been already written. Great.
So today I am taking it easy (again!). Sigh... hasn't worked much since August and September's gonna be over soon. Next week I will be in Chiangmai and won't be back till Oct for a shoot.
Life continues...
Then there was of course, there was my adopted father's visit from Virginia Beach for almost a week. A totally shameless 'makansutra' outing. The binge continued with my birthday bash(es). This yeah was tremendous! I was eating non-stop with friends, family and more friends! (The last meal is lunch tomorrow with my buddy... almost one month after my actual birthdate!). I am truly blessed.
Then came the lowpoints. I had fallen ill. Was in bed for 12 days, drugged and drugged again. Not fun. Anymore sleeping and bedsores will peek outta my skinpores! Sigh. A-n-d then, my left arm started acting up... nerve pain! Yikes. This time round it had all the classic symptoms of CTS and freaked me out big time. I was walking around with a bent elbow and clawed hand, probably resembled the person who inspired Frankenstein had it not been already written. Great.
So today I am taking it easy (again!). Sigh... hasn't worked much since August and September's gonna be over soon. Next week I will be in Chiangmai and won't be back till Oct for a shoot.
Life continues...
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Living in a Fishbowl
Less than a week ago, I met my cousin at the wet market. I needed her help to choose a yam for a pork dish I was making, and hence looked her up at the meat section. My cousin is in her 50s, has three grown-up kids and helps her butcher husband at his stall.
We got talking. She asked me about what I had planned for the future. "Have you set some savings aside to at least buy yourself a house or somewhere to stay in?" she asked, concerned that I would grow old and end up on the streets.
"Nope. I don't worry much about these things..."
She gasped, "No, no... you m-u-s-t prepare for it," she insisted, and continued to tell me the benefits of property ownership when suddenly, she stopped herself short.
"Oh, I forgot that you are a Christian," she said. Then she continued, "and therefore you have a different direction in life. You are preoccupied with something else..."
She seemed pretty satisfied as she concluded her own opinion about me, and did not push the matter any further.
I was gobsmacked. I had never talked to her about my faith, as we never really had the chance to talk to each other over the years, despite staying relatively closeby. So I was surprised she said what she did.
Boy, you'll never know who's watching you.
We got talking. She asked me about what I had planned for the future. "Have you set some savings aside to at least buy yourself a house or somewhere to stay in?" she asked, concerned that I would grow old and end up on the streets.
"Nope. I don't worry much about these things..."
She gasped, "No, no... you m-u-s-t prepare for it," she insisted, and continued to tell me the benefits of property ownership when suddenly, she stopped herself short.
"Oh, I forgot that you are a Christian," she said. Then she continued, "and therefore you have a different direction in life. You are preoccupied with something else..."
She seemed pretty satisfied as she concluded her own opinion about me, and did not push the matter any further.
I was gobsmacked. I had never talked to her about my faith, as we never really had the chance to talk to each other over the years, despite staying relatively closeby. So I was surprised she said what she did.
Boy, you'll never know who's watching you.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Gluttony to the maxx!
"What's so great about Sitiawan that you'ld go there twice in 3 months?" a friend asked.
Now here is a question I half-expect, especially from urbanite friends who would think the only thing notable about that settlement near the coast is their birdnest trade. Actually birdnest is only one of the many food products this enterprising community came up with over the years.
There are the famous Kampung Koh chilly sauce, mee sua and soy sauce to name a few. So when we went up to Gracey's house to continue our erm... "Makansutra" escapade during last Chinese New Year, we made sure we emptied our stomachs for the long haul eating session.
Crystal and I took a bus up to the Sitiawan bus stop, where Gracey was supposeda pick us. However before she could arrive, we already crossed the street to check out the Cendol stall before it closed for the day. And it was a good thing too, because we just managed to get the last bowl of special Cendol with glutinous rice. Phew...
Then it was eating, eating and eating all day long for the next two days, even when we arrived at Ivy's house in nearby Teluk Intan. Words exhaust me, but suffice to say that we were disgustingly, shamelessly fed, and fed well too. Of course, other than eating we saw some sights... the ahem, Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan (pix) happened to be one of them.
Anyway, we we really delighted to find the friendly neighbourhood ice-cream man peddling his ware! Haven't seen this kinda sight for like... more than 2 decades!!!! We all stuffed faces with double-scooped ice-cream in between our eating sessions.
And after all that eating, Gracey and I burped in satisfaction... while waiting for the next meal.
Now here is a question I half-expect, especially from urbanite friends who would think the only thing notable about that settlement near the coast is their birdnest trade. Actually birdnest is only one of the many food products this enterprising community came up with over the years.
There are the famous Kampung Koh chilly sauce, mee sua and soy sauce to name a few. So when we went up to Gracey's house to continue our erm... "Makansutra" escapade during last Chinese New Year, we made sure we emptied our stomachs for the long haul eating session.
Crystal and I took a bus up to the Sitiawan bus stop, where Gracey was supposeda pick us. However before she could arrive, we already crossed the street to check out the Cendol stall before it closed for the day. And it was a good thing too, because we just managed to get the last bowl of special Cendol with glutinous rice. Phew...
Then it was eating, eating and eating all day long for the next two days, even when we arrived at Ivy's house in nearby Teluk Intan. Words exhaust me, but suffice to say that we were disgustingly, shamelessly fed, and fed well too. Of course, other than eating we saw some sights... the ahem, Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan (pix) happened to be one of them.
Anyway, we we really delighted to find the friendly neighbourhood ice-cream man peddling his ware! Haven't seen this kinda sight for like... more than 2 decades!!!! We all stuffed faces with double-scooped ice-cream in between our eating sessions.
And after all that eating, Gracey and I burped in satisfaction... while waiting for the next meal.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Frog in the Pot
The most horrying experience I had with frogs was when one hopped and latched itself on my calf while I was walking on campus in Hawaii. I screamed and screamed in terror, ran and flagged helplessly. It was such a traumatic experience I don't even remember how the critter finally un-stuck itself.
I hate frogs. Dead or alive.
So when I hadda buy frogmeat in the market today to double-boil it for my hospitalised mom, I made sure I was 2 feet away from the cages filled with live frogs. I quickly made my purchase. The butcher was laughing away at me whilst she grabbed one fat belching frog, clubbed it senseless and continued with the slaughter.
I did not know how my face looked like at that moment, but the butcher's expression while looking at me was one of glee, maybe she was somewhat tickled at the tortured face of a reluctant buyer.
I took home three headless, skinless and webless frogs. The blood was still on them. Cleaned the carcasses up using a pair of disposable chopsticks and a cleaver. My brother and dad were not much help, they just stood and laughed at my fear of contact with dead amphibians. After much effort, one-and-a-half frog(s) ended up in the crockpot with slices of really bitter bittergourd.
I pity my mom who's gonna drink that.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Night Out
It is also confirmed that I will be staying with my mom at the hospital tonight. Just got back home to pack a few things and head straight for Assunta again. Mom's got a single room and there's an extra armchair-bed for me. Tomorrow I gotta head for the market really early to get er....
1. Frog meat
2. Baby bittergourd
This is so that I can go home and double boil them stuff with a bowl of water and serve them to (poor old) mom! Apparently this concoction worked wonders on my friend's friend.
Nat tested negative for dengue. Phew... at least her parents can sleep soundly tonight.
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