bangsar on a friday

please click to enlarge.
1. red snapper fish head curry + taugeh
2. closeup of fish head

It was neither a hot and heaty Friday, but with an overcast sky, angin sepoi sepoi and we met at the Bangsar stall, a highly recommended Kari Kepala Ikan stall by Upiq. It was a quick one, a no-holds-bar tuck-in on a straight forward menu.

I needed it, because I love kari kepala ikans. He needed it because he needed me and also the kari kepala ikan. (ahem, kidding)













3. upiq eating its heart out.
4. upiq' fren gonna chew on the eyeball
5. upiq cleaning and slurping up the remnants of the head

The mamak version was really one of a kind. While I have indulge in various sort of kepala ikan whether it was curry or in soy paste or stir fried in various chinese styles, this one is really one of its kind. It has its standing out factor.

The Red Snapper was tender and indeed has a very fresh appeal. The curry was that properly blended and just right, not too spicy nor out of taste. It's not lumpy and the mix has a slight sourish tinge, rounding off a good signature for an outlet. The size was perfect for two. Upiq told me that the one we were having was specially made due to some exclusive relationship, so, I therefore noted that I may not be having the standard ones dished out from their daily fares. I hope ours does not fare too good and too far away from the rest too as to make a good and fair review.

Accompanying the main dish was a miserable plate of taugeh which was quite rich in its own right, plain but simple and nice. Going with it was white rice, which I thought was a must to enable the richness of the curry and the fish to be accentuated, albeit my friend loaded me alittle too much of those carbo which I did not complain anyway.

While the thought of him sabotaging me on the delicious fish and gravy was playing in my mind, I did not care too much because I believe I have made sufficient assault anyway.

So, he whacked the skin of the lips and I whacked the eyes. It's a really good deal, nothing was left out, no left overs, no wastages.

The overall environ and the food it self was really unpretentious and I have no qualms to close a design contract deal or a design meeting or an after meeting lunch at this place, just that, so far I have not come across someone who can tag along...yet. So pretentious! Must 'air-con' wan meh?
To me, this is my kind of place, call me anything but I feel comfy having my lunch there. And I was wondering if the meal will be complete without this other eating partner of mine!

6. upiq and upiq's fren, after lunch and after upiq change his seat for shelter frm the sun

7. the aftermath. please note that i hv loaded my 'part' of bones on upiq's plate for 'efficiency'.























Ader lagiiii!!!!














8. penang rojak at a nearby stall, accompanied with soy milk

Kari Kepala Ikan - Bangsar

Since Keat lambat upload gambar, these were my pix collection for our Kari Kepala Ikan rendezvous. We'd actually tried so many times to set-up a lunch date in the past but only managed to fulfill our crave last Friday 18/4/2008. Keat offered to pick me up at the Abdullah Hukum LRT station and he specifically said, "1230, dont be late, okay? It's Friday and we want to avoid the Friday prayer rush at the makan place". Thus,

I took the 1200 o'clock LRT to ensure that i heed to the request. Unfortunately, as niamah as Keat could be, dah 1220 pon dia tak keluar dari office lagi. Niamah betul. So, i had to take a cab and paid RM3.40 to get to the makan stall. I waited and waited, Keat was still not there. He called and telling me, "Traffic jam larrr. I kat area BSC nih. Jam giler." Yeah, rite. Memang janji 'kap lam ya nga' betul. He eventually arrived at 1250pm...!! Bengang tul gua.

Anyway, i had pre-ordered our 'dish' and booked the fish head and requested that it to be served once the VIP arrived.

This was the order of the day. This was what we came for. Kari Kepala Ikan Merah or Red Snapper Fish Curry Head. Perrghhh... and let me tell you this - the stall owner actually took the fish head from the ice box and let it simmer in the pot when i ordered it. It was still cooking when the fish head arrived at our table. So, the flesh was really juicy, soft yet firm enough to slurp it into your mouth.Not like any other place where they could even be serving fish head curry from last nite's cooking.


Btw, look at the fish cheek. sedap seyhhh.... Keat attacked the cheek first. Quite a sizable fish head, i must say.

This was the other side of the fish head, my favourite part. I like the fish chin cos the rubbery texture of the flesh. Generally, people will go for the flesh but i will go for the chin first, anytime. Top-up the flesh with the curry and i bet you'll have a taste of paradise in your mouth.

I like to eat fish head curry very simple accompanied by simple side dishes. In this case, we ordered rice, taugeh (beansprout) and drinks. That's all. Guess what, I paid RM 30 for all of it..!!! If i we to go to the bistro or cafe style fish head curry, i would be paying a bomb already.

That's all that left. We sucked every bit of the bone and Keat will post his version of Fear Factor eating later.

Two very satisfying customers. We could see every table had at least one fish head. We were discussing whether we should go for one each next time.

If you wanna go there, it's located at the side road at the end of TMC bordering with the residential area towards the Bukit Pantai direction. It is the last stall under the tree and you'll see people queueing or eating on the pavement. It opens daily lunch time only and dont be late, okay...!!

Welcome back Nikki

Guys,

I am announcing that Nikki De Rossa has came back to Msia for good.

He called me last nite inviting for a flight of golf (poyo siottt...) but hafta decline sbb wa keje. Anyway, wa pon dah lamer tak main golf and equipment wa pon dah berabuk smpi ke ceiling.

Please call him 012-6578 138 for well-wishing. He's working in Shah Alan and living in Shah Alan too.

Shall we organize a TTS session just to celebrate his return..??

Ed Corleone - no hp ko brapa, huh? Nikki carik kau...

Luncheon with a friend

I had kari kepala ikan with Keat today.

Sedap...

He will post the pics...

Petai - the amazing bean

You'll never look petai in the same way again...!!!!

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. (source:Wikipedia).

Petai contains 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 wor kout. 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 or prevent 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.

Anaemia: High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it 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: (Nilki, nih utk kau!!) One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai milkshake, 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.

Sickness: Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar 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 Thailand, 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 heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. 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 by strokes by as much as 40%".

Warts: (Ejay nih utk kau.. haha!!) 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, as you can 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 in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.


So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Petai a day keeps the doctor away".

Now, where can i find sambal udang petai....? can someone help me here, please..

design, a layered legal office

please click pics to enlarge

pics at random.
1. entrance showing a slick white color glass cladding and their bronze signage brought over from their old office.
2. modular work station in the general office.
3. lobby viewed from the general office, behind the tempered glass door, also overlooking the convertible meeting rooms.
4. the main circulation spine of the office, left is the main book/file rack, right is the modular workstations.
5. along the main spine from the meeting room showing the various layerings.
6. detail design of the workstation

Well, juz wanna share with u guys a recently completed interior fitting-out which i can proudly claim that it is totally designed and construct by me. It's my brother's legal office kat the new business centre call Jaya 1 along Jalan Universiti. The office is Rozlan Khuen, so that's why la, dia bagi free hand. But reaching the end of the project, dia pulak nak get involved more and more, rendering some changes in some material selections which made it slightly departed from the minimalism theme yg i already set out to achieve.

Anyways, it was a good project to stamp some mark. Because of the heavily applied functional and pragmatic designs approach, it was not too arty but still intersting nontheless, i think la, because the bosses were still unable to depart from the norms and the conventionals of their daily lifes.

However, every piece of design produced out of passion is always full of satisfaction. So, that's exactly what I got at least. Something which we want to appreciate time and again. Should u see some design which the architect or interior guy is not proud of, is definitely not carried out with passion, because there aint pride in it.

This one was a real charity job, in fact to factor in my time and telecommunication bills and petrol and my stress and obligations, it's a real big present for the company. At times, when one look at it, one get pissed off, because there aint a single cent of return, but when we focus of the 'piece' and the modules and the whole system working and running well, custom made to the occupants, one will tend to smile. Having said that, it must be the last charity job I will ever embark.

In architecture, the monetary remuneration has never commensurate. NEVER. But the satisfaction does in a way or two. Not to mention charity stuff. Talking about charity, charity actually means writing off the profit, covering cost. So, in architecture, was there even profit? Not to mention covering cost. Nope.

OK, to those who does not know what was my involvement in the whole office, whatever u see, has my part in it, well, except the DELL comnputers and the printers. The glass, the pivoted doors, the shelves, the workstation module, the space plannings, the hanging racks, the lightings.

Theme wise, it started off being minimalist industrial, raw steel, glass, but it was slowly turned into contemporary, which was, ok lahhh. At least not "majlis" as in, like those in Majlis Daerah/Perbandaran Kajang or JKR. At least it was also not corporate which is, err, ask Upiq la.

Conceptually, I was trying to create a more condusive working environ to the staff and partitioning spaces without showing hierarchy and borer, and order while giving all the spaces some layering. There are no 2 walls or partitions which meets. It is either separated by a long slim full height glass or a corner glass effectively turning a wall into a nice plane instead of making a room boxy as in usual...rooms.

When the pics were taken, the pivoted floor to ceiling door of the meeting rooms were yet to be erected, but it gave the whole theme a planes and flat look. Doors were without those typical chunky frames. That's the overall concept.

Well, this interior was my second full scale commercial job interior design job, which I took on, regardless whether it was monetorily motivated or not. So, design does not necessary confines to architecture alone, but in all facets of life.

Do u want me to design u? kakaka.

Kawan kawan kita masa kat USM dulu

Hi kawan..

Last 2 weeks aku ada jumpa dgn kawan2 kita zaman study kat USM dulu...Diorg semua kirim salam sayang kat lu orang semua esp Upiq, niki, eddie,jeli,araya,dakadil,rusty,adi and semua2 lah...impress aku sebab diorg masing ingat nama2 kalian semua hehehhe..

so diorg mintak maaf lah sebab takleh turun KL lagi sebab ada problem sikit!! tapi tak kisah lah..maybe next 4-5 years mungkin diorg nak settle down kat kajang jugak kot!!

anyway...in case lu orangsemua lupa muka kawan2 kita tu..ni ha pic yg aku sempat snap dgn diorg...yg tgh2 tu aku lah...

Congratulations, another newborn..

Fatin,

Saya bagi mewakili kawan2 PW clan ingin mengucapkan setinggi2 tahniah di atas kedatangan cahaya mata yang baru. Semoga kedatangannya membawa banyak keberkatan dan kebahagiaan kepada Fatin 'O' sekeluarga.

Fatin O recuperating from the arduous task of delivering a baby.

The newborn. nampak cam boy jer. berat cam mak dia kot.

oooppsss... mintak maaf makcik... ampunn. Tgh pantang tak bleh marah2 tau. Nnt cepat tua.

Lovely weekend

WARNING !! this post in unnecessarily long winded and means nothing some. Stop here if you dont like reading my personal life activities.



I'm quite bored in the office now. Can't concentrate much, thus, Im writing here just to blabber.

I had a great weekend last week.

On Saturday, i went to play tennis with a few elderly friends and managed to whack 4 sets of social play. Then, i went for a short 3km run as i felt i need more exercise to satisfy the endorphin rush. Later, i went straight to service my car and wifey picked me up from the workshop. We went to Econsave to buy groceries, stocking up as our home supply is getting rather thin. Wifey prepared a good lunch - steamed fish with broccoli, cauliflower and carrot, fried mushroom with egg (my fav..!) and sauteed squid with peppered soy sauce. It's been a while since the last time we'd home cooked lunch due to my hectic work travelling in the past few weeks. In the evening, i went to repair my bicycle and costed me a freaking few hundred dollars..!! Darn. However, on the positive side, i can now fit into a cycling jersey and bought one too. I am not there yet but surely i'm closing in.

In the evening, we went to the pasar malam and bought my favourite Yong Tau Foo to go with chicken satay and peanut sauce. We brought them to my parents house and had dinner there. I had a good dinner with my family, catching up with siblings and listening latest family gossips. Oh yeah, im like to listen to gossips. Haha. Anyway, later i watched Akademi Fantasia 6 with my mom while munching kacanggg rebuih. I knew she's happy that i came and i tried to entertain her as much as possible. Btw, Faizal got kicked out and padan muka dia, nyanyi tak best langsung. Wa rasa wa sokong Nadia larrr....

On Sunday, armed with new tyres and eager to go cycling from Bangi-Bagan Lalang, i woke at 5am only to know that it was raining anjing dan kucing. Friends kept calling to cancel the cycling plan. Frust gua. However, since i was awake oredi and after the dawn prayer - i did quite a bit of house chores (sidai kain, lipat kain, masak air, siram pokok and kemas rumah wa cakap luuuu..). My wife must be proud of me. Hahaha... syiok sendiri. Anyway, as the wet morning greeted us, i ditched the cycling plan and went to the tennis court instead. God is great, the rain stopped once i got there and picked up the rolller to dry the court.

However, the best thing was yet to happen. Only a few minutes into play, my sister came to the court - it was a pleasant surprise as it was the first time that i will be exercising with my own sister. actually, i had texted her to join me for an exercise session the same morning but i didnt give much hope cos it is so hard to get her arse off her bed. Haha... Indeed, I was so happy. I ditched the game and went for a 3.6km brisk walking with my sister, only the two os us. We talked and talked along the way little did we realised that it was moons ago that we'd actually done something together. Personally, it was one of the moving moments of the week.

I had lunch at my parents house (again..!) and wifey wanted to exercise too..!! She wanted to do in the morning but abandoned it due to a severe headache attack. Anyway, later that evening after the rain had stopped - we went for a 40 minutes brisk walking around my parents area and sweated quite a bit. The terrain is undulating with a good combination of up and downhill. Again, it was another round of quality time spending together with closed ones and this time with beloved wife. We talked and chi chatted and gossiping along the way. hahah... best .. best..

I realised that walking is definitely one of the best way to be together and having a quite, personal yet fun time with your loved ones. It is a casual yet energy spending without stretching your physical ability to the limit. You guys should try it too.

It was by far, one of the best weekend i had for a long time especially the way i spent the time with my family. Im loving it...!!

Tamu - Miri

I was on an outstation assignment last week in Miri, Sarawak. I did not have a stable internet connection, thus, no blog updates.

Anyway, i managed to squeeze some time in between work to explore the local 'tamu', simply means market. The term is used widely in Sabah and Sarawak. It is a place where locals sell their produce and local-made items. Whenever im travelling, i always try to ensure that i make a visit the local market place because it is one place where you can sample the local atmosphere all at once. You may not find anything fancy there but some times, the simplest of thing to the locals can be the most fascinating finding for an outsider.

Sarawak pineapple. Juicy, succulent and one of Sarawak's famous icon. RM2.50 sebijik, bukan sekilo, okay?

Various types of high land rice. They are organically grown, short to middle sized grains and high in nutritional value. The most sought after is the Bario rice (the dark colour ones). Once cooked, the texture is a bit starchy. People say its good for kids growing up. Having said that, honestly, I dont quite enjoy the taste. I prefer the long grain and less starchy rice.

This is unique to Sarawak only. The fruit is called Dabai. Normally, it is boiled until the flesh is soft and eaten with salt n belacan. Kira, cam mempelam cicah gram kot. I tried the fresh one and taste very bitter.

I forgot what this one is called but the brownish thing is pounded tree bark and the black thing is ermm... tak ingat larr. The tree bark produced one kind of smell that is said to be a mosquito repellant.

Colourful local craft. Lotsa them.

This is definitely the discovery of the visit. A weird durian specie also known as 'Okak' It has a slighty long thorn, small sized and not cultivated in farms, only found in the wild. They say it has no commercial value due to its creamy but bland taste. Holding one in my hand, i didn't smell the usual strong durian smell.

Look how small it was. This is the medium sized Okak.

The flesh is a very strong yellow colour and the nut is oakey brown. Very vibrant contrast yellow, brown, white and green. I had one fruit and that's it. Tak sedap langsung.