I am perched high on a stool watching the chefs prepare breakfast and brunch food at Mojo Jojo. It is a treat to see the absolute efficiency and attention to detail that goes into the preparation of their innovative food. Watched Duck Milanese being prepared from scratch. On January 6 the delicious dish was featured on Instagram in various states of consumption. This was the caption: “The Foodie strikes again. Here at Mojo Jojo having the Duck Milanese. Site to see it in various forms of consumption. With the exchange rate it cost ten US dollars. Could not even get a Big Mac for that. Will discuss the wonders of the dish on my blog in a few day. Mojo Jojo is a fabulous restaurant in Lyf Hotel across the street from the antiquated E and O Hotel.”
It is fascinating to see the step-by-step preparation of the dish. Of course all of the chopping has been done previously, the sauces already prepared for warming, every ingredient in plastic containers. Everything is spotless. Years and years ago I was a gourmet cook – in my home kitchen. I do pray that it will all come back – rather like riding a bike. I will soon have the opportunity because on Saturday I shall leave Lyf, for an apartment with a kitchen.
No cooking for me at this moment. Yesterday I walked out of the back door of Lyf and went to epicurean heaven Benny Hill”s. You will soon hear about that and view photos of the stupendous food. First, I first I shall speak of my future life by quoting from an email sent to my Computer Guru Chris. The subject line: So happy to see the Millions of Americans Coming to Malaysia reel.
Me: It brought me great joy to see the reel made it to the blog. It is entirely unlikely that it was sent to me in the first place. I leave the Lyf hotel on Saturday for a far different abode. A three bedroom apartment by the sea. For less money than the tiny hotel room. You and Clare but I fear not Beryl) could visit and stay for free. Thanks to Mohan I am very well connected these days. I have never been a part of a family before much less an influential one. Life is easier that is for sure. Mohan has a dog. Will send a photo so Beryl can drool. Quite a handsome specimen. Hahaha Alexis
Yesterday I was ordered to meet Mohan at 12:45 because we were going to lunch. I was also requested to track down son Shamir to remind him. I did as I was told, we crossed the pedestrian street that separates the Kashmir Restaurant from Benny Hill’s. We were met by Manager Ming – she was to treat us to lunch. The restaurant has been open for about a month, I was there on opening day. There is a huge line each and every day with people queuing, patiently waiting in the heat. I thought that one day the lines would end and entry would be easy. I laughed with Manager Ming.
Me: I thought the queues would end one day and I could just sail in. But after eating this food, all I can say is this. The queues will never end. These people know it is worth waiting for!!
I am about to interrupt myself and tell you more good news. I now have blog cards which I hand out with gay abandon. I had blog cards in the past but ran out of them. Used the same basic design but my new ones are not, shall we say, tainted. The prior ones announced I was an ambassador for a Saudi travel exploiter who wanted me to invest $200,000 US dollars into his nefarious business. Needless to say I did not. But thanks for the design and the QR code Ahmed Khayyat. The tourism industry in Saudi Arabia is corrupt and greedy, as is the country. I was used, buying he and his current girlfriends food in expensive restaurants but I did get to see double humped camels and animals with giraffe heads and camel bodies. Most other tourists do not get that experience.
Nefarious has some great synonyms: wicked, evil, sinful, villainous, heinous, atrocious, vile, corrupt, unholy, satanic, outrageous, dastardly. Dastardly my favorite. I say onto you FAKE (his nickname) “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Have not spoken of this directly on the blog before.
Back to food. Shamir joined the three of us at our upstairs table. Mohan ordered, asking Ming for suggestions. The first dish was a seafood pasta. It looked delicious but I was unable to partake because it was crowned with a large mussel. I am deathly allergic to mussels. Mohan, who ordered the food did not know of my food allergy, and was embarrassed. His son knew. So sometimes it is NOT like father, like son. Hahaha. Shamir was raised well by his father so it is usually like father; like son.
Like father like son is a proverb: a son’s character or behaviour can be expected to resemble that of his father. Just found a YouTube channel. Like father, like son – Learn a proverb a day – YouTube. How interesting. Not sure why one would want to do that – you can just read my blog. Hahaha
During out lunch Ming spoke of the extreme popularity of the restaurant. The kitchen staff came to work at 7 in the morning, sometimes working until 4 in the morning. How exhausting. I mentioned to Ming that I had read the job posting board and was impressed with the benefits offered the potential employees.
This is now Thursday, the next day. I am back at the breakfast bar of Mojo Jojo. This morning I am having the congee. I continued to write yesterday but realized I could not remember the name of the two epicurean masterpieces that followed the forbidden pasta. I reached out to Shamir, texting him.
Me: I cannot remember the name of the food we ate yesterday,
He Yes, I can’t remember as well. Hahaha
Me: So this is what I did. I went back and one of the waiters standing by the door remembered me. Told me what I ate and held the menu for me to photograph. Read the blog and you too will learn what you ate. Stupid Hahaha
He; Hahaha Yea. OK I will read later. Can’t wait
Me: Not posted. Stupid. Take your time
He: Haha okie
Me: Okay is how it is spelled. At least you got haha right lol
Looked to the photograph to find the name of the dishes But found I must have copied the wrong page – the sandwiches are not on the menu page I photographed. Not sure of what to do at the moment. Found a way out of the dilemma I will skip to dessert, get the names for sure and feature them in tomorrow’s blog.
After the Lucious Lunch we retired to the Kashmir Restaurant outdoor tables. Ming and some of her staff joined us there. Wine is available at the Kashmir Restaurant but not at Benny Hill’s.
Tomorrow shall be another foodie blog and the best Tandoori Chicken in the world will be featured.
Now to fill you in on another dimension in my life. Bloggingbrook has been featured in this blog in the past. She is now chronicling her days – showing the world what she does every day. It is fascinating. I responded to her.
Me: My goodness our lives are so different. Opposite to on another one could say. My daily activities are chronicled on the blog illustrated with photos. Yours are videos. Yours a rather typical but busy US life. I am a refugee in a foreign country. I hate gyms. Not fond of blowing and do not like sports. I shall soon live by the sea going for morning walks along the sand. We do have food in common. Me incredible gourmet restaurants – You a Trader Joe cook. We each prefer out own life style.
She answered, bringing joy to my heart.
She: Alexis, we are kindred spirits.
Of course I had to respond immediately and did
Me: What wonderful thing to say. Indeed that is true. Despite our superficial differences we are as you say kindred spirits. You made my day. Thank you. Alhamduillahl I am going to write of this on my blog.
My responses were hearted by the author.
In my typical fashion I HAD to Google kindred spirts. his is what I found. “Kindred spirits” refers to individuals who share a deep, intrinsic connection, often characterized by mutual understanding, empathy, and shared values or interests. This bond transcends typical friendships and can feel almost spiritual or fated.” Actually it does seem fated. We met at the Abu Dhabi Louvre restaurant in 2021 – I will go back, look at my photos and find the exact date. We have stayed in touch with one another all of these years by Instagram. I am encouraging her to come and live in Malaysia. I hope she sees my blog of February 11 – I will tell her to watch the reel. It is highly doubtful that I shall ever return to the United States and even so I have no connection with Texas, where she lives. We shall see.
I will stop writing now. I have an appointment with the Cheng Boon Chang the Chinese physician because my neck pain returned. Sometimes it takes more than one treatment. The horrendous Penang traffic forced me to cancel an earlier appointment. The traffic is an utter mess. I do have a solution but will speak of that at a later date.
Now onto the photographs you shall find attached to this blog. Benny Hill’s restaurant, a restored beautiful building. Photo taken from the Kashmir restaurant, those are the chairs that Ming and her colleagues sat upon, taking a break from their restaurant duties. The menu I mistakenly photographed – it does speak of the Seafood pasta not eaten by yours truly.
The owner of the Kashmir Restaurant in his typical stance, particularly when he is with me. Hahaha. Four lovely beautifully dressed Malaysian women and me. They were having such fun and responded when I congratulated them on their attire. A foodie photo, the fabulous peach dessert. It was amazing, the peach was so fresh and juicy, the layering, crisp and creamy. It was a little difficult to eat. I assisted Shamir as he manfully divided the delicious concoction into three pieces. Also a photograph of my precious blog card.
Many changes in my life. All good. One setback but with the assistance of the Anandani family I shall overcome. News of my Administrative Assistant. And more food, the Sky company meeting. Featured will be the best Tandoori Chicken in the world.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEd6R49TfWS/?igsh=cDFpNnA2cThlMHJz
