mission no. 123

over the weekend, whilst most of you were putting your feet up and relaxing under the warm glow of the sun, i was involved in some highly-guarded top-secret activity. even as we speak, i am putting my life on the line to bring you the latest report.

the mission
last friday, i was approached by the boss, mr fei, to undertake a life-threatening and highly risky mission. the mission, should i choose to accept it, is to infiltrate my favourite bak kut teh (bkt) shop and provide the low-down on their activities. i can almost visualise the owner's buffy frame and it gave me chills to imagine that i will be antagonising this character. but i had to do it, for public interest, if nothing else. so, i sucked in my breath, put on a false bravado and informed the boss that i will take on the task that nobody had wanted.

into action
this sunday, i saw the best opportunity to approach this famed bkt shop. thruth be told, i have been part of his loyal followers since i was sucking thumbs and he was an apprentice with the real-deal at port klang. i can't recall whether his master's bkt was as addictive, but i grew up on regular doses of this guy's. one bowl of rice was never enough.

armed with a pinhole camera, i swooped in smoothly into his territory. the place was still deserted. oopss, i was there too early, the family was having their dinner. nevertheless, seeing a familiar face, taukeh immediately sprang into action.









"ai kwee ua bak kut ah?" (how many bowls of pork ribs do you want")

"taukeh ah, ai puek ua. koh ai te kua yeo chee kar te kah kah tau hoo pok" (oh, never mind the translation - i went ahead and ordered what i wanted)

aside from the basics, you have pork kidney and liver; scalded to just the right texture and taste, pork knuckles; marinated and braised until it is tender, yet with a juicy bite. since i was there too early, i missed the 'yau char kwai' and the 'braised chicken legs'. it was still work in progress for the two. sighhhhhhhh! a bkt meal is never quite complete without yau char kwai.
i stole a quick picture of the boss to satisfy your curiousity. you have to really appreciate this one as i was in danger of being scalded by hot bkt soup if the boss caught me in the act.

this is the man who has probably sold millions of bowls of bkt, enough to have bought several mercedes benz, and this was in the wee old days. however, he is also a very generous man. the last i heard, he has decided to share all his good wealth with mr lim in genting and therefore, he is still here, slaving over the hot pot for my bowl of yummy bkt.


now, the photo that everybody has been waiting for. the bkt itself. be warned. if you are presently running on a near empty fuel tank, this is probably not the time for you to look at his photo. those who have just had a hearty meal, unless you have something to appease you, this photo may also proof to be too tempting. tread on with caution.

notice the succulent meat on each pork rib.....the hot steaming soup.....the mouth watering aroma.....

i have tried many types of bkt over the years but none can compete with this man's. the soup is clear and sweet but at the same time, laced with intangible chinese herb that is most beneficial for your health. it is definitely not the type where you have the bitterness of the 'dong kwai' swimming in your mouth or the 'kei chee' floating in the soup. this is one bkt that's delicious and good for your health.



if you are feeling rich, you can add in abalones and mushrooms. personally, i think these do not enrich the taste in any way, and therefore are dysfunctional. still, some prefer the bite and the chewiness of the above, so to each his own.


a complete meal. ahhhhhhhhh.











or you can have it my way...........everything goes in there and gulp! down my stomach. burpppppppp!



as i've said, one bowl of rice is never enough.


for those who have been snared by this tempting review, look him up.







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i'm happy...and my stomach is happy.