: : Is my blog burning? Tartine Edition ~ Nonya Style : :

Totally forgot about the fact that today was the day appointed for ‘Is my blog burning? Tartine Edition’. Until I read Renee’s posting, that is. Then, it was a scramble to think of what to do. Thinking thinking thinking about it, I recalled Lucia’s comment about sambal hebi being eaten with bread. So, thought, why not?

Wena : Wei! You got sambal hebi (prawn sambal), wor?

Granny : OK! We heat up the sambal hebi first. Nicer lah!

We first heated it up in a pot of water. Once the water was boiling, the tin was removed. Opening it was pretty easy even when the tin was hot because of the can opener. One can turn the can opener without having to touch the hot hot tin.

The other ingredients were the bread and slices of cucumber. Already, the wonderful smell of the sambal was getting to me and Granny.

And there you go, Tartine Sambal Hebi. Very simple and easy to do. Not that eye-catching but believe me, the taste more than made up for it.

Thanks to Lucia for her suggestion many months ago!

: : 24/7 Tesco : :

Haven’t been catching up on my blog reading yesterday so am now perusing all my links. From Jeff, looks like the limelight is pointed at Tesco’s 24 hours operation.

Some thoughts came to mind after reading the comments :

Mom-and-Pop shops will die out.

Mom-and-Pop shops should start buying and then selling in bulk. There is a successful grocery shop in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching. It is only one shoplot but jam packed with goods that are definitely cheaper than the supermarkets and Giant (the nearest thing to a hypermarket in Kuching). Nearly everyone goes there to buy their groceries. Name? Top Point. And, it’s been there for more than 10 years, I think. Still going on very strong. One can even occasionally find imported foodstuff there as they had to handle competition from Choice Daily, a supermarket specializing in imported food from developed nations (mostly Australia).

Market Demand for a shop that opens 24 hours

Come to think about it, it could be possible. Before 12 a.m., they cater to the professionals working late in the city. After 12 a.m., the shift workers leaving the various factories. If I’m not mistaken, with the 3-shift-a-day rotation, there is a change of shift around midnite, or thereabouts.

Higher prices at checkout points than on the shelves

Translates to taxpayer’s money not being put into good use at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. Adoi! Adoi! Adoi! So, barcode price tags doesn’t solve the problem, eh?

Poor quality fresh food for sale

The same as in any supermarket, be it a big hypermarket or smaller runned operations. Why don’t supermarkets in Malaysia offer the food at cheaper prices just to get rid of it? They lose out at the end of the day for getting rid of rotten stuff. Wonder if it’s because of some regulation in the Ministry preventing supermarkets from doing so, or are supermarkets trying to make a last effort for money.

Why am I talking about this? It’s late and I couldn’t sleep. Time-clock is messed up after last nite’s 3 a.m. check. Also, in the earlier part of the night, one of the neighbouring houses is burning plastic or tires again. The smell is terrible. Argh!

: : Denis’ Place : :

Friday nite. Supposed to have gone out for dinner with Min Yen, Jackson and Christina but got cancelled at the last moment. Anyway, Min Yen and I ended up at Denis’ Place later on during the night as she wanted to meet up with an old friend, Joyce, before said friend left to go back to Melbourne.

Haven’t been here in a long time. Well, it certainly look more ‘filled up’ then I last remembered it. There are now more decorations up then I last remembered.

I did a SINFUL thing : ordered Grilled Bananas which came with crepes, chocolate ice-cream and chocolate fudget. Bad bad bad Wena!

Joyce ordered this. I think it was chocolate ice-cream, chocolate fudge and half the amount of bananas that was suppose to be inside. Probably safer than my Grilled Bananas.

Well, the dessert definitely pepped me up with energy to last until 3 a.m. where I had to do a spotcheck. Ah well.

: : Where are you going to bring your beloved to eat this Valentine’s Day? : :

Results of the Valentine Day’s poll (50 people) :

An expensive restaurant : 28.0%

A cosy dinner for two at home : 24.0%

At a fast food outlet : 6.0%

At the hawker food court / mamak stall : 10.0%

We’re not going to do anything : 50.0%!!!!

Adoi…

: : Teatime Snacks : :

I think these buns came from either Sunflower Deli or Southern Bakery.

Teatime snacks with Granny.

: : Terrifying Fish : :

Would you eat these fish?

I’d think twice.

Where do they sleep during the day?

via Metafilter