SIBLING SERIES 13: FOODS UNITED

Nasi daun pisang

We do miss Nasi Daun Pisang in Alor Setar as there were no more local nasi daun pisang restaurants that we can safely consume. If our graze for nasi daun pisang increase to the boiling point, then we have to go down south to Ipoh where Abang is ever ready to douse our desire.

However here in Alor Setar, our graze for nasi daun pisang is not up to that degree of graziness for we have other ample choices of the same standard of Mamak dishes.

When comes to foods, naturally Salleh Khir's descendants are very much united. We do agree that Alor Setar is the heaven of various types of nasi Mamak and each family has their own choice and preference of nasi mamak. The worst culprit in this matter is our patriarch, Abang who does not have any weightage on the various types of nasi mamak in Alor Setar. He likes every type of Alor Setar nasi mamak whether it is Nasi Royale, Nasi Ayam Kampung, Nasi Yasmeen, Nasi Ali, Nasi Batu Nisan or any other types. He is also well verse with the schedules of the opening times of each nasi mamak outlet in Alor Setar. Pak Ad would compliment him by giving the timing of the changing of rice so that we would enjoy fresh sizzling cooked rice.

Even after our annual break fast dinner in Holiday Villa, Abang would still prefer another round of nasi mamak. When comes to nasi mamak, time is not an essence to him. He would drag us along with him to enjoy the sumptuous nasi mamak of his choice of the night. Our authority on nasi mamak i.e. Pak Ad would always be at hand to facilitate the smooth flow of the Nasi Mamak delivery system to his favourite cousin. Pak Tam Nari is also handy in ordering naik mamak as he has direct contacts with some the nasi mamak proprietors. He is most effecient in ordering fried koeteow Rahman who has since ceases his fried koeteow business.

Abang's children prefer the nasi ayam kampung at Pintu Sepuluh. Their choice is similar to the Noraini's children especially Amalina. Nasi Ayam Kampung's speciality is the fresh Kampung chicken curry and also fresh ikan tenggiri curry. Surely papadum would add flavour to the dishes. To Abang's children, it is considered that your job in Alor Setar is not settled if ever the grand finale is not nasi mamak especially nasi ayam kampung.

THE EARLY MORNING JOURNEY OF NASI AYAM KAMPUNG

Restoran Nasi Tomato Majeed at 706, Jalan Tambang Badak at 7.00 am

Nasi Tomato Majeed or Nasi Ayam Kampung opens daily before 6.00 am

Battle ready to confront the fanatics of Nasi Ayam Kampung

Dressed to kill for any eventualities

At 7.00 am they have already finished their meals

The ever smiling cashier waiting for the coins to trickle in

All the fried chicken and its compatriot curry ayam kampung enticing the customers

Early morning birds ordering dishes according to their likings

Ayam kampung looking very harmless yet tempting. In fact it is the devil in waiting providing the impetus to your deteorating health

In contrast with Abang's children, Nami's children would prefer Nasi Royale whose outlet is located in front of the former Royal Theater. Nasi Royale specialty is the fried liver which is a catalyst for gout. Whoever in Nami's family who happens to come back to Alor Setar, then it would be a sin if he or she does not bring back Nasi Royale to Alun. As such I would always bump into Mat at Nasi Royale in the early morning when ever Mat and Nami are in town. I am not sure about Ani's children but I think they would prefer the original Nasi Royale outlet at Sungai Korok.

THE EFFECIENT NETWORKING OF THE NASI ROYALE DELIVERY SYSTEM

The Daily Morning Journey of Nasi Royale

The shop that has magnetic pull for Alun

Emptiness in front of the shop 7.00 am

Emptiness in the shop at 7.00 am

There is no emptiness for Mr. Kim as he is getting ready with his first customer i.e. myself

The central nerve of Nasi Royale at 7.15 am

Effeciently transporting the central nerve at 7.16 am

Ready for the first customer at 7.24 am

The first customer at 7.25 am

The first five customers at 7.26 am

Crisp ready for the journey to Shah Alam

Similar to Alun, Nana also prefers Nasi Royale. The Nasi Royale's proprietor would know for sure that Nana is in town when I would pay a visit to the shop with an order of more than eight take away. I have been frequenting the Nasi Royale outlet in front of the Royale Theater since 1969. The Chinese proprietor would always place a hot cup of teh tarik in front of me when ever I sit down on his chair without me asking for it. That shows how close our relationship are just because of the consistancy in consuming Nasi Royale.

Last night, I received the lattest news from living CNN, Alin is in fact a deviant from his family. Not that he does not fancy Nasi Royale but instead he loves Nasi Yasmeen more.. In each seating at Nasi Yasmeen, Alin would order two full plate on rice with only fried chicken berempah. There is no curry accompanying the rice but like Flash Jordan, Alin would licked the plate clean in just a jippy. So is the positive product or it is a negative product of PLKN. Only Nami can vouch this under statement.

With the highest spirit of eppetite, two dishes of rice accompanying by deep fried spicy chicken would be gone in a second if ever Alin steps in at Yasmeen. Business hours of Yasmeen starts daily at 6.00 pm.

Lastly, sad to say that the Foods United are not that strongly binded. In fact there are also mavericks among Salleh Khir's grand sons who do not fancy anything special but would go to the finish line with any type of Alor Setar Nasi Mamak. The mavericks are personalities like Farli and Shiwar. Slow and yet steady with any type of Nasi Mamak even the nasi lemak at Restoran Ahmediah. These are the personalities who provide spices to the dull life of Alor Setar without its Nasi Daun Pisang..