Get it right…

In the past, everyone went home for lunch. Those who were unable to do so would have their lunches delivered in tiffin carriers either from home or one of the few restaurants around. Now that full-time housewives are more or less a thing of the past and the ladies have their own occupations outside, there are no longer any piping hot lunches waiting at home and people are eating out a lot. To cater to the lunch hour crowd, fast food stalls sprouted all over like mushrooms after the rain.

I have a bone to pick, however, over the name. So far, a lot refer to themselves as “Economy Fast Food” and I have seen some who prefer “Economic Fast Food”. Now, “economy” is a noun and refers to the economy of a country, for instance, while “economic” is an adjective referring to things pertaining to the economy e.g. an economic downturn or an economic slowdown or depression. I would think that the word that they are looking for is “economical”, meaning that it is cheap and can help save money.

However, is it really that cheap these days? This is a combination of three meat and one vegetable… 

I had cangkuk manis, a bit of fish fillet, sweet and sour fried fish balls and half a salted egg with the rice and that cost RM4.00. I think if you ask for one meat and two vegetables, it will be RM3.00, two meat and one vegetable RM3.50. Wasn’t there a time when one could get that for as little as RM2.00?

If that is the case, I do not consider it that economical anymore…and neither is this plate of nasi lemak at Janggut’s stall at Grace Cafe near the Sibu Civic Centre – noted particularly for its dianpianngu…

For the uninitiated, janggut means beard and the name is derived from the fact that the guy running the Muslim stall at that cafe is bushily bearded. Well, that plate of nasi lemak cost RM4.00…but I did not really like the rice – a bit hard and not lemak (rich with santan/coconut milk) enough. The condiments that came with the rice were o.k.

But if you go to this lady selling her homecooked delicacies at the gate of her house, you can get the nasi lemak at only RM1.50…

Not only is it very cheap but tastewise, it is as good as many others that I can find around. I had a post on her Penang laksa recently (RM2.00) and at other times, she will sell fried mihun or fried noodles. I’ve tried both – not much ingredients but they’re very nice. After all, what can you expect for just RM1.00?…

Now, that is what I would call “economical”…

P.S.:
I bought the lady’s Milo cake once and it wasn’t too bad which is more than what I would say about her doughnuts and Malay kuihs…if you get what I mean.