Strange.
I finished a degree in Home Economics Education. I can cook and do all
the home stuff know about family, psychology etc. The irony is, never settled down.
Another irony is that when it comes to the food part, I am a caveman. I learned cooking basics at and school and to me, as long as it tastes good, I devour, like a neanderthal. Foie Gras and all that fancy stuff don’t mean squat to me. Good food is good food. Period. Cheaper, the better and I ain't no fancy foodie type.
My classmate, SF trained horologist, car aficionado, MMA practitioner Master Chef Quito Jose
invited me to the soft opening of his new place Ninak (Kanin backwards) where
ASEAN cuisine is served. It was free, I
was hungry, and I was there.
My gracious host recommended that I try the
curry. Any curry rocks with me. “Gata” love
it is what I say. I chose the lamb curry. Behold. The serving was for two. Fine, I was famished.
Now, Lamb Curry was authentic Indo-Malay
from what I recall in my travels way before.
Spicy but not in a nuclear way. Adjustments
were easy to suite the diner’s taste. Chilli
was abundant. The Lamb was fresh, tender
and yes I ate it all with two cups of rice.
Slowly savouring the juicy almost with almost no after taste of
lamb. Despite being the “least” spicy, I
was sweating.
I then had a cup of coffee served in a cute
authentic glass French press. Nothing fancy with the “Barako” grind but after
that meal, black coffee really capped it.
My classmate Chef Q offered me to try the
Vietnamese Pork. Liempo. Sweet and tangy. Again, with two cups of rice I cleaned up the
plate as if a cat licked off it. Scrumptious. Liempo but with a different twist because of
that sauce that came with it. The meal reminded
me of my last trip to Saigon.
I again had a cup of coffee. Stuffed.
I could hardly move. The next
meal I had was later…… as in late the next day.
Ninak got my nod, thumbs up and belly
full. Value for money, good location, authentic Asian food from this part of Asia. As they say in Bahasa "Makanan disini SEDAP dan murah!!!!"(The food here is good and cheap!).
My recommendation to friends and family proved to be effective. My uncle brought his family there the next evening after I texted him about my ASEAN gastronomic experience and also gave his nod to the food. This guy lived in SG, Indo and Malaysia for about 30 years. He knows what good ASEAN food is.
My recommendation to friends and family proved to be effective. My uncle brought his family there the next evening after I texted him about my ASEAN gastronomic experience and also gave his nod to the food. This guy lived in SG, Indo and Malaysia for about 30 years. He knows what good ASEAN food is.
I am going back there soon. Maybe tomorrow, with friends and I will hit
the other items on the menu……
Q, you are a genius. See you there again soon!
