Sometimes, it can be really hard to be inspired to write a new post. A milllion things flutter around in my mind, all demanding equal attention, and despite knowing that this is my own personal time to utilize as I want, the words just don’t come out. Instead, my mind wanders. My fingers reach up to a pimple on my face. I scratch the scab off but the scar is ever present. When will this scar ever heal? It is right in the centre of my forehead, almost like a pottu. I’m approaching middle-age, and I still have a pimple that refuses to leave me. Even children know when to eventually leave their parents, but this pimple looks like it’s here to stay. Why can’t I be like one of those famous bloggers who gets a plastic surgeon to sponsor her nose makeover? I don’t want much. I just want to be rid of this pimple.
It doesn’t get better on MSN. As I type this, a separate conversation is happening on MSN:
Me: I’m trying to get inspired for a new post now. Can’t, though.
FBB: Oh, just think of me and write something viciously wicked. Imagine each poke of the keyboard a stab of the knife. bwahahahaha
Me: That’s an excellent idea. Thanks.
FBB: See. I am ur muse. Take out the ur. I am muse.
I am muse??!?! Now, in addition to being uninspired, I also have to cope with this intense feeling of wanting to throw up all over this keyboard.
And so I turn to email, to a friend close to my heart living down south. I tell him I am uninspired. He replies:
“why dontcha ask ME what to write. i have tonnes of ideas. well, you just need to add substances to it.”
Errrr, and feed that ever growing ego?
God help me, I’m surrounded by egomaniacs.
On Deepavali day, Bald Eagle and I spent the whole day at home watching the Golden Globe winning series, Mad Men, on DVD. We took breaks only to eat and use the toilet. By dinner time, I was feeling exhausted from sitting on the couch. “Let’s go out,” I said. “Chuish spoke about this great Japanese izakaya at Hartamas.” “You’re buying?” he asked me with an manipulative smile. “Yes.” Sigh, the things I have to do to bribe the man to go out.
Izakaya Tamako is tucked away in a section of Plaza Damas like a hole in the wall. It is so small, it won’t fit Bald Eagle’s uncles, aunts and their children. But as far as izakayas go, it is charming. There’s a whole bunch of Japanese writings on papers pasted on the wall, probably the menu, and there are a couple of pictures, one a pencil drawing of the KLCC, and the other a photograph of the owner with Tun Mahathir (or at least, that’s what it appeared to me from 7 feet away). Walking in, I thought I was in heaven. Billows of smoke surrounded me (them Japanese love to smoke), and my ears were filled with vibrant sounds of Japanese chatter. As I said, it’s charming.
There are salads, and there are salads. No doubt, this plate consisted of a bunch of leaves thrown together with a very light vinaigrette and sprinkled with sesame seeds, but one should never look down on a simple salad. I’ve eaten substandard salads at a prominent organic restaurant in The Gardens costing three times what I paid here, but the leaves looked tired. I doubt that I’ll ever eat at that restaurant again. Anyway, the salad here, at only RM6, was nicer.
I was expecting more with the agedashi tofu (RM6), and while the exterior was nicely fried, the tofu was not the silken variant that I was expecting.
This restaurant is in-your-face non-halal, with multiple pork dishes on every page of the menu. The buta bara (RM8), pork morsels on satay sticks was delicious, very simply marinated and grilled, with just a hint of salt and pepper, and sweetened with slices of grilled onions. The pork slices had a nice bite.
My oyakodon (RM18) came with two raw eggs broken on a bed of rice covered with chicken. The resultant dish can be a bit soggy (from the sauce from the braised chicken) and slimey (from the eggs), but it is absolutely tasty.
His katsu curry rice (RM21) came with a generous portion of pork chops, which despite looking dry, was actually quite juicy and tasty. The sticky japanese rice was covered in a moderately spicy curry with bits of pork in it. The curry was excellent and reminded me of meals in Tokyo in wintertime.
The restaurant is open from 12pm to 3pm, and 6pm to 12am, perfect when I’m working late and need to grab a quick bite. I’m confident that finding one seat in the restaurant will be a lot easier than getting a table for 6.
Izakaya Tamako
E-0-10/E-1-10, Plaza Damas (Opposite Starbucks)
Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Other blogs: Food4thot and She, The Epicurious Girl.
Very nice shots. With Mont Kiara nearby there will be lots of Japanese. With them around it must be a good choice. Your choices very Malaysian. I personally limit my sashimi intake.
I have a sudden craving for chilled choya and japanese curry.
Today I had lunch at a place called Soba. Japanese/Thai/Msian/Sporean fusion joint. Prawn tempura was more like Goreng Udang (Pisang). Cost of lunch for 3 came out to 375dhs. Nuff said. 🙁
I AM MUSE! hahaha (as in I am legend!) .. no wonder no inspiration la.. lol . Anyway, looks like you found your inspiration eventually! nice write up;)
That was funny, with those inspirations from friends…haha, fbb became an egomaniac now:p
This is a nice place, with equally nice food and I especially like the way they arrange the bottles of rice wine…screams Japanese!~
Japanese curry …. one of my family’s most loved dish.
we often cook them with chickens though. like a stew.
strange ms Lyrical finding it hard with ‘nothing’ to blog about. =P
2 raw eggs!!! thats a first..
there are alot of izakayas isnt? theres another 1 that u ppl were raving about on the same row as starbucks?..
time to go..dinner and massage down the street..wat bliss..
Chin: As much as I love sashimi, I try to order stuff other than sashimi. And it’s assuring, of course, to eat at a japanese restaurant that is filled with japanese.
GFAD: Isn’t Soba a highly rated restaurant in Abu Dhabi? But I guess they can’t con a true gourmand. Is there a large Japanese community there?
cumi&ciki: Ah, you noticed the connection with I Am Legend, eh? So did I, but chose to deliberately ignore that. After all, FBB’s hardly a Will Smith.
Christy: Hehe…the men can be quite funny. Yeah, the bottles of wines are really attractive. I feel inspired to convert a section of my home into an izakaya look. hehehe.
J2Kfm: Oh, are you laughing at me, Mister? 😛
lotsofcravings: Yeah, there’s the other Izakaya directly opposite this one. I think the other one’s halal. Both have their niche market.
Ahh..finally you tried out this porky jap place. So i guess it’s worth visiting!
hmm, how come i never get bought dinner by the other half? see, you WERE inspired afterall. i lovely the bacon rolls at this place.
Hello! I was under the impression that oyakodon is supposed to be a little soggy from the mirin sauce, with the egg wobbly, no?
When the inspiration is gone, look for a song.
Your song.
Yes, the one playing in the mind right now.
It’s the ultimate lubrication to mesh the body and the mind.
And it helps if the food is as oishi as the rizu kare.
Precious Sista: Yeah, but I worry there won’t be enough place for all of us! hehe.
fatboybakes: Bald Eagle was testing me. He eventually paid, if that’s any comfort to you. Yes, you inspired me, MUSE.
Debbie: Yes, you’re absolutely right, of course. 🙂
HairyBerry: I doubt that the current song in my head, mostly about destruction, is very inspiring for a blog post. No, I need some LiteFM right now. Yes, the food was certainly oishi.
LOL @ the pimple. I know exactly what you mean! I was having a craving for Japanese food, reading your post just worsened it hahaha
Yes, it is highly rated. Won many awards too. Prolly cos it was voted by those with a western palate..
I was forewarned actually. A Japanese friend wasn’t even aware of such a place. And in a place where Jap rests are so few, with a fairly big Jap community, if they don’t know the place, you can be sure this is NOT the place to go for Jap food! But I had vouchers I wanted to use up mah.. 😀
oh.. i love liquidy egg yolks. yum yum….
and the more orange the yolks the better! :-p
Still have pimples mean u still young, haha coz in Mandarin pimple is called “youth bean” – (literally translate)
slurrrpsss… do they serve omurice there???
lovely, at least the eggs are not from chi-fake-na.
any interesting dessert?
Just love the simplicity and beauty of your opening picture – the blue background setting off the light yellow container of the disposable choppies. Man, I forgot to eat agedashi tofu when I was in KL despite eating Japanese three or four times.
(Queen of my camera dreams, may I suggest using noon or midnight instead of 12am/pm ‘coz anti- or post-meridien has ’12’ as the zero reference point? *heh, I make no sense, do I?*)
Hahaha… it’s kinda amusing to read how FBB torture you from time to time with his words. Okay, I know what should I order this weekend night.
oooh, the grilled pork! simple yet so yummy :). btw, that picture on the wall, it is Dr M. And no, the picture was not taken in this restaurant…hehehe..since it’s not halal 😀
The food looks good enough to entice me to make a trip there.
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
It’s been a while since I dropped by. And I do relate to you about being uninspired to write even when you have materials; sometimes, after work, the last thing I want to do is write when my job is about writing, and sitting in front of a computer.
Anyway, that restaurant looks like pork haven. It’s going to be on my list of new restos to try when I am back in KL. Thanks for sharing 🙂
eh, jason, me torture her? where got? i am the epitome of sweet angelic cherubic innocence, my words could not hurt a crippled house fly….
You mean you actually have to work hard at inspiring all of us who visit your blog? There IS a God! And Japanese curry is a dish for all seasons!
Linda: You have a pimple that won’t go away too? hehe.
GFAD: I read about that restaurant when I was researching places to eat in Abu Dhabi. It came with so many good reviews too! *roll eyes* But, gotta trust them Japanese. 🙂 And you, of course!!
keropokman: Me too!! 🙂 (psst…welcome back)
mimid3vils: Beans??? Eeek. I’ll never look at beans the same way again. hehe.
waisikmiao: Not sure….will check next time I’m there. 🙂
Henry Yeo: Didn’t see any.
Argus All Pizza-ed Out: Queen of Pizzas….I’ll take your suggestion…good one too…thank you! And glad you liked the opening picture. Love simplicity. Re age tofu: you can make it at home. Want recipe?
jason: It’s mutual, actually. But I think he’s meaner.
sc: Thanks for the confirmation….I was wondering about that! hehe!! Hope to bump into you some time!
Anton: Hey no prob…lemme know what u think too yeah!
Elaine: Long time no see!! Glad you dropped by! Gimme a buzz if you’re ever in KL. 🙂
fatboybakes: Yes you are. Cherubic angel, for sure. *snort*
550ml jar of faith: LOL. How sarky. 😛 So, a fan of japanese curry too, eh? Kewl.
The food looks really good.
Not getting inspired to write any matter interesting lately too…but your food photos always inspire me to get hungry….
Hehe, I’m gonna take notes from the Bald Eagle on enticing my Other to take me out for more treats. Especially Japanese, our common delight. 😀
had it on friday..dont bother abt the sashimi…
err personally thought it wasnt all that great..
although the tako balls tat the chef personally made..was quite good..
ooo…semi raw egg yolk? That must be interesting! Probably cooked with the heat of the rice then?
u wan the pimple to permanently disappear? how bout an excision? *rubs hands in evil anticipation of possible surgical procedure*
tigerfish: Yeah, I think we all experience moments like this. At times like these, eat on, I say. 🙂
LFB: You’re doing fine without lessons di. 😛
lotsofcravings: That’s a pity. I’ll try tako balls next time I’m there…thanks!
daphne: Well, it’s partially cooked and mostly slimy. Hehe.
Jun: Evil woman. But since you’re qualified already, can you also throw in a nosejob? 😀 And liposuction??? 😀 😀
Did I just read Curry Pork Katsu? Good, it’s so hard to find Japanese restaurant that sells pork nowadays in Malaysia.