Jemput-jemput Pisang

My parents never came to visit me whilst I was studying in Perth. When mom and grandma finally did come over, it was during convocation week. I guess all the times my mates family came over and spent time with them, I was a tad envious and wished my family was there too.

Anyways when mom and grandma came, they started cooking on the get go. I was a senior resident advisor in Trinity a residential college in Perth, I had the choice of spacious rooms, but I chose to remain to my good old Hull Wing where a beautiful old oven and stoves resided. I had two rooms, a tiny room and another room filled with all sorts of spices and herbs and belacan which i used as a lounge.

Mom and grandma cooked up a storm that week in Perth. Cooking Asian home style favorites like Assam Pedas Ikan, Singgang Serani, Sambal Tumis, Fried Vermicelli and the most memorable of all the jemput-jemput udang(prawn fritters), that week my mates were always in my lounge room eating. We’d all pile up on the mattresses on the floor and watch bollywood movies on my Compaq Laptop. Memorable times! Home cooked food in a long while soothes homesickness. One of my kids Raj, still can’t forget mom’s jemput-jemput udang and when he finally came down to Singapore, he was hugging and gushing to my mom how he missed those jemput-jemput.

Mom made jemput-jemput pisang (banana fritters) today, and it made me remember all these memories and how much I missed my friends.

Taka’s Kitchen

Taka’s Kitchen is my family’s favorite Japanese restaurant in Perth. Everytime we eat here, the place is fully packed by students and stewardesses from our national carrier. A wide variety of choices are available here but my most favourite item on the menu is their Teriyaki Chicken Udon and their croquettes. There are other favourites there like sushi, agedashi tofu and fish katsu. I could keep kicking myself for not realizing that it was a halal establishment back in 2002 when I first moved to Perth. Definitely would make a point to come dine here again for it’s delicious halal and authentic fare. There’s free green tea which one can dispense by yourself. Excellent food!

Nandos

The highlight of any trips to Kuala Lumpur is usually lunch @ Nandos. This time around, after a whole morning of shopping at Mid Valley we finally found time to have lunch. Luckily, there were seats available for the three of us. At Nandos, you have choices as to what sauces you want your chicken to be basted in, I usually go for half a chicken, a quarter with lemon and the other with peri sauce with two sides of three bean salad & grilled vegetables. I would have liked to order more but I was rushing for time to attend a wedding(the main reason why we came to kl). The grilled half chicken came a little while later, juicy & tender. Although the grilled vegetables could do with a lil more grilling. Nothing beats Nandos in Perth, somehow grilled chicken there always taste better.