Today's Food (Autism commentary within) [Updated 26Sept24]
Back in Kuching thus able to walk to many more places. So, what'd I do so far today?
As an Autistic something bother me irrationally. And whether you're autistic too or not, you have a few of those. I just have many, many, many more than you. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
It turns out that the smell of garlic butter is one of those things. A former partner hates the taste of garlic. I thought I did too. For years we avoided garlic altogether (after I had Feijoada for lunch on Wednesday - she smelled it on my breath Saturday. I had not seen her nor eaten garlic between.) I have eaten more garlic in the last 3 months than the previous 10 years. But not buttery garlic.
It's not the taste of garlic that I don't like. It's the smell of hot milk fat and garlic. Whether it was the butter and garlic or the melty cheese and garlic it sent my nose into a tailspin. Two slices, that's it. Oh, and the dal sauce was 'dull.' That contrast with the sharpness of the smell led to what I call an "imbalance."
When smells, sounds, lights, or tastes clash like piquant and muted I don't like. It leaves me distinctly "unbalanced" or "uneven" in my sensations. It can be caused by a chair, bed, or floor that is not level too. Sometimes it's "intra-sense", others it's "inter-sense." Whatever, it's a "Stop!" when it occurs. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
Back to the hotel. Killed some time watching YouTube. AC37 stuff. Then I stumbled across this:
It's longer than I would ask you to spend watching usually; it's subtitled for English. But, please watch it. It truly represents what I have found in Kuching culinarily. I have walked past or eaten in every place he visits. His takes are spot on.
Several times I have walked past a place he ordered 5 different dishes from (well, that hawker center.) I chickened out every time. That is irrational. I have no reason to avoid places like that -- hell, it's my purported reason to be here! This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
In this case, move along means noticing I'm hungry. And, not for Chicken. Elmo pointed out a PORK satay place in that video. Oh, yeah!
I'm not going to say it's the best satay ever. I like mine to have more of a kick in the peanut sauce. But it was reallllllly good. Last time I tried satay here, I ate 2 sticks. It was dry and did not satisfy the craving I sought. This was wonderful. sweet, peanuty, a slight tingle.
Breakfast was a search for Roti Cenai with fried eggs. I know a place. In fact so far I have seen exactly one place serving Roti Cenai. Roti Paratha is similar but not the same. (Duh, they have different names.) And, I wanted Cenai. Roti Paratha has been too greasy lately.
Alas, for some reason, that place was open...but does not cook Roti Cenai on Wednesdays. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
Alas, for some reason, that place was open...but does not cook Roti Cenai on Wednesdays. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
Yeah, but, my brain wanted something. My guts were "expecting" that thing. So, what to substitute for it?
Not cheese naan. I like cheese, I like naan. Ceylonese Restoran boasts of "the best cheese naan in town." Hmmm, which naan. Let's try cheese naan for the first time. It's an Indian bread, it's not really like Roti...but.
As an Autistic something bother me irrationally. And whether you're autistic too or not, you have a few of those. I just have many, many, many more than you. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
It turns out that the smell of garlic butter is one of those things. A former partner hates the taste of garlic. I thought I did too. For years we avoided garlic altogether (after I had Feijoada for lunch on Wednesday - she smelled it on my breath Saturday. I had not seen her nor eaten garlic between.) I have eaten more garlic in the last 3 months than the previous 10 years. But not buttery garlic.
It's not the taste of garlic that I don't like. It's the smell of hot milk fat and garlic. Whether it was the butter and garlic or the melty cheese and garlic it sent my nose into a tailspin. Two slices, that's it. Oh, and the dal sauce was 'dull.' That contrast with the sharpness of the smell led to what I call an "imbalance."
When smells, sounds, lights, or tastes clash like piquant and muted I don't like. It leaves me distinctly "unbalanced" or "uneven" in my sensations. It can be caused by a chair, bed, or floor that is not level too. Sometimes it's "intra-sense", others it's "inter-sense." Whatever, it's a "Stop!" when it occurs. This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
I stopped eating. Why wouldn't I? Just because the sensation is irrational doesn't mean I should react irrationally. No?
The teh tarik was wonderful. Look at that froth!
Back to the hotel. Killed some time watching YouTube. AC37 stuff. Then I stumbled across this:
It's longer than I would ask you to spend watching usually; it's subtitled for English. But, please watch it. It truly represents what I have found in Kuching culinarily. I have walked past or eaten in every place he visits. His takes are spot on.
Several times I have walked past a place he ordered 5 different dishes from (well, that hawker center.) I chickened out every time. That is irrational. I have no reason to avoid places like that -- hell, it's my purported reason to be here! This happens. Why? Dunno. It just is. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
In this case, move along means noticing I'm hungry. And, not for Chicken. Elmo pointed out a PORK satay place in that video. Oh, yeah!
Teocheo Hawker Center on Carpenter St.
First stall on right when entering.
First stall on right when entering.
It also kind of summarizes Malaysia. I was in a Chinese stall eating an Indonesian/Malay food but of pork (Indonesians and Malaysians overwhelmingly keep Halal.) This place is a melting pot.
Elmo also spoke of Pisang Goreng - banana fritters. Early in my time here I saw a stand selling them. It was by a Chinese temple. I thought near Green Hill. I had looked for it this morning as an alternative to the roti I wanted. Couldn't find it.
When I left Teochow, I walked a little and saw a person hand pumping a gas tank under a wok. Huh, never seen that. It was the banana fritter couple. They sell exactly 1 item. Banana Fritters. For RM 0.80 (80 Sens). That turns out to be per piece.
Elmo also spoke of Pisang Goreng - banana fritters. Early in my time here I saw a stand selling them. It was by a Chinese temple. I thought near Green Hill. I had looked for it this morning as an alternative to the roti I wanted. Couldn't find it.
When I left Teochow, I walked a little and saw a person hand pumping a gas tank under a wok. Huh, never seen that. It was the banana fritter couple. They sell exactly 1 item. Banana Fritters. For RM 0.80 (80 Sens). That turns out to be per piece.
Best ever fried "meat in tube form"? No. That's Caribbean (and LatAm) style Maduros - fried ripe plantains. The sugars caramelize better there because the fruit is very ripe and unbattered. But for a battered fry up this was great. A dash or either (both?) sugar or salt wouldn't hurt. But I may be chasing a false experience with that.
This couple has been doing this for 30 years. I waited for 10+ minutes. In the rain. With others waiting in the rain longer because they were in line first. The experience I had, including the taste, was 100% local. I loved it. Just step back, reflect, and smile.
They stayed hot for the 10+ minutes it took to walk 'home' in the rain. I smiled.
Finger food is tricky for me. My family used to laugh when Mom would strenuously claim that fries and bacon were "fork and knife" foods. We were kind of mean even. She gave up. Sorry Mom, you were right. I was wrong.
This couple has been doing this for 30 years. I waited for 10+ minutes. In the rain. With others waiting in the rain longer because they were in line first. The experience I had, including the taste, was 100% local. I loved it. Just step back, reflect, and smile.
They stayed hot for the 10+ minutes it took to walk 'home' in the rain. I smiled.
Finger food is tricky for me. My family used to laugh when Mom would strenuously claim that fries and bacon were "fork and knife" foods. We were kind of mean even. She gave up. Sorry Mom, you were right. I was wrong.
Dirty fingers have always bothered me. When I was in my early 20s I longed to take pottery (wheel throwing) lessons. I kept struggling to sign up. My dear friend (now in Boston) and roommate told me "Suck it up, it's just mud." I loved making pottery. Thank you 'J - not F - K', that was an incredibly important push at the time.*
I now eat fries and bacon with a knife and fork. Go ahead and make fun of me. But, I do not like dirty, sticky, slippy, or greasy fingers. At all. Never have. Why wouldn't I? So I avoid things like that. Just because the sensation is irrational doesn't mean I should react irrationally. No?**
I did just fine managing the bananas without excess grease. And, I washed my hands as soon as I could. All was, and is, well. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
It's not always easy. It's always worth doing.
And, I smiled.
UPDATE 26SEP2024:
Yeah, like I said, we can be unfiltered...
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I now eat fries and bacon with a knife and fork. Go ahead and make fun of me. But, I do not like dirty, sticky, slippy, or greasy fingers. At all. Never have. Why wouldn't I? So I avoid things like that. Just because the sensation is irrational doesn't mean I should react irrationally. No?**
I did just fine managing the bananas without excess grease. And, I washed my hands as soon as I could. All was, and is, well. Deal with it. Move along, Jim. It's OK.
It's not always easy. It's always worth doing.
And, I smiled.
UPDATE 26SEP2024:
Yeah, like I said, we can be unfiltered...
__________________________________________________________________________________
* Not his name. But he'll get the reference between Boston and a son of Boston's initials. I protect the innocent, sources, and my friends on this blog.
** For perspective, I'd like to throw pottery again. But clay, especially stoneware, under my nails would be a problem.
I really enjoyed racing cars ... except for the greasy hands. And, the noise.
At some point, the diminishing returns on the money and fun reach a point where the non-financial costs overwhelm them. Sad but true. And, it keeps me looking for new things to try. Like visiting Malaysia!
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