Stupid mistake…

It was very hot in Miri but I did walk around the shops in the vicinity of the hotel where we were staying and I dropped by a supermarket there…just to look around and that was Mistake No. 1 – usually when we say that we will just walk around and look-see, we will surely end up buying something, right or not?

I saw these packs of noodles on display…

…and they had duck flavour! I love duck and I made up my mind there and then to grab one to bring home. My missus does not eat duck though…so I decided to buy another flavour that she would want to eat and I chose the scallop flavour for her.

These are “Hongkong style” noodles according to what is stated on the pack and a “Product of China” – there is no specific mention of the place of manufacture but the sole agent is a company in Hongkong. It did come to my notice that the noodles were kind of different from the usual instant ones and that was another reason why I thought I would want to buy that and try.

Now, Mistake No. 2! What I did not know at that point in time was that when you go shopping at the supermarkets in Miri any day of the week, they will not give you a plastic bag. In Sibu, this rule applies only on Mondays and Saturdays…but not there. I had no intention of walking back hugging the two packs of noodles, one on each arm, so I bought a recyclable bag – made available for customers at RM2.50 each. (You can buy a plastic bag for 30 sen, if you want.) I chose the maroon one – I thought that would look less feminine than the glaringly bright red one…but when I got back to the hotel, there it was! The bag in the colour that I did not want!!! Now, how did I end up with that instead of the one in maroon colour? Don’t ask me – I really don’t know!

Then when we reached home, I started unpacking and I took the noodles to show my girl what I had bought and then only did I realise another mistake that I had made – Mistake No. 3!!! Where was my duck flavour? How did I end up having the abalone and chicken…

…instead? Tsk! Tsk!

Ah well! I can’t jolly well fly back to Miri to go back to the shop to change so I just had to make do without the duck, like it or not. I opened a packet to try and this was what they had inside…

– the noodles, a sachet of the seasoning and another one with some sauce and bits of something inside. I think that would be the meat – which would explain the “mince” stated on the pack/packet while the “thin” probably refers to the noodles…

…and this was what I cooked and had for my breakfast that day…

Ah well, it was edible…this much I would say – nothing to get excited about and a bit too much msg for my liking. I think when I cook the remaining packets, I would just use half of the seasoning and probably, it would not be so bad.

But at RM10.90 for a pack of 5, I would say that it is way too expensive and certainly not worth it since it is not any any way special or nice. Incidentally, I saw them selling the MyKuali Penang white curry noodles at this same shop at RM10.80 a pack, RM3.00 more than in Sarikei and it only costs RM5.50 a pack in Kuching, so I’ve been told. I don’t know if it is only at this one shop or whether things are generally a lot more expensive in Miri but at those prices, I might as well go and buy our very much nicer made-in-Sibu Mee Daddy…

…currently on offer at only RM3.50 for a pack of 5 + 1, 6 packets altogether. So, at the end of the day, it sure looks like buying those China-made noodles wasn’t a great idea after all – another mistake on my part especially when I can jolly well use the money to buy 3 packs of our Mee Daddy, 18 packets…and still have change…and enjoy it a lot more.

But anyway, since I can’t throw all the rest away, I might as well make the most of what I’ve bought in whichever way I can. A few days later, I tried cooking another packet and I used half of the seasoning given only and added some extra ingredients of my own – sotong (squid), taugeh (bean sprouts) and one poached egg…and garnished it with daun sup (Chinese celery)…

…and of course, this way, it was a lot nicer…so I guess I can just keep what’s left to cook and enjoy as and when the need arises!