Saturday Tales: The Nasi Lemak Rosli TTDI & Ikea’s 25 Hrs Cook-Off

My weighting scale and I used to be close buddies. It was an uncanny relationship. We were actually this close (*making a small gap between index finger and thumb). I remembered it all...it was the time when jogging was still fun, cornflakes were fulfilling, and the ability to do Parkour was as realistic as these two; Batman, and price tag of new Malaysian houses.

*slap. ”Ouch!” Ok, so it was a dream of what it used to be. Now, Kellogg’s is no longer my only breakfast of champions. There are also other alternatives; wifey’s creations, ‘Tosai’ (or India’s ‘Dosa’) at Khalifah KD, and ‘Soto’ (a type of rice cake in chicken soup) at Uptown Kota Damansara’s Sunday market. In a good day, when we are willing to boldly go beyond KD, we would go to a secluded yet popular stall called Rosli Nasi Lemak Kukus TTDI.

Actually, the ‘venturing’ part happens when wifey has to work during weekends, and TTDI is conveniently located between KD and wifey’s workplace. So, for a good meal of fried ‘Beehoon’ (rice vermicelli) and ‘Nasi Lemak’ (a kind of fragrant rice dish), we would make a pit stop to this ‘unsung’ food haven.

Last Saturday, I was a single parent for about 8 hours and 30 minutes; the same as wifey’s working hours that day. So, before the change to the temporary status, we made a visit to the stall. 

The hidden stall in a restaurant

A closer look

Are you salivating now?

'Nasi Dagang' and 'Pulut'

Beef and chicken 'rendang', chicken in coconut, and spicy squid 'sambal'

A word of advice: Try to get this lady to pack your food...she's generous with the portions

Bye2 mama.

After both of us gave goodbyes to wifey, we went straight for Ikea.

Why Ikea? And why did we go there when it was almost 9.30am, with most shopping complexes were due to be opened at 10am?

Before being the ‘Palm Springers’ (a catchphrase for Palm Spring @ Damansara residents), Ikea used to be perceived as something that’s rare, excitingly new, and hard to reach. I remembered that I (or ‘we’ in some cases) had to commute, and endured the almost 2-hour journey to Ikano Power Centre (or IPC). I remember the trip very well; from IIUM Gombak, one needed to take a bus to the Terminal Putra LRT station, then use the LRT to get to the Central Market station, and then take a particular public bus to go to IPC. The journeys were undertaken very early in the morning, so that there would be enough time to go around and appreciate the place. It was a hard place to visit for a commuter, but the enjoying visit was worth the effort.

Now, after 6 years of living in KD, the ecstatic was gone, and we would see the building’s exterior twice daily, while giving a nonchalant “Eh”.

But, of late, we got excited with Ikea again. The feeling was perhaps like rediscovering love through a second honeymoon for an old married couple.

So, coming back to the earlier question....why did we go to Ikea that day?

The entrance to the shopping area at P2 carpark

An almost empty carpark area...a rare sight

One day, Irtiza...one day...

From Facebook, I got to know that Ikea was having a 25-hour cook-off competition, and my office colleague / friend was one of the participants. As Ikea is located along the journey home, Irtiza and I made a short visit to the venue.

When we reached the actual venue, my friend and his twin brother were in their fourth and final round of the contest. I think they were struggling to use the remaining 15 minutes of the round to finish their version of 3-course meal, with the help of their chef friend. I managed to taste their food. It was not that great but not that bad either, and I was trying to be supportive to the team. Funnily enough, I think their chef friend gave the most criticisms.

Still, have to applaud them for their effort. It was not easy to create an exclusive meal, especially for first timers.

The tentative program

This is actually the second venue at level one.

The main venue with the boys

After the massacre with the ingredients.

The judging process

A husband, and his supportive wife :)

Chef Anis Nabilah was around that day

Grabbing the opportunity

After leaving them to rest (as they didn’t sleep for almost 25 hours for the non-stop cook-off contest), we made our way to the food counter. I had my hotdog, and Irtiza had his ice-cream cone. Then we left Ikea for home.

We later ate the fried ‘beehoon’ that I bought earlier. And that’s how we spend the morning that day. What we did in the evening was another story for another blog entry. Stay tuned for the next one:)

What we ate earlier that day...

...and later that day.