MUM, I 'BELANJA' YOU MAKAN

With Cik Gu Zaharah, Chef Bob's mum

The three guys who were my dinner dates

Mango and pineapple smoothies for us

Relax Mambo after a heavy meal

Dining outside the restaurant

The ever beautiful Cik Gu Zaharah

The humble Tom Yam is also served.

Surf and Turf for a whale's appetite

Sweet sour fish with rice

Till we meet again for another makan episode

Some gila time with the straws

Drink your milk - untainted with melamine

Waiting for restaurants to come up with this idea

A memory card holder

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WHEN MAMAK MEETS MAMA MIA

While doing some typing at school last Tuesday, my phone rang. The school holidays had already begun yet you would find me scuttling to school in between my shopping trip to JB. Call that passion for the job.

"I belanja you makan, mum", my son Nizar announced over the headset. My body went limp and my tongue hanged loose, nearly touching my neck. Not only was I already hungry, having skipped my lunch in order to maintain my figure after the birth of two sons but to hear his voice and asking me to join him for a makansutra outing is another ball game. I know.... some of you are laughing behind my back.... but to hear that invitation from your son who is serving Singapore faithfully and with full dedication and putting his life above everything else made my heart melt and ooze with love. My other son, Muhd Thaqif is also serving the country with full committment at Tekong, taking charge of new recruits everytime they cross the sea from Changi to Tekong. He is my other love, very quiet but always deep in thoughts.

I also know my son Nizar too well. If he says "I belanja' (spend) you makan", either his dad or I would have to fork out 50% of the bill. Father, son and nephew Hazim picked me up from school at 6.00pm. We decided to try out Chef Bob Scooter 'Asian Fare and Grill' at Simpang Bedok for a change. Instead of venturing to Beach Road and creating a din with the thumping of the sup tulang on the table, we orientated our car to travel east instead.

Bob used to be a TV star during his childhood and was often seen dancing and clowning in the Mat Yoyo episodes. Unfortunately on that day, he was out shooting for his cooking shows so we missed out on having his photos taken with us. We met his mum, Cik Gu Zaharah Salleh. She was behind the poetic voice of 'Ilham Pujangga' with Ismail Harun. She also happened to be a family friend and we got talking of some people whom we know in common. Click link to listen to the song.

http://www.imeem.com/bakawali/music/jULDErT6/ismail_haron_ilhampujangga/

The place was spacious and you can dine in or out. As I was having that unmentionable word the 'flu', I decided to sit outside, facing the road and watching the cars pass by and families streaming in for their dinner. My son tried the sea food platter, husband ordered the sweer sour fish with rice while the nephew was comfortable with cheese chicken macaroni.

There were other Asian fare you could choose from - Vietnamese Pho to Fried Rice or Mee. The great dame who initially wanted to look after her girth after giving birth, succumbed to a huge order of 'surf and turf' - steak with prawns, cuttlefish, wedges and salad. My diet plans had gone out of the window and I stubbornly refused to catch it.

The smoothies were authentic - jackfruit, mango and pineapple. Thick and delicious. The food was fresh and scored well in presentation. The taste was good too as I could see everyone ended up with cleaned plates. The price is another factor though. So as not to waste the food with the price on the mocca coloured menu cover, we stuffed ourselves till every morsel on the plate disappeared. I was struggling to devour mine. My strong pearly white canine weren't doing justice to the meat - a bit tough and dry so I offered my steak to everyone to help me finish my $26 worth of food.

I fell head over hill with the moss-green topping of Putri Salat - the topping was so lemak, creamy, soft and evil for the arteries. I scooped it with the spoon and it just slid down my throat smoothly. Sensational and heavenly delicious that my eyes rolled over, leaving me looking like Linda's Blair pupilless eyes in 'The Exorcist." The base of glutinous rice was also soft and sinfully 'lemak' - thanks to the fresh coconut milk generously used in the steaming of this traditional Malay dessert. It was served in a champange glass! Priced at $3.60.

The bill for four came to a whopping $100.80. A bit high for us cheapskates.....but if the son is paying 50%, why not? Anyway I felt like a true dame because the Filipina waitress kept addressing me as "Yes maam", "What would you like maam?" and "May I be of service to you, maam?". Won't your knees become wobbly and head swell triple its size? You hardly hear our local chaps in the service line muttering those words, do you? It is no wonder than our service industry is being replaced with a lot of foreign workers if our youngsters do not have the patience, determination, resillence and the GEMS quality to retain their customers and clients.

You want to know if we would make a come back? I think we would. I would like to try the Vietnamese Pho because I did not try this out while in HCMC (they use pork there) and I would definitely try their toast served with a difference. What's the difference you may ask? That's for you to find out and try. So if you need to pamper yourself or celebrate an occassion with your loved ones, head to Simpang Bedok and roost at Asian Fare and Grill for an unhurried dinner. It's best to go on weekdays so that the waitress can address you as "Maam" or if her mood is high "Your Royal Highness" too!