Friday, June 4, 2010

Tok's Birthday @ One Step Western

Tok turned 67 on 1 June 2010 but we celebrated her birthday the next day, 2 June 2010 so that Pak Long and Mak Long who came from Pekan could join us. This time we decided to hold the party at One Step Western @ Pak Ngah Restaurant.

We invited Aunty Noyah, Uncle Kassim, Kak Nor and Abang Yan to join us not just celebrating Tok’s 67th birthday but to try the food at One Step. It was quite a challenge for Uncle to prepare 12 dishes of orders at one go couple with some other orders from his customers. But with his experience and skill, he managed it quite well. Food was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the dinner, we surprised Tok with a birthday cake and birthday gifts from Tok Wan and Ibu.

To our dearest Tok @ Mummy, Happy 67th Birthday from all of us. May Allah swt continue to grant you good health, clear wisdom and happiness. We love you.

For Uncle AP always persevere despite challenges and above all, don't quit....

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Edgar A. Guest

Tok supervising the Chef :-)

Tok Wan enjoying the Sirloin Steak

Chef and his assistant at their open air kitchen!

Patiently waiting...

Everybody enjoying their food, especially Thaqif!

Chef delivering the cake

Tok cutting the cake


Tok happy to receive a new handbag from Tok Wan

Hmmm.......Bonia wallet

One Step Western


The Chef!

One Step Western @ Pak Ngah corner


One Step is Uncle AP’s new place where he and his friend, the restaurant owner team up to offer western dishes at night. During the day, the restaurant operates like other normal malay restaurant selling malay food. Only at 6pm, Uncle AP will take over and serve western food to his customers. One Step is located at Jalan Prima Setapak 4 somewhere behind Kenny Rogers Restaurant along Jalan Setapak. The name “One Step” was the idea of Abah who thinks that the words can either mean its location in Setapak or Uncle AP’s first step in going on his own.

He started his business mid of May this year and we helped him beef up the place here and there and have chosen Orange as the theme colour. To save cost, Ibu used her creativity to designed the Menu. So far the response has been encouraging although there are times when business is rather slow. Being a malay restaurant in Chinese dominant area, it is not that easy to attract the Chinese customers to come. Majority of his customers are the people who come to Pak Ngah’s studio located at the first floor for their dancing lesson or practice. Pak Ngah, the composer has been to One Step several times and a few artists who went to the recording studios upstairs. Not bad right for a start!


One Step
serves only western food, something that Uncle AP is very good at. Although he can make excellent steaks, he can’t make really good steaks with frozen beef at cheap price. At the moment, he is still experimenting different kind of beef for his steak menu. His best selling so far has been the Chicken Chop and for me who never like Chic Chop, after tasting his, I fell for it almost instantly. It is crispy at the outside and juicy in the inside and it taste great with his black pepper sauce and coleslaw and fries as the sides. Our other favourites include Mushroom Bruschetta and his beef burger, the beef patty is even bigger than McD Quarter Pounder. He already has regular customers for his burger. Come and try them yourselves. It’s Fresh, Exciting and Satisfying (that's the tag line!).


Sirlion Steak RM19

Chicken Chop RM12

Lamb Chop RM14

The Banner


Chef and Chef to be in action!!!

Chef and Ibu

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Kenduri di Kampung Dewan Besar, Labok

Sememangnya kami selalu tidak sabar untuk pulang ke kampung sekiranya ada jemputan walimatulurus. Kenduri di kampung memang tak sama dengan kenduri di bandar. Banyak belanja untuk catering yang belum tentu sedap, dewan ataupun khemah yang canggih dan macam2 lagi. Tapi di kampung, semuanya simple, masak sendiri dan khemah cukup untuk melindungi tetamu dari panas terik matahari atau hujan. Lazimnya, orang-orang kampung dan saudara mara bergotong royong membantu keluarga pengantin membuat persiapan bagi meraikan kedua mempelai.

Pada 13 Mac 2010 yang lalu, kami pulang Kg Dewan Besar di Labok Machang untuk menghadiri majlis perkahwinan sepupu Abah. Kami bertolak agak lewat dari Kuala Lumpur kerana terpaksa menghadiri majlis anugerah pelajar cemerlang pada sebelah pagi. Kami tiba di Kuala Krai pada pukul 7 malam and selepas bersiap2, kami terus pulang ke kampung bagi menghadari upacara akad nikah. Kami tiba di rumah lebih kurang pukul 11 malam apabila semua telah selesai. Sememangnya ia hari yang amat memenatkan. Apa tidaknya, kami berada di dalam kereta hampir 10 jam! Tapi kami gembira kerana dapat bersama2 meraikan hari yang penting buat sepupu Abah.

Keesokkan harinya, seawal pagi kami sudah ke dapur menyiap lauk pengantin. Keluarga Tok Abah telah diberi tugas menyediakan meja pengantin beserta lauk-pauknya. Pak Ngah seperti biasa mempamerkan kehebatannya menyediakan lauk-pauk yang enak seperti Ikan Masak Merah, Udang Galah, Ayam Golek dan hiasan2 yang cantik. Ahli keluarga yang tidak terlibat membantu Pak Ngah telah bertolak lebih awal bagi membantu memasak di kampung. Sekali ini, keluarga pengantin menumbang seekor lembu. Kerja2 menyembelih telah dijalan sehari sebelum kenduri.

Ini adalah gambar2 yang sempat diambil semasa kerja2 mamasak dijalankan. Mungkin ada yang tak pernah lihat mesin perah santan yang digunakan :-)

Bangsal Memasak

Khemah untuk lelaki
Khemah untuk wanita

Perut muda untuk dibuat Air Asam campur Limpa...sedap!

Makcik2 pakar masak

Ada yang di dapur membuat persiapan

Thaqif dan Naif perah santan. Dapat upah RM10 seorang...

Gulai Darat hampir siap

Abah, pakar perah santan!

Abah dan Pak Teh manjalankan tugas

Setelah Pak Ngah selesai dengan tugasnya, kami bergegas pulang ke kampung lebih kurang pukul 10.00 pagi. Setibanya kami di sana, kami terus menjalan tugas menghias lauk-pauk dan meja pengantin sebelum rombongan pihak lelaki tiba selepas zohor. Antara pekerjaan yang paling mencabar ialah menghias meja pengantin dengan ukiran buah2an. Maklumlah di kampung bukan mudah untuk dapatkan bunga2 dari Cameron Highlands! Pak Ngah telah membuat ukiran buah2an lebih awal di KL dan kami hanya membantu menyusun atur supaya ia menjadi tumpuan para jemputan. Walaupun menggunakan daun2 paku yang diambil di kawasan tepi sungai bersebelahan dengan rumah pengantin dan bersulamkan bunga2 kampung seperti bunga kertas, hasilnya amat menakjubkan. Lihat saja gambar yang tertera di bawah.

Sekali pandang, susun atur meja pengantin macam di dewan hotel lima bintang :-) walaupun hanya di kampung dan di anjung sebuah rumah kayu.







Pasukan Pak Ngah dan Mak Ngah di belakang tabir

Pak Ngah dan Ibu dengan kreativiti masing2

Sememangnya seronok kalau ada kenduri di kampung, ibu dan ayah sibuk membantu tapi kanak2 pula sibuk mandi di sungai. Abah @ Pak Long memang suka melayan budak2 mandi sungai dan bawa mereka ronda kampung sambil menikmati panorama bendang padi yang memang tak dapat dilihat di Kuala Lumpur. Inilah masa untuk mereka jadi "Kampung Boy" macam abah2 mereka zaman kanak2 dulu.

Setelah upacara bersanding dan makan berhidang selesai, tibalah masa untuk petugas2 mula menjamu selera dengan saki baki lauk pengantin! Lauk-lauk yang dihidangkan seperti gulai darat, ayam percik, acar timun, ikan masin dan sambal cukup untuk membuka selera. Setelah selesai kenduri dan hilang penat, kami beransur pulang dengan lebihan lauk-pauk yang tinggal.
Untuk mereka yang masih mempunyai kampung, kita adalah generasi bertuah kerana masih dapat merasa pulang ke kampung dan menikmati suasana kampung yang aman dan menyeronokkan.

Posting ini ditulis khas untuk Hajar. Kepada Hajar dan suami, selamat menempoh alam rumahtangga. Semoga bahagia ke anak cucu dan semoga menjadi isteri solehah dan ibu mithali.




Hajar dan bilik pengantin dan pelamin

Like TLG facebook @That Little Gerai in AU5