I bought these otak-otak udang (prawn cake) from my regular Bandong stall the other day…
They looked pretty good on the outside, so I bought 4 – 2 for my missus and 2 for myself, at RM3.00 each – totalling RM12.00. But unfortunately, they were not nice at all…
I did not like the taste. I wonder what ingredients they used as it tasted sort of peculiar. Normally, it should be fragrant with the use of kunyit (tumeric) and the leaves. Even the texture was all wrong. It felt as if there were grains of rice in it whereas I would expect it to be smooth and firm – something like the texture of fish cakes or fish balls.
I guess it is the same with people. Some may look very nice externally but you do not know what lies within. In the words of Shakepeare, “the false face hides what the false heart doth know.” Like these lines from this Carole King song go, “…people can be so cold. They hurt you, and they desert you, they’ll take your soul if you let them…”
But then of course, there are people who may not look very pleasant or may not be so pleasant to look at, but they actually have hearts of gold and there are yet others who are just as nice as they appear to be…like this char siew pork that I bought the other day from the Master Bakery Cafe where I used to buy those nice butter pastries…
There is a restaurant at the back alongside the bakery and I had been wanting to buy the irresistable-looking phak lor (braised five-spice) pork that had got me drooling each time I walked past the shop but I never did. Finally, that day I decided that it was time to do just that, so I went there only to find that they had done it differently – with char siew sauce. I went ahead and bought two slabs of the pork anyway, for RM14.00 altogether…
Not only did it look nice but it was very delicious too – tender and juicy (not dry as in the case of some char siew or barbecued pork from other places) but there was so much my missus and I could not possibly finish, so we had to save one slab for another day.
Well, compared to the otak-otak, it was just RM2.00 more and a lot tastier and satisfying in comparison and there was simply too much for two persons in one sitting. Don’t you wish sometimes that people are just like that – what you see is what you get – as nice as they look and much more? What do you think?
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Well, STP, I feel blessed for I’ve met some very nice souls. As nice as they look. But then, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. On the contrary, I’ve met some rather nasty ones too though they are dolled up, so nice-looking. Looks can be deceiving eh?
Yup, much had been said regarding this e.g. Beauty is skin deep or we should look for the beauty within…
Of course it is wonderful to have something or someone look as beautiful within and without. But if I was given a choice, I’d go for the soul. I’d rather have people who are kind though they may not look attractive.
I couldn’t agree more… What’s the use looking so nice on the outside but rotten to the core inside?
Same here, Higgins. If someone has a heart of gold, it matters not if he/she doesn’t look attractive.
Then the person will be attractive…inside out.
Given those choices, of course it’s better that people look beautiful and are also kind-hearted at the same time. Just like suituapui 😆
Chesh! Sticks and stones may break my bones… I would like to believe that the “sui” comes from within though. Sadly, more often than not, the good-looking ones are vain, selfish and so full of themselves…maybe because all their lives, they’ve been praised for their good looks and it has got into their heads…
i love the analogy you used to convey what you want to say in this post, so very descriptive yet subtle (and definitely mouth-watering too!) But I guess you as a teacher would have seen enough to know and be able to distinguish a person’s naked ambition beneath the exterior which they hide in, which may or may not be true/honest.
I, of course, can only hope I belong to the latter group, but if I’m not, I’m giving you the power to harshly remind me what you deem is the most important character in a man to live a good and honest life, that, and of course the fact that I will never be able to taste the delicious phak lor pork (thought of a pun: f*ck lor, pork, of course damn nice la! :P) if I don’t come and visit your place one day.
Oh…worry not! In your case, you’re good looking and very nice and very friendly…and very rich too! Gee! Talk about somebody who has it all! Some people have all the luck in the world! *green with envy!!! Hahahahahaha!!! Looking forward to the day when you’ll drop by here! I’ll make sure you’ll be able to dine (avoiding the word “eat”) on whatever “bak” (avoiding the word “meat”) you want! ROTFLMAO!!!
P.S. Huai Bin’s complaining that I went to KL and didn’t get in touch with him! Hehehehehe!!!
wahrao butter me up for what. sounds like you’re gonna eat me one fine day once i achieved the vice-STP status, just like how the witch fed hansel in the Candy Castle, to be eaten up later!
whoaaa this sounds so wrong in many levels! >.< hahah yea I told Huai Bin you were around. Whoops!
Hahahahaha!!! It’s Sunday today and I went to church this morning. So I was telling the truth, and trying to be discreet in my choice of words, all the time avoiding the devil’s taunting in phrases like “able to distinguish a person’s naked ambition beneath the exterior which they hide in”!!! I noticed that, Chriso! …Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil! A….men!!! LOL!!!
So you told Huai Bin! No wonder he knows! I don’t think he drops by my blog anymore these days. Too many better things to do in the city…
Think the prawn otak is all wrong is due to the fact that prawns aren’t suitable for that sort of heavy spice treatment. Also, the prawns cld have been off be4 being made into otak?
I wouldn’t know…but I would think it’s because actually they did not know how to make it and just came out with something to pass off as otak-otak and failed miserably!
have u tried the Muar otak-otak? they claimed that its the best otak-otak in msia as its originated from there..
No…Chriso aka Spinzer went to Muar the day after the night of our first encounter (LOL!!! And that was the night of the morning I met you! Gee! This is so complicated! Hahahahaha!!!) but I don’t think he had it in his otak to get me some otak-otak! Anyway, I would not be around anymore by the time he got back to KL…
I never really like otak-otak anyway. the one you bought looks so pale tho ..
Yalor! It looked ok outside, but not inside…and it tasted as bad as it looked!
Just cooked ‘o bak kay’. Extremely disgusting to look at (Sam screamed when I showed her) but the taste is….(no words to describe).
That’s one thing that looked terrible, tasted wonderful….and stop right there, kpenyu! Don’t you come and start telling me that looks terrible – feels wonderful joke of yours! I remember it only too well…still!!!
wow nice yummy!
the char siew especially! haha =D
Yes, it certainly tasted yummy! Don’t mind going back for more… LOL!!!
Hmmm…very chim indeed. I can’t help recalling the person we’re talking about when I read through this post, don’t know why. Anyway, I shall stop here. Hehehehe! 😉
If you’re thinking about the one I’m thinking you’re thinking about….Nah!!! The one’s not even good looking…and definitely not worth thinking about! Hahahahahaha!!!!
That is why they said don’t judge a book by its cover. I guess the most important thing is not to expect too much n just do your very best in what you can n you will not be disappointed. Like they said you lose some, you win some,….in the journey of life there will always be obstacles along the way,but how we handle them n moving forward is what counts….
Yes…we just keep moving on, come what may!
Ps.hope you get my sms to you this morning. Haven’t hrd from your friend yet, so not sure what is happening.
I forwarded it to him already, so if he does not get in touch with him, just let sleeping dogs lie…!!! Bet he’s busy with his own programmes!
char siew pork! yummy. thought i wanted to have soy sauce chicken + rice today for lunch, ended up having double quarter pounder from mcd. sigh
Hahahahaha!!! Not influenced by my previous post, I hope.
Guess that U have more posting on food tomorrow. Hopefully, what you are about to sample will get a good review… Waiting for them to cool off first before I send them over for sampling and reviews…
Waiting eagerly… Keeping an eye on the gate! LOL!!! Will definitely post on it – but maybe on the actual date of the festival. Must remember to take nice shots – sometimes, too anxious, only remember after eating halfway! LOL!!!
P.S. On 2nd thoughts, I’ll be posting on them tomorrow morning! Can’t wait to brag about what I have… Hahahahaha!!!
Oooo…bak chang! Oh damn! I had 3 bak changs yesterday and I forgot to take pictures. Hhahahahaha!!! Nevermind, waiting for your post. Hahaha!
Ok…posted liao! Have you tried the ones at the roadside stalls along Green Road (in front of the kolo mee shop) around 3-4 in the afternoon? The nyonya changs are very nice…
Pork over otak-otak anytime! And never judge a book by its cover but then again, packaging plays a very important role!
But the packaging may sometimes be deceiving. Like Fidani chocs! I saw the limited selection available at Kuching airport – the boxes did not seem to draw any attention at all and I had a hard time searching high and low for them. When I finally found them, tucked in one corner, my first reaction was that they looked like fragrances – perfume boxes. But I bet the chocs inside must be very very nice…
I don’t rally like otak otak but the char siew looks mouth watering! : )
Another one who doesn’t like otak-otak. I love them but I haven’t had any good ones for a long time now. There used to be a bakery along Orchard Road in Singapore – one of those Breadtalk or Bread Story or whatever chain. They sold otak-otak in buns. VERY nice! I used to buy them in boxes to bring home but on my last visit, the branch was no longer there…
I don’t really like otak otak but the char siew looks mouth watering! : )
Duplicate comment…but never mind! Adds to the miserable total! Hahahahaha!!!
I guess all that glitters is not gold huh ? I think there’s a restaurant near the esplanade. i think the name is ‘kien hock’. They sell excellent chicken rice and char siew rice too !
No…appearance can be deceptive! Ya, my in-laws go there but I heard from some people that there isn’t anything really to shout about. I guess one man’s meat is another man’s poison!
but its the otak otak case u encounter that happen a lot in reality..;-( btw thanks for the compliment you drop by 😉
Welcome, breadpitt…and welcome to my blog. Do come again. Will add you in my blogroll. Ya…that’s the reality of life that all of us go through.
Woah…. can eat bak chang until go to heaven one ah? sungguh dashyat! haha.
Thank you TOC for the bak chang…. unfortunately i did not wallop all 5. In fact i only had 2. Anymore left that i can go wallop in your house? or have you finished walloping them all to recover from your sweating sessions in Zazen? hehehe.
Oops! Wrong post! Now I have to transfer my reply… Hahahahahaha!!!
Oh man… STP pls delete the above, posted comment on the wrong post. hahaha
Multi-tasking, are you?…Never mind! The more the merrier! Hahahahaha!!!
senility 😉
…and he’s not even married yet! LOL!!!
the pork look so nice and juicy. will try to find this place when I walk around there next time.
That’s one good thing about it compared to the barbecued variety! Nice…but a bit too fat, the second piece! Quite hard to see when buying because of the char siew sauce.
So embrassing…!!!! LOL.There was an article about causing irrepairable damaged at the click of a button..sms as well. Classic example.
You’re talking about KNB?…You can use the REPLY feature, yunno? Then your comment will appear immediately below his! Hahahahaha!!!
Tell me about it… at my previous job, we used Yahoo Messenger to communicate. One day my immediate boss came back from a meeting with Datuk with face black black. So i msg-ed a colleague of mine “I think boss just kena bomb by datuk”. Problem is, i clicked wrongly and sent the msg to my boss!!! haha. Thank goodness he is the best and most understanding boss i have ever worked under. I went to apologise to him and he laughed at me. huaahauah. So pai seh.
So there’s a lesson to be learnt here! Watch where you press…or poke your finger! Hahahahahaha!!!
someone I know once sms to the wrong number and all knew he had an affair..lol
What’s everybody doing here? Enough comments liao this post! The bak chang one still lagging behind! Shoo! Shoo! LOL!!
someone i know did not one to share room with a particular guy during a course at Damai. Had his say to the organiser but send the sms to the guy!!!!!!
Hahahahaha!!! Pity him mah! I would snore like a steam engine, later he couldn’t sleep. I’m so considerate…but he took it so badly! Thought I was avoiding him! Besides, senior teacher must get own room mah! Special privilege! Advantage of being old! LOL!!!