My missus did not cook last Sunday so we went out for a simple dinner at the chu char (cook & fry) place at the back of the coffee shop opposite the closed-down cinema at Rejang Park here.
We had the sweet and sour pork ribs…
…and the fried sea cucumber…
…which is sometimes known as the “fake fried sharks’ fins”. If you’re wondering why, it is simply because at the restaurants here, instead of the soup version of the ultra-expensive delicacy, they may serve you the dry or fried version which would look exactly like this. It is quite delightful really especially with a dash of black vinegar added. But of course, the thing being so expensive, it is really not affordable so what some people have done (much to the delight of some NGO people, I’m sure) is to substitute it with thinly sliced sea cucumber…and it will taste exactly the same – just as nice, I would say.
With the fried midin (jungle fern)…
…the bill came up to around RM20, inclusive of rice which I would say was a bit expensive but sea cucumber isn’t exactly cheap and the servings were huge – enough for three or perhaps even four persons. All things considered, I think it was quite reasonable and I would not mind going there again sometime.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 