.. first, i would like to apologize for the slight delay in updates, as my laptop was infected with a virus that disables my login to Windows, had a long weekend formatting and restoring it.
.. most might not understand what my title might mean, but i do feel it is worth mentioning here in my blog, as it has satisfied my craving for curry in Vietnam .. to an extent. Musa ca ri an do means Musa Indian Curry, i was introduced and brought to it by a friend. Six of us went, and we had a feast sitted around a small square table.
Hidden in an alleyway, this establishment took up almost 2 shoplots, 1 for the kitchen and own for the indoor sitting and since they are towards the end of the alley, they filled up the road as well (..or lane/walkway, whatever it might be, we were sandwiched between 2 double storey building, a hole in the wall). We arrived during peak dinner hour and was lucky to have found a place to sit, though a small table but it fitted us comfortably .. well, before the food started coming. Environment was great ! .. the air was filled with chatter, clink and clanks of cutlery, cries of children running around .. ahh bliss, reminds me so much of the food court in SS2, back in KL.
It might not be the most presentable of all places hygienically especially the floors .. its hawker food, what else do you expect ? I had not problems with my stomach days after, instead yearning and craving for more of it, so i guess its more than safe, since i went during a busy day and during peak hour. All cutlery and dishes were clean without grease on it. Now .. lets move on to the food .. we ordered quite a lot, we started off with the curry .. of course, served with fresh banh mi (french loafs). The curry is almost the same as what i usually have back home, but instead of chunks of meat, these came with the bones and ribs ! I dug in without hesitance, using my fingers .. there is no way that i am able to juggle mutton knuckles with chopsticks whilst trying to tear succulent meat off! Curry is spiced just enough and sweet at the same time just to cater to local taste buds. it might not be as spicy as what we can get in Malaysia, but its acceptable enough to please my cravings .. and extra delicious and yummy dipped with the loafs ! Meat is slightly tough that day, but i won't complain, because it is lean meat from a goat which exercised a lot it seems.
.. barbecued crab laced with a generous helping of sweet lemon grass, a bit of chili, and some barbecue sauce was served next. We had bamboo shoot and prawn salad earlier, but i was too late in getting a picture, what i am left with is just the empty plate next to the crabs. It shows enough how good it was to be snapped up immediately. We also had some kind of fish stew later, which i left alone because i don't really fancy fish cooked this way. Sticky rice was also ordered. Quite a nice texture and feel to the rice, simple, cooked with 5 spice powder and , and infused with sweetness of honey, and mixed with raisins.
The small plates that you see all over the table is a mixture of salt and pepper, topped with a lemon which you need to squeeze over it. It is a common thing you can see in all eateries in Vietnam, these are used to as dipping for your food. Another type of dipping not in the pictures would be fish sauce, LOL, that is practically served with every dish as well, with one small chili cut in side. Here you don't get chili padi or red chili served with soya sauce.
The final item that can be highlighted was the side dishes that came together with the fish. I can't remember what it is called, but it is a thin plasticky popia skin, which you use to wrap the fish meat, and rice noodle, and herbs .. dip it into fish sauce and munch .. yummy! Thanks to out new found friends, we were even shown the proper way of doing it. Look at one of the pictures, just a blur of hand moving all over the place grabbing herbs and vegetables! The simplicity of the dish it self makes you yearn for more, and the herbs just revitalizes our taste buds which had been bombarded with taste of different dishes earlier.
It was a great experience and we left the table filled up with empty plates and bowls, a great honour to the restaurant itself showing how satisfied we are with the meal. We paid about 600,000 VND for it, which comes to about 36 USD converted, shared amongst six of us, reasonable price for the great food we had. Would definitely be back again for more.
Everything served to us was fresh, yes even the fish head stew. The mutton was marinated properly before being placed into the curry to get rid of the "mutton" smell. Personally, i hoped the curry was much spicier though, but since they have cooked everything in a big pot before being served into smaller plates, don't think i would be able to demand much. They also have "Hot Pots"/"steambots" served, with a choice of curry or normal stock soup. Remember to order any dishes with fresh bamboo shoots as well, especially the salads! They are fresh bamboo shoots, not canned!
Curious readers could find the place near Windsor hotel in District 5 Saigon, the exact address being MUSA CA RI AN DO,001, Block B, Su Van Hanh, ward 9, district 5. From windsor's main entrance, just walk down the road for about 100 meters and you would see an alleyway to your right filled with bikes and lights,people, and food at the end .. if you get lost, just ask anyone, they will point you to the correct direction, just mention Ca Ri An Do !
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
.. Musa ca ri an do !
Sunday, June 8, 2008
.. part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like, and let the food fight it out inside - Mark Twain
.. i am officially into the second month of living my life as an expat in Vietnam, and i think this would be due time for another confession, but of course on a much happier note compared to the earlier one. Starting a new life here was easy, i have even managed to sort out most of my groceries myself without much confusion, though majority of the items displayed on the shelfs are purely in Vietnamese. Managed to also sort out almost everything in regards to the apartment i have rented, with a landlord who does not speak English that well.
.. well, leaving that aside, with me being able to rest easier now and concentrate on my work, it dawned to me that i actually miss something so dearly back in Malaysia, that i would want to use my return ticket immediately. Many would have guessed immediately with a glimpse at the title that it involves food, but to me, its much more than that.
.. a picture always says a thousand words, and i went through lengths to compile these pictures, having being so ignorant about it when i was back in Malaysia, and having none of it here with me in Vietnam. For those who does not know, that is a "Mamak". Mamak could refer to the person itself, or the business he is in .. call it a culture, but this post would have a full dedication to something truly Malaysian, something i missed so much.
.. the word Mamak is derived from the Tamil term for maternal uncle, or 'maa-ma'. In Malaysia (and i think in many parts of asian countries as well), we all grew up being taught of respecting people older than us as "uncle" or "auntie", be it a shopkeeper, or the bus driver, or even total strangers. Probably, from there, it has evolved into a term so widely used by all Malaysian, in respect to the different owners of these small establishments of "fast food" chain, that had provided us a comfortable and universal menu, with a network of stalls that dotted Malaysia much better than all the cellphone network providers combined. Who else deserved better to be called "uncle" than them .. The mamaks!
.. mamaks serves cheap and good food. It is also a melting pot of cultural symphony and unity, with patrons from all walks of life, young and old, of different races, mingling together .. to gossip or just catch a game of football on a projected screen. Most of the time it is open air, with stalls being easily set up on any open areas with high population density, setting up plastic tables and chairs on car parks, walkways of shops, and even on the roads. Most of them are open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
.. irregardless of the owner, almost all mamak stalls in Malaysia offers a standard menu. Some might have "improved" their selections, by adding western food, or satay, but basically .. almost everyone has these listed below (really depends on the setup budget and owner, and customer requests) ..
* Roti Canai (Chennai bread)
* Roti Telur
* Teh Tarik
* Half-Boiled Eggs
* Goat Milk
* Murtabak
* Thosai
* Chapati
* Nasi Kandar
* Nasi Briyani
* Nasi Lemak
* Maggi Goreng
* Mee Goreng (Fried noodles)
* IndoMie Mi Goreng
* Pasembur
* Mamak Rojak
* Sup Kambing
* Sup Ayam
* Roti Tissue
* Roti Bakar
* Roti Bom
* Murtabak
* Roti Naan & Tandoori Chicken
* Poori
.. but these are the usual ones, where all Malaysians would know by heart.
.. pictured above is the holy grail of all drinks being served at a mamak. Aptly named "teh tarik" or "pulled tea" translated. It is strong tea powder, mixed with sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk, then, "dragged" from one mug to another, in a juggling and acrobatic act that is honed through years of practice, cooling the tea to a perfect temperature that you can drink straight out of, once it arrives at your table. A cup of teh tarik makes or breaks a mamak.
.. i have developed a strange liking for this culture. As a sales person, a mamak is chosen as a regular meeting place. Being operated 24 hours, the hygienes are not in the cleanest state, but acceptable enough not to give you a bad case of food poisoning. Mamaks had been a place where i seal sales deals that amounts to hundreds of thousands, in a very casual way and environment.
.. being in Vietnam for more than a month already, i am dying for a cup of teh tarik and roti canai at times of my sleepless and hungry nights, and early morning breakfasts. I have also lost a venue for business meetings or a place to just hang out and catch up with friends. There is a lot i could leave behind in Malaysia, but the absence of mamak, hits me the worst.
.. mamaks indirectly helped shaped me into what i am today, a place where i get to know friends better and close deals, or just a place to hang out and think. Without mamaks, i probably would not have sealed those few deals, or even land myself a position in the companies that i worked at before.
.. true enough, being a Malaysian, a true Malaysian, the mamak culture is something that you will not ever forget.
.. mamaks is my secret of success in life, and i'll let my stomach decide later even if it does not agree to me that much.
Disclaimer : These are purely my own ramblings, i still support posh places like Starbuck, Coffee Bean or even "Kopi Tiams", but not so as often as Mamak's. They have a much wider network that covers Malaysia, easily accessible with lots of parking spaces available. I was not forced or bribed by any Mamak's in the writing of this post.
Monday, October 8, 2007
.. all about petai
Picked from wikipedia, a definition ..
Parkia speciosa (petai, twisted cluster bean, yongchaak or stink bean), is a plant of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. It bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, characterised by some as being similar to that added to methane gas.[1]
They are an acquired taste, but are popular in southern Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and North-eastern India and are sold in bunches, still in the pod, or the seeds are sold in plastic bags. They are exported in jars or cans, pickled in brine.
Depending on the country of origin they may be labelled peteh, petai, yongchaak or sataw (sometimes spelled sator). They are best when combined with other strong flavoured foods such as garlic, chile peppers, and dried shrimp, as in "sambal petai" or added to a Thai curry such as Thai Green Curry of Duck. When young the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. In North-eastern India, the seeds are dried and seasoned for later consumption. When dried the seeds turn black.
Petai has earned its nickname 'stink bean' because its strong smell is very pervasive. It lingers in the mouth and body. Like asparagus, it contains certain amino acids that give a strong smell to ones urine, an effect that can be noticed up to two days after consumption. Like other beans, their complex carbohydrates can also cause strong-smelling flatulence
Credits to PM Dr.Aminuddin AHK, Dept.of Physiology Medical faculty of UKM Kuala Lumpur for actually doing his research on petai ..
Little did you know ..... after reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at petai in the same way again! Petai contain three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose -combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.No wonder petai is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome orprevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome): Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so,the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make apetaimilkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and,with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep bloodsugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.Overweight Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see petai as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Holland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heart beat,sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassiumlevels.These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death bystrokes by as much as 40%"
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
.. so, you see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich inpotassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time tochange that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Petai a day keeps the doctor away" !!
.. stock up your petai's today and let us drink to health with a glass of petai milkshake.
