Little Korea

The surrounding area of my work place is full with Korean stores and restaurant. I have been craving for  Korean food for such a long time ever since I started watching Korean series years ago. Series like Bread, Love and Dream and Sik Gaek further increased my curiosity towards Korean food. However, I am fussy about the halal-ness of whatever I send into my stomach. Like I have always told my friends; "I may be fat but I am fat with halal food only". Some of my friends' policy are that if they are sure that it is halal then it's OK even when there is no halal sign at the restaurant or if there is liquor sold in the place. Not so for me. For I have to really determine beyond the fact that there is a halal sticker in front of the restaurant. 

I really believe that if Muslim themselves are not particular and very educated about the concept of halal then what more people of different faith. Before I start anything to do with the title of the post, I think it is important to let people know what is halal to me. 

Halal means using meat that has been slaughtered in the name of Allah (loosely called in Islamic manner) and cooked using ingredients that does not contain any liquor (it means ANY, not 1% or even 0.00001% and alcohol is not liquor don't you people learn science?) and does not use any ingredients containing elements of haram (antonym of halal) animals such as pig (pork, bacon, ham, swine, or whatever name you deign to give it), dog (since some people eat dogs so I figure just put it here) and animals that supposed to be halal but haram because it was not slaughtered in the name of Allah. Look here for more specific details. 

The haram elements may still be there in the food if the people in the restaurant used the same pots, pans, cooking utensils, plates, glasses etc that had previously been used with haram foods or drinks (of course there are more detailed explanation to this but I am putting it briefly).This is why I tried my best to avoid eating at the so-called halal restaurant which serve liquor to customers. I believe that if it is readily available; there is no reason why it will not be available inside the food that I am going to eat there. Suppose here is a new chef and he loved to put liqour in the food and he doesn't get it why it should not be included in foods to be served to Muslim customer?

Then there is also the element of cleanliness that is related to the concept of halal such as using the cooking utensils and cutleries previously used for dog food (i.e pet dogs used it to eat, or pet swine etc), and also sitting at tables and chairs previously occupied by dogs and pig. Muslim CAN touched dogs when its dry but they must afterwards washed all the parts that had come in contact with the dog in a specific manner (three part water and one part mud). Therefore I avoided places that allows pet dogs and pigs in. Plus there is chance that their fur or saliva might fly into my food and thereafter making it haram for consumption.

I know that sometimes all this requirements are thought to be fussy or inconveniently sensitive. But lets be fair, everybody can eat halal food but not everyone can eat non-halal food, so whats wrong if we make it halal? A  more academic argument would be that this is just something people had to be sensitive  with considering different faiths and all. I myself observed the fact that  my Hindu friends cannot eat  beef (cow) or that European generally love to consume liquors. 

So let us be in topic now. I finally found this restaurant called Pak Z Kopitiam   in Ampang selling halal Korean food. they massively advertised that they are halal. I  inquired in full details and the Korean manager convinced me that everything is halal. I became convinced when I was informed that the restaurant belongs to a Malaysian Muslim.

For three weeks I have been having most of my dinners in this restaurant because I want to try all Korean food in its menu. This is what I had:

Gimbab

Kimchi Water

menu

chicken porridge

I had eaten many other menus but I didn't upload the pictures. My final result would be, I like it because it has unique taste. I learned that they eat kimchi with almost anything. It was a good experience. 

Except after three weeks I probably wont come again because two days ago I saw two customers brought a dog and it happily pranced on the sofa that I loved to sit and eat. Seeing that the owner and manager is not sensitive like that I had decided to ban the restaurant. But I know some people don't mind it, but not me. Plus this is MY country and here, even non-halal food does not allow pets in their restaurant therefore I find it an offence to my sensitivity when a hugely advertised halal restaurant allows pets inside. Plus I had eaten most of the menus (although I am quite sad that I wont be eating some other that I want to try). Plus I had so many other choice.

Okay, let us move on. I also love shopping in a shop known as Living Life in the area as it sold all household items at reasonable price. By now you definitely had a good idea of my  definition of reasonable price but I repeat: it means price that correspond with quality and cheap. Since I had just moved into the rented room here (almost four months) I had to slowly acquire things that will help my accommodation suitable for me. This is some of the early things that I had bought in Living Life:

Riorox: RM2.50 (my biggest hit)

RM5 deodorizer for home (another big hit)

cute sturdy box for my clothes

I have been a regular patron since a few months ago and now all my household items (in rented room and mostly in my real house) comes from Living Life. I think my place had somehow looked like a Korean place in a way. haha. I have been buying gifts, utensils, mirrors, face mask, house cleaning items, well basically everything including toothbrush here.

I had lost faith in the items sold at regular store around my place because for a difference of RM1 or RM2 the quality is totally mediocre compared to whatever I bought in Living Life. Most of the times the price in Living Life equals that of our regular store for better quality and sometimes even way cheaper.

In Living Life I totally feel the real Korean culture that I always saw in the movie where they greet their customer politely and smiled even when I didn't buy anything. I love the way they said welcome and thank you whenever I came in or out. I particularly love it when they used to said it in Korean but since I am now a regular they usually greet me in English and sometimes excitedly practice their Malay with me (but because I really love it when they said in Korean I had to let them know that, and it was received with a bewildered look. haha).

Makanan...yeay!

Today I discovered a new eating spot. The name is Middle East Chinese Muslim Restaurant. Its just downstairs!!!
I love Middle East food
I love Chinese food
Go figure how this restaurant menu worked out for me :D

The story goes like this:
This morning, I almost died out of shock when I opened my door to go to work when a brochure just slipped under my feet (I usually do that if i have fallen into the habit of expecting nothing under my door). It was an advertisement for the restaurant downstairs. When I come down, the ad is all over the stairs. its on the wiper of my car too.
I made a mental note to try their food whenever I can.
I came home today and felt an overwhelming curiosity.
So I walked into the restaurant. I like an empty restaurant. I have a feeling that given a few more days this place will be packed (there goes my parking space).
There were so many choices on the menu. So I asked the owner whats special for the day. He told me that its Chicken Haneeth. I asked whats that. its chicken and rice. I tried asking for more details but he's in difficulty trying to explain to me. btw, he's from Lebanon. the co-owner is a Chinese from China.So Chicken Haneeth is RM10. I ordered Chinese Suan Mei Juice for a drink. its RM4.
I'am expecting a plate of briyani and chicken. instead i got this:I cant even take the whole picture because the entire serving is so huge. The moment he placed it under my nose I gasped. Its so HUGE. Its not a plate of briyani, its a TRAY of briyani plus a quarter sized chicken. They beat Kenny Rogers price.
I immediately asked: err, can i take away? the owner just laughed and asked me to try and eat it first. I tried. but i only managed to eat half of the chicken and a quarter of that rice (having had a heavy meal inside Penjara Sg Buloh for my Legal Aid program just a few hours before that).
I'll remember to bring a friend or came for two in one meal the next time i come.
OMG i cant wait to be able to tray all of its menu.
They even had all middle eastern desserts sold at RM1 per piece (or RM30/kg).

So, any of you interested in eating here, do give me a call. I'll be happy to join you. Coz i'm just upstairs.
I even told the owner that I'm from upstairs. and he said he'll be expecting to see a lot more of me from today onwards....ngeee :D

I am the happiest person alive.

Weekend Weird Menus

Ever since I started Chambering I had this weird habit of staying inside my house for 24 hours on Sunday. Its because, I want to rest for the whole day and that includes resting from walking out of the door. Another reason is that on the evening i will start working on any pending files that i had so that i can perform for the rest of my weekdays. And that will take all my spiritual and emotional energy.

This unhealthy lifestyle is not complete without some unhealthy meal. but i think being a noob at gourmet i had surpassed the weirdness of any junk meal any Malaysians ever had:


Weird Menu #1Ingredient/method of cooking:

1) Very old Pasta (not sure had expired or not) slow cooked at high temperature (i'm thinking of killing all the microbes that was there in case it had expired) for 15 minutes and then i tossed out all the water;
2) Big scallop and garlic (dry blend in a food processor because i'm too lazy to cut it);
3) Very old parmesan cheese (sprinkled on the very hot freshly tossed pasta also to kill the germs in case it had expired);
4) one spoonful of butter (also quit old) that i melted on the frying pan with slow fire;
5) I fry the blend of the onion and garlic with the melted butter and then i added two spoons of cooking oil.
6) throw some pepper;
7) cut two sausages and throw into the pan;
8) fry all that for a few minutes and made sure the sausages are cooked;
9) throw the pasta into the frying pan;10) sprinkled quite a salt;
11) add some more pepper; and12) walla, the weird thing that i ate immediately.

So, this is my brunch (at 1.50pm today).

For dinner i'm thinking of previous sunday's dinner:

Weird MEnu #2

tadaaaa!

plus some iced Milo.

How about previous sunday's brunch?

Weird Menu #3 (okay not so weird lah)

Tadaa!

Fried Maggi with some onions and egg.

Johor

Three days ago i went to my parent's house and my mother told me that my cousin went to Indonesia for work. I immediately became quite frustrated with my life. the reason is, unlike my cousin I had a degree. but it didnt get me anywhere yet. so the next morning i whine to liza about it. about how i never get to go anywhere inside the country for work let alone abroad. I mean look at us, we had LLB and look at what we are doing right now. and we just laughed bitterly about it. haha.
I rarely went for holiday. the last real holiday was when i go to penang. after that any other holiday is simply unaffordable. if i were to go on a business trip all expenses are paid for and even though its for work i still get to see the place.
Anyway, after lunch my master called me in and said "is your car in good condition to drive to JB?"
I cant imagine how i feel at that time. but i did smiled happily and it follows that i said that its in good condition (even though i dont really know).

To cut the long story short, yesterday I drove 435KM to JB. Its the first time ever I drive by myself anywhere that far. Its not that my parent didnt allow me to do so. its just that i never had the opportunity. so we cross country from Selangor to JB back and forth in one day. Cant imagine how tired i am but i am a happy girl.

On that morning i brought the map of malaysia. i got online to check the exact location of the place we are going and checked the weather for the day (because i want to know what to wear). Its was confirmed later that it was very very sunny for the whole day up to 33 degrees. the only thing i regret was that my shades is still in the optic shop. I was fully prepared and after two pit stops and nearly four hours later here i am:Puteri Harbor, Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya.

I cant believe that this is actually the ocean and the whole green patch at the back is actually Singapore. The friend that i was travelling together and myself is very frustrated that we cant get to Singapore because we didnt have passports. I told him to make one since he's already a lawyer unlike me. Anyway sorry about the poor shot, I'm using my phone camera coz i didnt have the time to borrow the real one from parents.
Then we went to eat at the harbor in the pictures:




















I get myself Seezhuan chicken and orange juice. Its actually ayam masak kicap. but its nice and the price is RM10 for the food and RM5 for the juice. but RM10 is ok considering i'm eating at a place like this harbor facing the ocean and a ll the boats and this view:

Then we went on for our important meeting here:
Then we went back. I didnt drive on the way back even though i dont mind doing it. I craved for all the rural foods and felt quite frustrated that we didnt have time to explore and find a place where we can eat fresh seafood or anything. So on the way back we stop at Jejantas Ayer Keroh but they didnt have much food there except kerepek. Then we stop at Seremban because the shopkeeper in Seremban said thats where good food is and i had this:

Price: insane...no difference than at our place. My advice is when you get out of town eat where the people eat and not where the travellers eat.
plus, it doesnt taste insanely good like i want it to be. dont eat at R&R.
Got home at 10.30pm. and immediately passed out at 11pm. Haha, 8 hours of driving back and forth...two hours of meeting. total = 10 hours! aite...off to work now (damn i really love having broadband at home).

Penang Tour and Food

Okey, post untuk story pasal kerja dah pun siap dan published. sekarang aku nak cerita pasal trip aku ke Penang.
memule skali aku nak cakap: Marvellous, Fantastic, Sgt Best, Wowiee!

maklumlah, org dah lama tak bercuti kan.

Perjalanan di mulakan di Hentian Duta, KL. Ale (adik lelaki aku) hantar aku ke situ. bas agak lambat sampai. and lepas dah sampai gerak plak lambt. sabar je lah. aku tak tido sepanjang perjalanan 4jam 30minit pasal aku ni mmg tak leh tido dlm kenderaan atau dimana sahaja tempat yg takde tilam dan bantal. Perjalanan agak menyeksakan kerana aku x pernah travel lama2 dgn bas. okeylah enough membebel pasal bas. kalau nak membebel naik kapal terbang la. apepe pun hati aku kembali berbunga riang sebaik sahaja aku melihat air laut yg membiru sepanjang merentasi jambatan Pulau Pinang. Fiza dan Muna (adik Fiza) jemput aku kat hentian Sg Nibung. kitorang terus check in kat Tune Hotel Penang. fyi, check in memang senang gile. memule aku mcm pandang rendah la ingatkan takde lif kat sini. rupe2nye mmg canggih aaa tempat nih. bkan saje lif. internet pun ada untuk semua penghuni percuma selama 30minit sehari. dengan internet ni lah aku menulis blog2 aku selama disini. teheee. aku menulis ni sementara menunggu Fiza datang ambik aku untuk aktiviti2 seterusnye. nak kata aku takde aktiviti sorrylah ek, aku ade aktiviti sampai tak sempat nak berehat pun. segalanye mesti cuba dilakukan dalam masa tiga hari dua malam ni:

Day 1:

Hotel - aku sewa bilik queen size bed yg mmg cantek and hebat di Tune Hotel secara online last month semasa promosi dan harga total yg perlu aku byr hanyalah RM39.28 sahaja utk 3days 2nights.

keistimewaan hotel ni bukanlah terletak pada size tetapi pada interior design, katil dan shower roomnye. ini semua mmg class. aku cuma berharap semua ini akan kekal begini atau bertambah baik next time aku datang. takut2 semua ni hanya bertahan sekian lama shj, maklumlah cawangan ni baru sahaja dibuka. memandangkan ini adalah budget hotel aku tidaklah demand lebih2 sgt tetapi bagi aku hotel ni lebih bagus dari hotel2 lain yg jauh lebih mahal (dan bukan budget) pernah aku pergi. kalau korang naktau lebih lanjut pegi je melawat tune hotel.com. aku jamin segala yg terpapar di laman web tu adalah sama dgn ape yg korang akan dapat bila sampai di hotel ni.

Rumah Fiza - pertama kali aku menjejakkan kaki disini tetapi suasanaye sungguh welcoming. semua family Fiza menyambut kehadiran aku dengan mesra. aku rase tidak asing lagi. and aku happy sebab aku seperti risau tidak kene tempat selama ni. selama ni aku takut tak dapat menyesuaikan diri. terasa perjalanan yg jauh berbaloi kerana inilah tujuan utama...melawat Fiza di hometown dia sebelum kami melangkah ke kehidupan masing2 selepas grad nanti.

Pantai - lepas makan kat umah Fiza kitorang g picnic ke Tanjung Bunga. Ramai yg join dan yg paling best sekali Hana dan adik dia pun join sekali:

susana cukup meriah. aku cuma menikmati pemandangan dan ambik angin di pantai sahaja. malas rasanye nak terjun dalam laut. haha. kat sini kitorang makan lagik. Fiza bawak bihun singapore, rambutan, manggis, and muffin yg aku bawak dari rumah. makan lagik, already my stomach is full: MaKan - inilah tujuan yg kedua utama aku datang ke penang. untuk merasai sendiri apa yg digembar gemburkan. perghh, ternyata semuanya benar belaka. terasa untuk kesekian kalinye betapa berbaloinye kedatangan aku ke sini. sampai2 shj aku dah dihidangkan dgn briyani yg tidak mengecewakan aku (fiza n co aga kecewa kerana katanye ini tak sedap, aku ketinggalan merasa masakan yg lebih sedap dari ni). aku cuma senyum2 jek. maklumlah aku tau ade dua hari lagi untuk aku deplete stok makanan penduduk pulau pinang nih. lepas tuh makan kat picnic yg aku cerita tadi. Lepas picnic aku balik hotel and fiza balik rumah. selepas isyak kami keluar lg. kali ni fiza bawak aku pegi Gurney Drive. ini bolehla dipanggil supper. kat sini kitorang makan rojak buah, sotong kangkung dan tauhu goreng + cucur udang + rendang.

lepas tu kitorang pun balik dengan aku yg dah tak larat nak berjalan pun.


Day 2: Pagi2 lagi aku dah bangun dan bersiap untuk food tour aku. kali ni kami akan bersarapan di kedai roti bakar dan canai. buat pertama kalinye aku akan dapat merasa roti mamak yg sebenar. kami sampai di kawasan depan Maliia Bakery:

atas: Maliia Bakery atas: tempat makan!


...dan terus duduk untuk bersarapan. memang best dan rasa makanan ni mmg tidak terdapat di Kuala Lumpur, Seri kembangan mahupun Gombak (tempat2 aku). Aku makan Roti Canai dan Roti Bakar Butter n Kaya + Half Boiled egg (super!)

Teh Tarik dalam gambar tuh paling meletop. Rasa dia mmg tidak dapat dilupekan. plus teh dia memang pekat likat. sesiapa yg ada masalah diarrhea inilah penawarnye.


Penang Tour - selepas tu aku perlulah melakukan aktiviti2 membakar lemak seperti sight seeing. tapi sebelum tu aku, Fiza & Muna pegi beli tiket balik pada hari ahad nanti di Tanjung MArina. why here? sebab aku terpakse beli tiket yg mahal untuk naik bas yg lebih selesa kerana didapati aku tidak mampu mengharungi perjalanan seperti semasa aku datang itu sekali lagi.

HArga???? RM68 jek. murah la dari tiket kapal terbang. huhu.

btw, Tanjung MArina ni adalah tempat berlabuhnye, ferry, private boat (yg mcm dalam movie) dan yacht. kitorang sempat la bergambar kat sini:

lepas tu kitorang pergi melawat P Ramlee House seperti yg dicadangkan di dalam brochure melancong. masuk adalah percuma. Aku selaku self-proclaim peminat P Ramlee berase terharu melihat sejarah kehidupan beliau. sememangnya seorang genius tu kalau dah genius tidak akan mengira asal usul dan darjat. seterusnya, kami mengisi masa lapang dengan melawat Fort Cornwallis. Entry RM3. disini aku agak kecewa kerana tiada ape untuk dilihat melainkan meriam2 lama. pelancong terpaksa membaca segala macam tulisan disini untuk mengetahui segala sejarah. masalahnye kami pelancong ni dah penat membace, sebab tu la kami pegi melancong. kalau melancong pun kene membaca ape ke halnye? hai, nama pun sight seeing kan...we want to see sights not words. anyway, kesugulan hati terubat dengan buaian lama yg ada di dalam fort nih. kami pun ape lagi, tanpa berfikir panjang terus mempergunakan buaian ni dengan sewenang-wenangnye:
Makan - lepas tu kami pun keluar untuk mencari makan tengahari pula. KAmi g bungkus nasi kandar Immigration:

Memang BEst!

lepas tu g bungkus cendol pulut di sebelah Chowrasta dan dibawa pulang ke rumah Fiza untuk dimakan beramai-ramai:

aku sungguh tidak dapat mempercayai hakikat bahawa dengan harga yg bapak murah kami dapat makan makanan yg paling best dalam dunia. Air soya bean kat kedai cendol pulut tu pun sangatlah hebat penangan nya, tak ketinggalan cendol nye yg hebat jugak. semua ini kumakan dan aku kenyang sampai lah di saat aku sedang menulis di sini.

Sambungan:

lepas makan kat umah Fiza, aku pun balik ke hotel untuk berehat sebab gendang gendut tali kecapi.

Lepas maghrib Fiza amik aku kat hotel dan kami pergi Gurney Drive sekali lagi. berbeza dari semalamnye, kali ni aku nak makan pasembur yg diwar-warkan sebelum ini. Perhatian, ejaan pasembur adalah p-a-s-e-m-b-u-r bukan pasembor mahupun pasemboq. haha.

Selepas makan, kami bertolak ke Night Bazaar yg cukup popular di Batu Feringghi sehingga tersenarai di dalam brochure pelancongan yg aku ada. disini aku mengambil kesempatan untuk mencari cenderahati untuk kawan2. however, memandangkan pelancong ramai bertumpu di sini, harga barangan tidaklah terlalu murah. aku cuma membeli dua tiga souvenier sahaja itupun apa yg menarik minat plus berjaya ditawar oleh aku. Bazaar ini memanglah tersangat panjang. memandangkan kami sampai pun tidaklah awal, maka tak sempat nak habis jalan kebanyakan gerai sudah mula bungkus.

kami mula bertolak pulang selepas jam 12 malam. sampai sahaje di bilik hotel aku terus tidur di katil yg empuk. maklumlah sembahyang di kerjakan secara Jamak dan Qasar.


Day 3 (last day):

Aku mula berasa sedih kerana pelancongan aku sudah pun sampai di penghujungnya. terasa tidak cukup. aku agak menyesal sebab tak tempah hotel sampai 4 atau 5 hari. tetapi jika difikirkan balik bagus lah tak cukup. dengan itu aku akan terus mengingati tempat ni sampai bila2. bila melancong tu biar jangan sampai terasa bosan. bila dah bosan rosaklah trip tersebut. ok tak analogi aku? haha

pagi-pagi lagi Fiza dah amik aku untuk dibawa bersarapan. kali ini aku makan roti canai seperti di atas. fyi, roti canai di Penang dihidangkan dengan seketul daging yg empuk. dan juga tosai. aku gembira sebab hidangan tosai disini lengkap dengan segala kuah yang aku perlukan terutamanya idli. kalau di tempat aku susah nak jumpe. kali ini kami bersarapan di sebuah restoran. mulanya nak pergi tempat tepi jalan jugak tapi takde parking.

tiket bas aku pukul 3pm. so, kami takde mase nak melilau jauh-jauh sangat. so, kitorang pegi Gurney Plaza. aku saje je nak tengak samada berbeza ke tidak shopping complex kat sini. sah takde beza. haha.

PAstu, kami keluar pergi cari makan tengahari. kali ini destinasi adalah Restoran Hameediyah yang cukup popular di Penang. Mak Fiza (auntie) pun ikut sebab auntie memainkan peranan penting membeli makanan di dalam kedai ini (kalau aku atau fiza yang beli akan diketuk dengan sewenang-wenangnye).

auntie sedang memberi arahan kepada tokey kedai mengisi lauk kedalam plastik

ni la kedai yg glemer tu. kecik je kan? (eh leh nampak ke? haha)


nasi briyani. nampak simple tetapi menurut pakar makanan aku (Fiza n co) inilah briyani sejati.

lauk - pauk. cuba teka total lima orang makan punya lauk pauk yg mcm ni berapa? RM45 jek. gile ah. nasib baik aku tak jadi penduduk pulau ni. kalau tak, mesti aku lagi gemuk dari sekarang.

lepas makan dan merehatkan perut, tibalah masanye untuk berangkat. Fiza dan Muna hantar aku ke stesen bas sg nibung. bas dah pun ready. bye-bye~~~

kat dalam bas ni ada TV kecik yg menayangkan lebih 4 jenis movies. aku hanya sempat menonton dua movies jek sepanjang perjalanan. kata Fiza, sebelum ni takde TV tapi bile aku naik ade TV lak. Mungkin perjalanan aku dimudahkan. semuanya bagus2 jek sepanjang trip aku.

perjalanan dalam bus Nice nih memang Nice. air mineral, air kotak, tea n coffee semuanya dihidangkan sepanjang perjalanan. roti ala croissant and pastry pun ada. tempat duduk luas dan selesa. air cond dia mmg selesa. tak perlu pakai baju sejuk dan tidak panas. terletak pada suhu yg perfect. disebabkan ada movies and tempat selesa maka perjalanan selama 4jam 30minit tak terasa langsung. aku tetibe rase tanak turun bas sebab nak habiskan semua movies dulu. haha. abeslah lepas ni aku nak naik bas mcm ni je kalau nak kemana-mana.

bas berhenti di KL Central dan Old Railway Station. aku turun di old railway where adik aku dah pun menunggu. dengan itu, tamatlah percutian epik aku.

the end.