Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Tuesdays With Bapak (16)




Of Beef Steak and Bamiah - May 29 2007
I remember gorgeous picnics on gorgeous Sundays in the backyard of our Section 5 house in Petaling Jaya.
The fare would usually be Bapak's beef steak and a whole lotta fun. Sometimes, we'd have Mak's nasi lemak as well.
If we were not outside and having a whole lotta fun, we were in the dining room inside, having the nasi lemak or beef steak or both and a lotta fun.
I remember gorgeous sunny Sunday mornings. I don't remember it ever being scorching hot.
I'm not sure I'd want to try picnics on Sunday mornings here and now. I'd have to wait for after-the-rain fresh and crisp mornings to get that perfect weather.

They just don't make Sunday mornings like they used to.

When I was a kid, I looked forward to Sundays because it would be a riot. It was so much fun because everybody would be at one place -- the garden or the dining room, doing things together.
Today, I can't imagine having a cook-out and a picnic with a brood of 8 children, making a ruckus -- in or outside the house. I think I'd be stressed out and need to be sedated.

We called his signature dish -- beef steak. Not just steak, but beef steak.
I remember calling it bistik, until it must have so exasperated Abang Med that he, a stickler for pronounciation, patiently helped me get it right.

As we grew older and moved to Section 16, the picnics were no more. They were replaced by Sunday brunches with Bapak's beef steak as the enduring main item on the menu.

When he was "away" those five years, the Sunday brunches and Bapak's beef steak were something we sorely missed.

Bapak's culinary expertise then was only confined to his ability to whip up his "famous" beef steak which was perfected over the years.

A few days after he was released from detention in 1981, I found Bapak in the wet kitchen of our house.
As usual, he was in his singlet and kain pelekat but he had Mak's apron on and was attempting to light the stove.

It had been so long not seeing Bapak in the kitchen that I was caught by surprise.
I did not know whether to laugh or to cry.

Mak was with him, giving him instructions on lighting the stove.

"Bapak awak nak masak hari ni", Mak remarked, in a matter-of-fact tone.

Now, it's not that we were surprised by Bapak's absolute enthusiasm to take over the kitchen because he had given us hints during our Tuesday visits that he had developed a pretty keen culinary skill and interest.
It's not that we were not paying attention to this revelation.
It was not something he had spoken about at great length. So casual were the conversations on the subject that it never quite hit us that it was becoming a serious preoccupation.
Yet, in a way we were amazed that he enjoyed whipping up dishes. At times we thought that it was a way of passing his time in detention.
All this happened, perhaps, during the last two years of his detention.
Bapak would broach the subject of a certain dish that he enjoyed and would ask Mak for the recipe.
When he first asked for a recipe, we were curious.

"Ada orang yang nak masakkan untuk Bapak?", one of us asked.

"Tak ada-lah, Aku yang nak masak," was Bapak's reply. That took us by surprise.

They let you cook? Who buys the stuff for you? Who helps you in the kitchen? Why are they letting you cook? Are you their servant? Have you got to wash the dishes? Is this a form of torture? How many people do you have to cook for?

There was really no way of knowing the truth then.

But what was clear was that he was genuinely earnest in wanting to know some recipes.
He asked Mak the recipes for soto ayam, bamiah, laksa johor, sambal goreng and lodeh -- all his favourites.

We thought he'd be, you know, just having some fun trying out.
Perhaps too, it was his way of telling us not to worry about him, that he was allowed some freedom to indulge in a new-found passion.

The next time we visited, he'd tell us that the soto ayam he made was too thin and pale.
Mak would tell him to apply estimation and approximation. Add a bit of this and that.
We didn't know whether to be amused.

However, these conversations were not relentless nor were they that frequent that we ever really had an inkling that he would be so at ease in the kitchen.

That day I found him in the kitchen, I tried to look cool.

It took a few moments for Mak's remarks to sink in.
Perhaps he was going fry eggs> Then, I remembered his yummy beef steak.

"Masak apa, Bapak?", I asked, coolly.

"Tak ada apa2. Daging masak merah, korma ayam, acar sayur dengan nasi minyak," he replied casually, and flashed that wicked grin because he knew I would be so utterly surprised.

I did something really stupid. I ran out of the kitchen to the dining room and shouted : "Bapak nak masak, bapak nak masak."

Kak Olin, who was already back home from England after finishing her law studies, rushed downstairs. Everybody rushed downstairs.

There was a flurry of activities in the kitchen. Everybody wanted to give a helping hand.
Mak must have been so amused by this unexpected spectacle that she just watched Bapak and us messing up her kitchen.

Even in our younger days, it was Bapak who would be going to the market, accompanied by Mak. It was simply a question of practicality.

The menu of the day revolved around Bapak's prefences so it only made sense that he decided
on the foodstuff that were needed.

So when Bapak was back home after his long "absence", Mak was delighted to have him accompany her to the market and allowing him to decide on what to buy.

Mak told us how Bapak caused a near commotion in the section 14 market one morning when he turned up with Mak.

The fish mongers and the traders remembered him and everyone greeted him in the way people greeted celebrities. Not only that, several people who knew him gathered around him to say hello. And then some.

Later, we found out that since then, Bapak who never haggled about prices, would get discounted prices for almost everything that he bought at the market.

Bapak told us that he embarked on a culinary journey during the later part of his detention.
By then, he had struck up a closeness with his "minders" who would entertain his requests for ingredients and the many recipes in newspapers or magazines.
They were his guinea pigs in his culinary experiments. Sometimes they would persuade Bapak to try out some recipes of dishes they liked. He was always game.

By the time he was released and back with us, his culinary repertoire was quite broad.
When Bapak decided to be cook for the day, we would see no fewer than five dishes for lunch or dinner.

If Mak had any complaint at all, it would be the clean-up after Bapak's foray in the kitchen.
Oh yes. How messy the kitchen was after Bapak had been doing his cooking.
Poor Mak. Sometimes her kitchen looked as though it had just been struck by a typhoon.
But under the circumstances, this was so inconsequential.

When more grandchildren made their debut in Bapak's life, he began treating them to Sunday brunches of his famous beef steak.

When he rejoined the New Straits Times as editorial advisor, he carved quite a reputation as a cook and appeared in newspapers, magazines and TV programmes -- usually whipping up a mean dish of "Bamiah" (a dish he learnt from Mak) which is akin to "Goulash" and eaten with slices of french loaf.
There were times he'd invite my colleagues who were all known to him, for chicken rice or soto ayam.

After Mak died, Bapak never missed preparing several dishes to go with "lontong" or "ketupat" for Hari Raya Aidilitri and Bamiah on Hari Raya Adil Adha.

Hari Raya had always been an open invitation to his friends, colleagues and fellow journalists to come on the first day, only because that was when Lontong and all the best dishes would be served.

The first day of Hari Raya would be a very busy day. Year in and year out, people would be already at our doorstep as early as 10am. By noon, the NST journalists who later became my colleagues, would be over in full force.

When Mak was around, they'd come for her lontong, lodeh, sambal goreng and her spicy fried chicken.
After she died, it was no different. They still came. But the chef had changed.

Those were the days.

These days, my nephews, Kak Piah's only child Irwan Hakim (now a 30 year-old married father of a toddler) and Kak Olin's eldest, 26 year-old Khairil Ahmad get misty-eyed thinking of Bapak's beef steak.
Lalin and Nina crave for his Bamiah because after Mak died, it was Bapak who would be preparing the dish.
Now they turn to Kak Olin who, after Bapak was indisposed and unable to cook up a storm in the kitchen, has got the dish near-perfect.
I miss Bapak's nasi minyak.

It has been so long since he stepped into the kitchen to whip up his favourite dishes, or any of our favourites.
It has been so long since he has been able to do many things that he had enjoyed doing.
There are many things Bapak has been unable to indulge in.

But, his days are still gorgeous. His house is filled with squeals, glee and the playful laughter of Sarah, Heikal and Sonia who come to his room and keep him company as THEY all watch THEIR cartoon network programmes.
They bring him fruits and chocolates.
Even baby Sharmaine makes frequent appearances in her Datuk's chamber.

Oh... have the school holidays already started? Do I hear Adam, Haris, Sofia and Soraya laughing and playing in the TV room?

And do I hear a very exasperated Lalin telling Sonia, her youngest: "Stop jumping up and down on Datuk's bed", as a very amused Bapak, in the very same bed, looks on.

(Photos: Searching through my collection of photographs. I was sure I took a shot of Bapak in apron. Couldn't find it. But here are three photos taken at his birthday celebration last year.
Khairil can be seen seated near the door in the picture with M. Nasir and behind Bapak in the picture with Sharifah Aini. )

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nowadays, we have Loy's Beefsteak @ NPC.................... with a pint of light Coke!

No Bamiah though......

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

BigDog,
We'll get Kak Olin to whip up Bamiah for us.

Waaah.... this is an early comment.

Mat Salo said...

Whaddya expect from BigDog? Salivating - makan,makan,makan..

Kak Ena! Ini pon form of "torture".. You know I've been on a rust bucket masquerading as a kapal for what? - 5 weeks now? - and you cerita nih BifStik laah, Bamaih laa, Nasi Minyak laa.. Aiyoo... Torture abih! So when I balik nanti you can bet I'm gonna "balas dendam"!

Unknown said...

kakEna Dearest... Bapak is definitely a great chef in the house...anyone following suit?

Never heard and tried Bamiah...must ask Kak Olin to cook Bamiah for us one day eh?

Typhoon Sue said...

dat bistik sounds deelisyus
yum yum
:)

family gatherings are often lively and a lotta fun. mine too. it's something u'll always remember fondly right?

and now that u've mentioned beef steak, i know what i'm having for dinner later.

Jorji said...

what is bamiah?

Rockybru said...

An expanding group of bloggers have been enjoying your sister Maria,s mi rebus every Tuesdau for the last 3, 4 months. Her mi rebus is legendary already.

You should add your own signature nasi ayam and soto ayam to the menu.

I'm not being an over-demanding, non-paying customer but maybe you can also try to reproduced Pak Samad's bamiah for the bloggers to sample!

Anonymous said...

Dear Nuraina,
Looks like another book on the way, this time "Recipes". Please give this a thought... maybe Azah take over this portion. Mesti maju punya. After all, these recipes are kitchen tested, then later on, another book "Mutiara kata dari Bapak". Sukanya saya...... I enjoyed this week's TWB. Nostalgic with a tinge of tears. My salam to everyone at home and muah2 to Sharmaine.

Rubiah Ariff

Anonymous said...

Kak Ena,

This week tak ada adengan air mata, tapi ada adengan telan air liur pulak!!!!

I have got the chance to taste Bamiah hasil daripada "air tangan" your Bapak. I don't think I have the heart to ask your Bapak for his Beef steak now.

Anyway, probably you can get the recipe from him and pass it to all of us (your blog's fans). Sekarang ni, kalau buat beef steak, I will follow my dad's recipe.

Bila your sis nak buka kedai Mee Rebus baru?

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

mat salo: jangan terlalu berdendam,
nanti terlebih indulgence...thank u sekali lagi kerana dtang melawat.

sue: these days, a lot of places offering great steak... thanks for visiting, sue.

raden galoh: alamak, dalilah...Bapak turned his hobby into a passion.
Bamiah tu macam goulash, quite spicy, masam2 sikit, quite rich makan dengan french loaf. orang johor, singapore suka. actually makanan orang Melayu keturunan pakistan and arab yang gemar.

ZABS said...

Selamat sejahtera untuk Nuraina,

Tak ramai bapa sekarang yang pandai memasak macam your father, selain Chef Wan lah. Anak-anak saya mungkin boleh mengingati nasi goreng kicap saya aje lah.

mutalib saifuddin said...

it must be delicious if a man cooks for his family.

pretty yes. look at chef wan. chef ismail to name a few.

itu kalau raya. if breaking fast it must be even MORE delicious right?

perhaps that event would come again this october (raya in october kan?). oh dear. of the foods and kid's noise, and chirpy mood of raya. hard to say it.

Unknown said...

You know what I like abou TWB? Its the story and how it is told.

Hey I make a mean glass of boiled water you know?

Besides her mee kuah, my wife's roti prata and kima is a real treat. She makes good nasi briyani too.

Anonymous said...

Kak Nuraina,

I know one other newspaper editor who cooks well. his signature dish is spaghetti marinara with cili padi. wah, menjilat jari kak! Pernah rasa masakannya itu ketika dijemput datang ke rumah. he is none other than Kadir Jasin.

Hi&Lo said...

Agree with Kata Tak Nak - TWB and how it's told.

Like Mariani, I also no waterfall but drooling. :)

Nur, you can be quite cruel in a nice way.

Anonymous said...

how could ale forget those scrumptious beef steaks datuk used to make, (and chicken chops). The last time I had any was eons ago, 1999? 2000? I cant remember but datuk was still able and kicking then (I think it was before the operation). Mama used to take us to ss16 every weekend and datuk would whip up the steaks, chicken chops and mushrooms. Sometimes, during sleepovers , datuk would go to the kitchen and make those beef steaks past midnight for me and abang. I would be by his side then, helping him flip the meat, but most of the time I could only watch (hell smoke whilst cooking, in his apron and kain pelekat, betul2 multitask! puts all the mamaks to shame) otherwise he’ll snap at me, ‘kau jangan kacau aku la, kasi aku masak, lepas ni kau makan je’.

datuk never had any, he’d cook and he’ll go back to his favourite seat in the living room and read his papers, as long as his cucus are eating, hes happy. Basirah( the old maid) used to call and tell me that Datuk expects me to be there for dinner cause he’s cooking, usually on a short notice, so before I could drive, I had to wait for mama to come back, and we’d rush straight there but after I got my license I would drive there myself. Once, during puasa, I think it was in 1999, nenek called around 6.30pm and told me that datuks cooking for buka. So it was obvious lah I had to go but it was 6.30 and I was in subang and I had already made plans to buka there but I rushed back to ss16 and arrived around 20 mins after buka, everyone was annoyed (particularly uncle nik) at me cause datuk wouldn’t allow them to touch the steaks, chickens and mushroom until I came. Haha.., but that was always the case anyway, and after that I always make the point to come early.

these days, I have mama to cook bamia but its been ages since I last had those beef steaks, I can still taste it, I think im gonna ask him for the recipe when I go there nanti.

ale

Anonymous said...

Salam Ena,

Masukan kali ini membuktikan jiwa kreatif itu memang tidak boleh dibendung. Dalam tahanan pun Bapak Ena mencipta.

Betul kata Mariani, lepas perah air mata, TWB siap perah air liur kita pulak. Kali ini dengan air tangan Pak Samad. :D

Saya pun tertorture seteruk Mat Salo dibuatnya membaca pasal "makan, makan, makan..." tu. Nasib baik dekat tempat saya easy-speasy boleh dapat berbagai jenis bamiah - arab, pakistan, afghan, farsi, dll.

Selain itu saya setuju dgn Rubiah. Lepas masukan ini Keluarga Samad harus pertimbang idea untuk bukukan koleksi air tangan Pak Samad dan Cik Sri Siantan.

Dah lelehkan air liur kami, tak aci kalau tidak.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

jorji: Bamiah is beef or mutton cooked in tomatoes, okra some spices and condiments. The gravy is rich and thick, a bit spicy. You eat it with slices of french loaf.

Rubiah: Thank u for the suggestions, Tak terfikir nak buat tu semua. Now that we are thinking about it,it will give us the chance to sit down and write down and compile Bapak's recipes. Thanks again.
PS: Sharmaine dah besar dah.....so fast.

mariani: ingat tak, Bapak selalu di minta masak Bamiah untuk budak2 NST/BH?
Kalau kenduri, Bamiah jadi dish utama?
Thanks again, Mariani, for visiting.

Zabs: Salam. Nasi goreng kicap sounds good. Anak2 akan selalu teringat masakan ayah mereka..

mutalib: oh yes... bulan puasa makes everything tastes better.

KTN: Oh dear... Mee Kuah? I know mee kuah. never met a mee kuah i never liked. and if your wife's is good, then it must be heavenly. Roti prata, kima and nasi beriyani...adoi! You lucky man!

Hi&Lo: I take that as a compliment... thank u for visiting H&L.

Little sheep: Yes, yes... i have had the occasion to sample Kadir's sphaghetti dish. Delicious! Tapi dah lama tak rasa masakan beliau!

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Rocky: That's a good idea. Let me persuade Kak Olin to cook the Bamiah for us. That's one of Mak's that i have not learnt.
Kak Ton's mee rebus is very Johor/Singapore. She'd be pleased to know how u've described it.
As for my talent in that department.... it is difficult to go wrong with nasi ayam. The soto ayam...with this recipe, anyone can get it right.

Anyway, thanks Rocky!

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Mekyam,

terima kasih sekali lagi dapat bertemu di TWB.
Saya baru berlepas jumpa Bapak dan memberitahu beliau mengenai TWB dan episod2 yang telah saya menulis.
Terkejut Bapak seketika. Bila saya beritahu bahawa ada pembaca yang turut tersentuh perasaan/emosi sambil mengikut, Bapak lagi terkejut.
"Apa yang kau tulis tu?", dia tanya sambil grinning broadly.

Bapak was touched that people were touched.
I told him about his Bamiah and he laughed.

It is an interesting idea to compile his and Mak's recipes.
Inshallah...

Thank you again.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Ale (Khairil):

Khairil,... I am remembering the first grandchild (and our first anak saudara) born after Datuk's release from detention.

Datuk doted on you. SO did we all.
Remember the daily trips to Jaya supermarket to Kathy's Toys?

Of course, the beef steak!
Sedih, ya, sekarang Datuk tak boleh masak untuk cucu2 when we know that he wishes that he could!

Kita akan dapatkan recipe Datuk....

Thanks, Khairil for visiting.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kak Nuraina

Like alll the visitors here, reading the segment of TWB this week makes me soooo blardy hungry.

Waah, Pak Samad bukan sahaja terkenal sebagai seorang nasionalis, wartawan & penulis, beliau juga mempunyai kebolehan yang ramai (selain dpd para wartawan & kawan2) tidak mengetahui - a great chef.

Boleh kongsi bersama resepi tak?

Anonymous said...

Nuraina

So it was "bistik" before you were corrected by your finicky brother?

I have news for you, ma'am. It's still "bistik" in many warongs and quite a few eating shops (I hesitate to say restaurants).

Go tell your fastidiously insistent sibling to correct the ignoramuses (ignorami?) in those unschooled establishments.

Let us have the recipes someday...?

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

adik: thank u for visiting. Pak Samad bukan lah pandai masak. Dia gemar masak.
Bila arwah Mak meninggal, Bapak yang control dapur sampai lah Bapak mendirikan rumah tangga sekali lagi dengan Mak Cik (ibu tiri).
Kak Ena tak tahu recipe beef steak Pak Samad... memang ingin dapatkan , Kalau dah dapat, Kak Ena akan siarkan.


Cheryl: you know you are right. I remember seeing "bistik" on the list of menu in some warongs.
Hahaa. I will tell Abang Med to go on a spelling correction crusade.

The recipe? I will extricate the information from Bapak.

Anonymous said...

Dear Cheryl, Ena & the alleged a-r Abg Med,

A Texan will tell you that ...

A steak by any name will still be a hunk of beef! :D

Anonymous said...

Seems that the samad siblings are great cooks.

My suggestion: Why dont you all set up a cafe and sell kak ton's mee rebus & laksa johor, Pak Smad famed Bamia & bifstik, nuraina's nasi ayam & soto, gado-gado & lontong which u are known for.

Guarantee laku nye.

Anonymous said...

(I am posting this at the behest of my chef de cuisine, who is also the chef de cabinet. This fact notwithstanding, let me remind everyone that I'm still President of my household, and no one in my family can order me to do anything I don't want without my explicit acquiescence.)

Since age is fast catching up with me (Chef says that it already has), I'm planning to slow down soon (Chef is chuckling in the background: "No planning needed, Hon...you're already about as fast as a paraplegic snail on sedatives...") so that I can learn how to cook.

While the chef and I may disagree on my exact position along the geriatric timeline, we both concur that I should do my father proud by learning to cook for the family. We have not finalised when this should happen, but by this time next year, I will have acquired enough culinary skills to whip up at short notice at least three - I repeat, three - of the following:

- Szechuan Drunk Lobster with Braised Onions
- Emperor Warm King Crab in Pomelo and Mango Sauce
- Rendang Daging Raja Sulawesi
- Suprêmes de Volaille Strasbourgeoise
- Mackerel with Cucumber and Bibb Lettuce Vinaigrette
- Fried Rice, freestyle
- Fried Egg, sunny side up
- Steamed rice
- Boiled water

It's a tough dog to tackle, I know. Soooo many things to sacrifice ... but I can do it. In fact, I think I can manage 4 if I try really hard.

Anonymous said...

Ena...this one is off-topic, so I nak tumpang jap,

Mekyam! A post from you in Malay! I am impressed!

So...that pantun of yours back in TWB15 was not a flash in the pan after all.

Seeing that you have covered your butt well with your rhyming caveat, I think I may need to be similarly protected.

I'm starting my lessons with Burung Kakak Tua...I hope I can learn fast enough to post a pantun before I get served with the legal papers.

Anonymous said...

Cheryl: I'm not too concerned when words are mispronounced by hoi polloi. But when newscasters, radio announcers and such make a verbal boo-boo, I sit up.

Mekyam: "A steak by any name will still be a hunk of beef..."
A Texan will tell you that? Sounds like a sterilised version on a risqué quote from Mae West...

Keanorlinsya said...

I refuse to read comments anymore! banyak sgt cakap pasal food. ill be craving for it starting after i read the last letter until its in my mouth.

IBU said...

Kak Ena,

Maybe you can share with Bapak that he is contributing to 'global warming' from this side of the globe. What kind? Heart warming !!! Indeed, really!

I find this entry very touching - how such simple life pleasures can indeed be a genuine family treasure. Maklumlah Kak Ena, I ni tak pandai masak. Maybe my children esok can only remember me pandai masak maggie!

Another tabik spring to Bapak, for turning every precious day of his life into an opportunity for a rewarding alternatives. Thank you for sharing this, Kak Ena. A lesson for some of us yg selalu jer complaint about constraints, a lot of times self imposing.

Wassalam

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

kea: alah... kesian nya...
exercise will power, my dear.

Ibu: Thank you, Ibu... those are really kind and heart-warming words.
Thank u.

Rox said...

Nuraina, I like the way you used the word "gorgeous" ... "his days are still gorgeous". I can even visualise them! Btw, "bistik" must be your Javanese gene speaking, hahaha. I found an Indonesian beefsteak recipe at this site: www.asianonlinerecipes.com under bistik daging. And when I hunger for Malaysian food I just google Herti Kitchen Gallery ... and the display of food there is simply (borrowing from you) "gorgeous"!

Anonymous said...

Dear Ena,
Enjoyed reading about your dad's bamiah. That is now a compulsory Hari Raya dish in my house too, thanks to my late mum-in-law. Although she has modified it somewhat from the original Arab version - adding cili for more "kick".
Do you know that Rejal is great at making a mean sardin dish? The children actually look forward for it when he cooks it. maybe we should have a potluck gathering one day, huh? I'll bring my mee goreng mamak. Good enough to compete with any true blue mamaks from penang, if I say so myself.
salam to your dad from us. Tell him we think of him a lot, but time is not always permitting.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

rox:
hey, rox. thanks for visiting. you could be right. heck you are right. must be the Jawa in me..
gonna look up the websites u just mentioned.
actually, dunno... but i like the word gorgeous... sort of very encompassing.
ciao and take care.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

PS Rox.. i have blogrolled you. Hope it's ok with u.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Noraini,

hello Datin.
of course I remember yr mum-in-law's bamiah. i think at the office those days, you were the only one who was familiar with Bamiah (besides Aishah Ali and that's because she's from Johor).

And we used to compare notes about Bamiah.
You sure dah pandai masak Bamiah. Kita belum lagi.
I'm sure your mum-in-law's ada kick. Rejal suka pedas2, kan?

Ok. settled then. Pot Luck at Kak Ton's. Name the date. when? Rejal MUST bring his sardine dish. (ooooh.. i am already salivating). And your mean mee mamak. But I remember you made great mee bandung/rebus/kuah?
Bring that too-lah.
hehehehh.... bully kawan!

Anonymous said...

Whoaaa... K. Ena...

Looks like there is more than Kak Ton's mee rebus that we are looking forward to nih! Err..not too sure abt Abg Med's proposed list of...err..cuisine. They sound..umm..interesting! I got a bit dizzy reading thru' the list! ;op

Anonymous said...

What a mouth-watering episode of TWB! Aiya, air mata belum sempat kering, air liur pula yang mengalir. The mere mention of laksa, mee rebus, soto ayam, nasi lemak, lodeh, sambel goreng and lontong is enough to excite my taste buds.

Cooking is soooo not my idea of fun; I cook simply because I have to. I cook bistik (beef steak is definitely known as bistik in Indonesia) for my two anak saudara quite regularly. As I am not a red-meat eater (except if it is rendang or sate padang, yum...), I had never sampled my beaf steak and had absolutely no idea what it tasted like until recently. I decided to take a small bite and discovered to my horror that it was as bland as a piece of cardboard. I can assure you it ain't no hunk of beef! And to think that they have never turned their noses up at my cardboards masquerading as beef steaks, bless them.

Salam and take care.

Keanorlinsya said...

Aunty Ena, lupa nak ckp. Thanks for posting a happy chapter.

Anonymous said...

M. Nasir and Kak Pah at Pak Samad's birthday? Waaah.. how come I was not invited!!
Was your dad's special served to the guests that night?

wanshana said...

K.Ena,

Read this posting on Tuesday (of course!) but only get the chance to post a comment today.

Hmmm...just going through the list of food that your Dad whipped up, and also those added on by other readers - I feel like flying home to KL this very second! Aihhh...my tummy has been rumbling since Tuesday, K.Ena...

I always find it endearing and somewhat 'romantic' when a man cooks for the family, ESPECIALLY those unexpected ones - my heart can just melt away!

And pardon me, (and I hope your Dad would take this as a compliment) your Dad IS one of those whom I didn't expect to love or to know how to cook! Bless him!

Now, I REALLY am looking forward to the makan-makan do - your Soto, K.Ton's Mee Rebus, and not forgetting A.Med's Freestyle Fried Rice(?!) ;D

Take care, K.Ena.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Hi Shana,

I am sure you are not the only one surprised that my father cooks.
I know what you mean.
But, romantic? I suppose only my mom would know.

Aaaah.....the "potluck" at Kak Ton's.
I think abang med will not be bringing his freestyle fried rice...
i think its either the seamed rice or, er er boiled water...

thanks shana...

take care

Anonymous said...

Sis Ena
Couldn’t post a comment earlier due to our travel arrangement but it is better late than never. For your info, my wife is a secret admirer of M. Nasir. According to her, he is so hunky (no just kidding kidding kidding). Well, she actually said he is so idiosyncratic. Sounds like me too (he he he he, not kidding this time). I had laksa johor yang amat enak recently at the Malaysia Nite 2007 do, held at the Ambassador’s villa in DQ Riyadh. I was told it was prepared by the Malaysian nurses. Wanted to buy more to take home but they had no small change then. Now I regret not telling them to just keep the change. Tonight the Malaysian community in Riyadh is celebrating Agong’s Birthday at the Malaysian Embassy, and one of the menu is mee mamak. We are not able to join them as we are still in Mekah. I had such humbling experience just looking at the faces of all the hamba Allah who performed their ibadat here at the Masjidil Haram. Their total submission and devotion. Sangat syahdu dan menginsafkan. Semoga Sis Ena dan keluarga di dalam peliharaan Allah sepanjang masa.
aMiR

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

aMiR: what a fulfilling time you had.
what a brilliant time.
i am glad you dropped by.
take care.

(yeah... M Nasir is a hunk...)

Anonymous said...

Back in the office now. The legs are all aching after all the tawafs and saies. Guess what, we may have Kak J’s mee mamak (memang kow habis) for dinner tonite, as the Ambassador’s maid has kindly reserved a small portion for us. Two-day old pun ok. Yes I like sambal goreng and lodeh too (especially with lots of tempe and tauhu kering). I was very disappointed that on my last trip to Surabaya, I didn’t have the selera to consume any of the food they served in the rumah makan. I was expecting yummy sambal goreng and lodeh, but I guess the East Javanese cooks differently from the other Indonesian. Luckily I had my wife’s sambal goreng ikan bilis as bekalan to whet the apetite. This is a truly feel good story. Hmm, wonder whether MN invited you to duet with him - Uda dan Dara may be?
aMiR

Keanorlinsya said...

Sengaja nak menyebok. My dad looks like m. nasir. M.Nasir is a hunk. therefore my dad is a hunk. Hehehehe.. (kidding) but not kidding bout my dad looking like m.nasir.
Even Marlia Musa terkejut.

As i am writng this, im eating maggi goreng. Self-prepared. Not great but still good. Now, who can top my menu? Heh heh heh!

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

aMiR: you know, i had the same experience in Indoensia years ago. I am convinced that the Javanese dishes in Malaysia are far tastier than their original versions. I think the Malays berketurunan Jawa, have really modified the dishes to give them the twist and the ooomph.
Good to know you got the mee mamak.
And, I, er, er,didnt duet with M Nasir...
Take care.

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

Kea,

your dad looks like m nasir? Adoi...
ok-lah tu.

kea, i love maggi goreng but i never make it at home. i have it at the mamak shop. somehow, when i make it at home tak sama. But my daughter, shaira can make it macam kedai mamak.
take care, kea.