Wow! How times flies when one is b-zzzy!!! Doing what, I don't remember.
Wanted to write more before April ran out but somehow missed the April express - landed right smack on month of May's platform. Sigh! Gotta catchup with Father Time.
Well, the 12th General Elections has come and gone and the Malaysian government has said that it hears the people. That they will address the issues such as increase in food prices and shortages of foodstuffs. And the people said - yeah, yeah, yeah - yeh!
But that was early March 2008 - since then, there has been talk, talk and more talk. In the Malaysian press, - articles have been printed about how the Government will come forward soon with policies on the prices and they have a plan up their sleeve. How they are making headway and will soon announce plans that the rakyat will like.
If you ask me - it looks great in print and on paper - and probably in the minds of the politicians but on the street - in everyday life - honestly - zilch is being done. Correction - zilch is happening! And high prices continues to rumble over the people's pockets - like a bowling ball over the nine pins.
Daily, the man-on-the-street- the common folks - you and I - are being bombarded with increasing prices and shortages. Take rice for instance - the new talk on the street is that - even if you have money, soon you will not be able to find any rice to buy!!
But no! The Government says - we have enough rice - we have stockpiles - then, the question arises - where have all the rice gone? Who is keeping all the rice - why is it that rice - the staple food of this nation - is only found at sky high prices?
Imagine, last week - 10kg of Siam rice was only RM20.00. This week - it is 5kg at 20.00. So the price of rice has doubled. Giving the people the answer that it is a global matter - does not cut the truth and help the pockets.
Not only that, we would buy local grains but do you know that the local grains are also almost the same price as the Thai grains? Not only that, the only thing that you see at the hypermarkets and wholesalers - are the price tags - but no rice.
Now if that is not fishy bizness - then what is, I don't know. The Government says that they will work hard to win the favor and confidence of the people - I seriously doubt this is going to happen if the matters of today continue as they are - bcoz - the way it is happening right now - erosion of confidence is more real than ever - especially when money purses are being touched or in some cases - burnt.
I am grousing because in the city where there are many middle to upper-class folks - the pinch is already being felt - how would then, the rural and smaller town folks feel? What about the families with single income? What about the blue-collar workers? What about the single mothers with 4 kids to feed and put to school? What about the retirees on measly pensions? What about the disabled? What about the poor?
Every citizen and person has the right to be able to afford nutritious food - to fill their bellies - but look at what is happening? If we take more money from our pockets to buy food - then that means that we will have less money or no money at all for other necessities and do you know - our utilities are also on the way up, soon our fuel subsidies will again be reduced - what else can go wrong? Try Murphy's Law.
Somehow in seeing how things are moving - and feeling so depressed about it - one can't help but wonder seriously, if the Government may indirectly wish to teach the rakyat (people) a lesson - for not giving them a two-third majority.
Hey, this is not my conclusion - but am just picking up what one or two politicians from the ruling party have stated - that if the people have voted for the Opposition - then let them look to the Opposition to solve their woes. What sour grapes! There is a saying - when you point a finger - look at the other 2 pointing back to you! An indepth search of their arrogance would be more correct than ever.
Of course, there was quick denial from the main leaders but then, looking at the scenario - if the ruling party REALY has the people's interests at heart - shouldn't double quick action be taken in such time of food and price crisis? After all, these rumbles of impending rise in prices have been in the air for more than a month. Yet, nothing has been done to stop the bouldering effect.
I think that the people have given the ruling party sufficient time to regroup and reorganize themselves - what is needed now is really Less Talk - More Action!! More tangible visible action - not intangible words of hope.
Daily I search the papers looking for a glimmer of real hope from the Government - some light in the dark tunnel of our Malaysian existence and life - but sorely - that is yet to happen. I do hope that it will be soon.
So here I sit - in the cloud of smelly fishy gloom - waiting for a rainbow in the heavens to break through - to cover the shadows with light.
Till then, gloomily yours,
McFish
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Salmon Tale
Ok, ok, ok - Mua am back. Yes, yes, yes, chel - I hear you ! Update my blog - yes, I will. Love to blog often but so much catching up with life at the moment. This is a blog about fishes and anything fishy, right, so......
Ok, today, let's talk about salmon! That should be fishy enough. Yeah, it is a very controversial fish in Malaysia. Over the years, people either love it or hate it. Of course, the oils that are sold in vege-caps are loved for their essence of life but the actual fish is another thing.
Yup - yuh either love it or hate it! Those who crave it are those who truly appreciate the fish for its oily attributes - mainly the lovely Omega 3 & 6 oils - the pharmacies and health nuts go "ga-ga" over its "heart-saving" properties.
There are those who are so worried about "farmed" salmon - which are said to contain some artificial colouring. Hey, I think that our Malaysian press - who wrote some articles in the past 3 - 4 years need to really check their facts.
This is because I have seen the National Geographic documentary shown by Astro and the food that is fed to the farmed salmon is "all natural". The algae that the salmon likes to feed on - naturally in the wild turns red when exposed to sunlight. No, it is not the red tide algae that people are so afraid of. But it really turns red.
So, what the documentary showed is that the algae is farmed and then exposed to sunlight, so that it turns red naturally, then, it is dried and made into pellets - which are then packed and sold to the guys involved in salmon farming - which is done at sea. What is wrong with that? There is no colouring added - no need when nature is already at work. Just the processing is high-tech.
But no, the articles by a popular Malaysian daily did not check out the facts when they published an article from overseas. And for those who talk about mercury poisoning - hey - if our seas are polluted with mercury poisoning - then won't all fishes be filled with it to some degree since they all live in the seas? And if we understand the movement of waters in our planet earth - aren't the seas all somehow connected and flow to each other? In the greater understanding of things - we all should stop eating fish, seafood, etc. Then, next we probably question everything else - what about the pollution of our land - so don't eat vegies and fruits, wheat, corn and rice? Does that mean that we should "live on air, love and sunshine?"
Ooops.... I have been swayed by the nonsensical fishy nonsense about salmon - hate those journalists and editors who just "plop" stuff into their papers - just to fill the pages without checking all the facts and spread unnecessary "fear" to the masses.
But back to our subject of salmon. Ok, this articles is dedicated to those who can't stand the "smell" of the salmon when it is cooked. For those of yuh who belong to this school - let mua help yuh out!
First of all, understand this -if you have tried cooking salmon - and the finish effect is a slab of pink fish that smells to "high heavens" and stinks up your entire house - not only the kitchen, it simply means that you "don't know how to cook salmon". There is nothing absolutely wrong with the fish!!!! The error is with the cook - you.
This is because my friend at Kafe Herbspice at SS15 Subang Jaya, Malaysia ( by the way, my friend is a distributor of imported seafood - so she knows, ok?) says that the Omega oils will burn in high heat. It is something like olive oil that is ok for salad dressings but not ok for cooking on high heat.
So, what is the right way to fry salmon. You need to pan-fry it with minimum oil. The fish is great on its own - no need to season it. Just make sure that you descale it and have a lemon on standby.
Oil the pan that you will use - just to ensure that the fish doesn't stick to it. Then, place the pan over a very very slow fire. The best chefs in the world say that the optimum heat for salmon frying is when you can place your palm on the pan - hotter than that is already too hot.
Then, place the fish in the pan ( salmon steak cut is more economical for frying). The fish will first give our some water - but not to worry, this is ok. Don't move it. Then, it will give out oil - which is what you want - to let the fish cook in its own oil.
About 4-5 mins, lift the fish and check if it has turned pink - if it has, flip the fish over. Repeat the same and then using a fork, check that the meat within has turned pink too - once the fish is no longer orange - your salmon is ready.
Lift it onto a plate and then squeeze lemon juice over the salmon. If not, you can always add some sugar to the lemon juice and pour the juice to cook over low fire in a small pan. When the sugar melts - you can pour the juice over the fish - you will get a kinda caramelised sauce. Alternatively, orange juice will be good for the fish.
If you know how to make lemon or lime or orange mayo - it also goes well with salmon.
So, enjoy and if it works for you - then let mua know. Have a great fishy day!!
Just me,
McFish
Ok, today, let's talk about salmon! That should be fishy enough. Yeah, it is a very controversial fish in Malaysia. Over the years, people either love it or hate it. Of course, the oils that are sold in vege-caps are loved for their essence of life but the actual fish is another thing.
Yup - yuh either love it or hate it! Those who crave it are those who truly appreciate the fish for its oily attributes - mainly the lovely Omega 3 & 6 oils - the pharmacies and health nuts go "ga-ga" over its "heart-saving" properties.
There are those who are so worried about "farmed" salmon - which are said to contain some artificial colouring. Hey, I think that our Malaysian press - who wrote some articles in the past 3 - 4 years need to really check their facts.
This is because I have seen the National Geographic documentary shown by Astro and the food that is fed to the farmed salmon is "all natural". The algae that the salmon likes to feed on - naturally in the wild turns red when exposed to sunlight. No, it is not the red tide algae that people are so afraid of. But it really turns red.
So, what the documentary showed is that the algae is farmed and then exposed to sunlight, so that it turns red naturally, then, it is dried and made into pellets - which are then packed and sold to the guys involved in salmon farming - which is done at sea. What is wrong with that? There is no colouring added - no need when nature is already at work. Just the processing is high-tech.
But no, the articles by a popular Malaysian daily did not check out the facts when they published an article from overseas. And for those who talk about mercury poisoning - hey - if our seas are polluted with mercury poisoning - then won't all fishes be filled with it to some degree since they all live in the seas? And if we understand the movement of waters in our planet earth - aren't the seas all somehow connected and flow to each other? In the greater understanding of things - we all should stop eating fish, seafood, etc. Then, next we probably question everything else - what about the pollution of our land - so don't eat vegies and fruits, wheat, corn and rice? Does that mean that we should "live on air, love and sunshine?"
Ooops.... I have been swayed by the nonsensical fishy nonsense about salmon - hate those journalists and editors who just "plop" stuff into their papers - just to fill the pages without checking all the facts and spread unnecessary "fear" to the masses.
But back to our subject of salmon. Ok, this articles is dedicated to those who can't stand the "smell" of the salmon when it is cooked. For those of yuh who belong to this school - let mua help yuh out!
First of all, understand this -if you have tried cooking salmon - and the finish effect is a slab of pink fish that smells to "high heavens" and stinks up your entire house - not only the kitchen, it simply means that you "don't know how to cook salmon". There is nothing absolutely wrong with the fish!!!! The error is with the cook - you.
This is because my friend at Kafe Herbspice at SS15 Subang Jaya, Malaysia ( by the way, my friend is a distributor of imported seafood - so she knows, ok?) says that the Omega oils will burn in high heat. It is something like olive oil that is ok for salad dressings but not ok for cooking on high heat.
So, what is the right way to fry salmon. You need to pan-fry it with minimum oil. The fish is great on its own - no need to season it. Just make sure that you descale it and have a lemon on standby.
Oil the pan that you will use - just to ensure that the fish doesn't stick to it. Then, place the pan over a very very slow fire. The best chefs in the world say that the optimum heat for salmon frying is when you can place your palm on the pan - hotter than that is already too hot.
Then, place the fish in the pan ( salmon steak cut is more economical for frying). The fish will first give our some water - but not to worry, this is ok. Don't move it. Then, it will give out oil - which is what you want - to let the fish cook in its own oil.
About 4-5 mins, lift the fish and check if it has turned pink - if it has, flip the fish over. Repeat the same and then using a fork, check that the meat within has turned pink too - once the fish is no longer orange - your salmon is ready.
Lift it onto a plate and then squeeze lemon juice over the salmon. If not, you can always add some sugar to the lemon juice and pour the juice to cook over low fire in a small pan. When the sugar melts - you can pour the juice over the fish - you will get a kinda caramelised sauce. Alternatively, orange juice will be good for the fish.
If you know how to make lemon or lime or orange mayo - it also goes well with salmon.
So, enjoy and if it works for you - then let mua know. Have a great fishy day!!
Just me,
McFish
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Danger of eating sushi.
Hello everyone! Mua am back! Sori for the long absence but got tied down with the books. U know, mua really likes to eat and one of the d food that really grabs me is sushi and its sister, sashimi. Xtra favorite is salmon sushi or salmon sashimi - imagine such nice silvers of orangy salmon with a wallop of wasabi on a bed of rice topped with slices of pink vinegared ginger! Mouth-watering to say the least.
Yep! That is my idea of pure gastronomical bliss. Until just yesterday..... My friend sent me an email and it talked about the dangers of eating sushi. Well, no words can really describe how it has turned me away from sushi for life. If you don't think so - then view the following post -for viewing pleasure.
Btw, you are gonna view this at your own risk - and - be kind to your carpet or floor, don't look at it if you just had your dinner and are of the squeamish kind.
Do you still want to eat Sushi? Think TWICE!!
READ THE TEXT FIRST
This is a true case of a Japanese man from Gifu Prefecture who incessantly about a persistent headache. Mr. Shota Fujiwara loves his sashimi and sushi very much to theextent of trying to get them as "alive and fresh" as can be for hisinsatiable appetite. He developed a severe headache, but for the past three years had put it off as migraine and stress from work. It was only when he started losing his phsyco-motor skills that he soughtmedical help.A brain scan and x-ray revealed little however. But upon closer inspection by aspecialist on his scalp, the Doctor noticed small movements beneath his skin. It was then that the Doctor did a local anaesthetic to his scalp and discovered the cause! Tiny tapeworms crawled out!
Major surgery was thus immediately called for and the extent of the infestation was horrific!
Fishy buzz Fact : Remember that tapeworms, roundworms and their eggs which abound in all fish,fresh or saltwater, can only be killed by thorough cooking. Freezing the fish to between -4 deg C - 0 degsC just leaves them dormant.
HIS PICTURE DURING THE MAJOR OPERATION
Fishy yours,
McFish
Yep! That is my idea of pure gastronomical bliss. Until just yesterday..... My friend sent me an email and it talked about the dangers of eating sushi. Well, no words can really describe how it has turned me away from sushi for life. If you don't think so - then view the following post -for viewing pleasure.
Btw, you are gonna view this at your own risk - and - be kind to your carpet or floor, don't look at it if you just had your dinner and are of the squeamish kind.
Do you still want to eat Sushi? Think TWICE!!
READ THE TEXT FIRST
This is a true case of a Japanese man from Gifu Prefecture who incessantly about a persistent headache. Mr. Shota Fujiwara loves his sashimi and sushi very much to theextent of trying to get them as "alive and fresh" as can be for hisinsatiable appetite. He developed a severe headache, but for the past three years had put it off as migraine and stress from work. It was only when he started losing his phsyco-motor skills that he soughtmedical help.A brain scan and x-ray revealed little however. But upon closer inspection by aspecialist on his scalp, the Doctor noticed small movements beneath his skin. It was then that the Doctor did a local anaesthetic to his scalp and discovered the cause! Tiny tapeworms crawled out!
Major surgery was thus immediately called for and the extent of the infestation was horrific!
Fishy buzz Fact : Remember that tapeworms, roundworms and their eggs which abound in all fish,fresh or saltwater, can only be killed by thorough cooking. Freezing the fish to between -4 deg C - 0 degsC just leaves them dormant.
HIS PICTURE DURING THE MAJOR OPERATION
Fishy yours,
McFish
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Best Kept Secret of McFish
It is time to know the McFish better, dun yuh think?
Wat can mua say - mua am a rat so this year 2008, according to the Chinese zodiac is mua year! (yak!yuk! yak!) Yeah, mua dun giggle ( hee, heee...ee) and mua dun guffaw ( ha-ha, hee-hee) but mua yak! yuk! yak! alot.
Am studying at Damansara Heights - college - uni whose name equals the cry of S.O.S. - but enough of the boring stuff. Let's mov on to stuff that mua luv in life. Mua!! - yak! yuk! yak!
Ok, love to Zzzzzzz, cook and eat ( yum, yum, yum ) Especially the last stuff - and have been blessed with nostrils ( ok, ok, so they are gills ) that can sniff out the latest stuff in the oceans of Subang Jaya and wherever.
So, for mua first tip to yum-yum lovers out there - there is this cute cafe that is located in SS15 Subang Jaya. It is not much to look at and really doesn't have Astro installed or anything but the food is yum-yum-yum!!! Music there is usually instrumental but pleasant enough for anyone who like to chat or have a tete-a-tete.
Don't b fooled by the signboard that talks about No MSG, No Preservatives, No Pork, Low Salt, etc - the food is really, really good. Better than homecook stuff and they prepare everything in-house.
They serve Western and Asian food there. Beats the Asia Cafe stuff anytime, yuh know!
Only place that mua knows in Subang serves Lamb Briyani rice - and their style is great b'cos yuh can taste the lamb and the flavour of the rice. Hate to eat food that sears yuh tongue and leaves it like "dead", yuh know. Their soups especially the Cream of cauliflower with oyster mushroom is nothing short of "smack, smack, oooh..smack". Hate food with MSG - cos' it causes mua hair to fall out.
Ooooh! Jst got an sms - looks like mua need to pay a visit to that cafe again - they are serving panfried fish with creamy mango sauce set lunch from Monday onwards. Ooooh - the set comes with a drink and dessert for only RM9.90. A real steal. If yuh go there - yuh love their dessert - chocolate puddin!! Yuh have to eat in to get the dessert cos they dun sell it otherwise.
Where is this place? Kafe Herbspice, of course - if yuh have never been there - yuh dun know wat yuh missing! Had this fren from Taylors who used to date his gurl there once a week over lunch. He kept it a well kept secret till he finished his ADP and was leaving for USA. Then, he told me 'bout it. Btw, the place sits at 89 Jln SS15/4C, Subang Jaya - behind the row of shops facing Subang Square and just 5 doors away from the KFC. Walk past Hassan's Mamak cafe, past Tackle Shop and yuh there. Or if you know Yew Seng Coffeeshop - it is just 3 doors away - if yuh are moving towards the KFC from Yew Seng.
And now mua am sharing it with yuh! Dun knuw if mua am doing the rite thing????!!!
Raining "meow-meows n woof-woofs" now and have a dinner date with some chummy guys and gals - "loh-sang"-lah. Sigh! Feel lazy but gotta go - mua paid a good RM20 for my share - must eat mua fair share.
See ya!
Wat can mua say - mua am a rat so this year 2008, according to the Chinese zodiac is mua year! (yak!yuk! yak!) Yeah, mua dun giggle ( hee, heee...ee) and mua dun guffaw ( ha-ha, hee-hee) but mua yak! yuk! yak! alot.
Am studying at Damansara Heights - college - uni whose name equals the cry of S.O.S. - but enough of the boring stuff. Let's mov on to stuff that mua luv in life. Mua!! - yak! yuk! yak!
Ok, love to Zzzzzzz, cook and eat ( yum, yum, yum ) Especially the last stuff - and have been blessed with nostrils ( ok, ok, so they are gills ) that can sniff out the latest stuff in the oceans of Subang Jaya and wherever.
So, for mua first tip to yum-yum lovers out there - there is this cute cafe that is located in SS15 Subang Jaya. It is not much to look at and really doesn't have Astro installed or anything but the food is yum-yum-yum!!! Music there is usually instrumental but pleasant enough for anyone who like to chat or have a tete-a-tete.
Don't b fooled by the signboard that talks about No MSG, No Preservatives, No Pork, Low Salt, etc - the food is really, really good. Better than homecook stuff and they prepare everything in-house.
They serve Western and Asian food there. Beats the Asia Cafe stuff anytime, yuh know!
Only place that mua knows in Subang serves Lamb Briyani rice - and their style is great b'cos yuh can taste the lamb and the flavour of the rice. Hate to eat food that sears yuh tongue and leaves it like "dead", yuh know. Their soups especially the Cream of cauliflower with oyster mushroom is nothing short of "smack, smack, oooh..smack". Hate food with MSG - cos' it causes mua hair to fall out.
Ooooh! Jst got an sms - looks like mua need to pay a visit to that cafe again - they are serving panfried fish with creamy mango sauce set lunch from Monday onwards. Ooooh - the set comes with a drink and dessert for only RM9.90. A real steal. If yuh go there - yuh love their dessert - chocolate puddin!! Yuh have to eat in to get the dessert cos they dun sell it otherwise.
Where is this place? Kafe Herbspice, of course - if yuh have never been there - yuh dun know wat yuh missing! Had this fren from Taylors who used to date his gurl there once a week over lunch. He kept it a well kept secret till he finished his ADP and was leaving for USA. Then, he told me 'bout it. Btw, the place sits at 89 Jln SS15/4C, Subang Jaya - behind the row of shops facing Subang Square and just 5 doors away from the KFC. Walk past Hassan's Mamak cafe, past Tackle Shop and yuh there. Or if you know Yew Seng Coffeeshop - it is just 3 doors away - if yuh are moving towards the KFC from Yew Seng.
And now mua am sharing it with yuh! Dun knuw if mua am doing the rite thing????!!!
Raining "meow-meows n woof-woofs" now and have a dinner date with some chummy guys and gals - "loh-sang"-lah. Sigh! Feel lazy but gotta go - mua paid a good RM20 for my share - must eat mua fair share.
See ya!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
][ Grand Opening ][
It is the official opening of Fishy Business and the best part is that you are all invited!! To a grand fish-like grand ballroom in the heart of Fish town in the most posh hotel.WELCOME to Fish Buzz!! The only site on the internet ( hopefully ) that updates you on anything that my fish nostrils ( fine, so they're gills.. ) find fishy. Keep checking back for lots of humorous updates and interesting facts that you never knew about.
This is Fishy Business!! - your one stop for all.
- McFish :)
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