At first….
.
I thought……
.
she was just……
.
another……
.
pretty……
.
face.
.
Do not say, “It is morning,” and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a new-born child that has no name.
from Rabrindranath Tagore’s Stray Birds
We are all nomads, but I find myself gravitating to a time when we used to quote from Tagore and smile at the discovery of a new truth. The aphorisms in Stray Birds are so simple and so clear that I sometimes think that our minds are clouded with complexities that blind us. I seek joy in things of beauty, sometimes in Prada, sometimes in a newly bloomed flower in my garden of weeds, and sometimes in a friendship with a red-haired friend. All very different representations of beauty, but which serve to open my eyes and heart like a newly acquired pair of spectacles presented to me by a heart surgeon. And while I always whip off my glasses when I’m being photographed, they’re placed back on my snub nose in a jiffy so that I may see again.
************
The whitewashed tables and chairs were the first items to catch my fancy at IR1968, an Indonesian restaurant which was established in Hong Kong in 1968 (an excellent vintage year, if I may add) and which only just opened its doors in our fair land. It was refreshing to see the vibrant coloured cushions against the white background and curtains with repetitive prints of tree trunks, a far cry from the stereotype frequently associated with Indonesian restaurants.
The food is not typically Indonesian; some of the dishes have Chinese influences and some of the flavours have been dumbed down to suit certain palates, but nevertheless, I was still impressed with the offerings on the menu when I visited the restaurant last week. Among the dishes, the Gado-Gado, a quintessential Indonesian salad containing tofu, bean sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, potato, egg and keropok, stood out. It was served with a thick and sweet peanut sauce. The Tauhu Goreng Telur – fried beancurd mashed into large chunks and fried with egg like an omelette -was fragrant and crisp and I thought it was lovely enough when eaten on its own without the peanut sauce or fried shallots.
The Rendang was tender and creamy, more like a thick curry and thus quite different from our Malay style rendang, but putting expectations aside, it was still very enjoyable. It was our first time trying Kari Buntut, an ox tail curry which was spicier but more watery compared to the Rendang. It was cooked, curiously enough, with a host of vegetables, taufu pok and beancurd sheets. Looking beyond the authenticity of this dish, it was excellent when eaten with a serving of rice.
The Sate Ayam came with succulent morsels of chicken but it lacked the requisite charred quality, and so I found myself more attracted to the chopped chilli and kechap manis sauce which was served on the side (meant to be eaten with the sliced cucumbers). Not a bad thing, especially when eaten with rice and the above two curries. The Chicken Wings, fried with shrimp paste, was highly addictive with its moderately spicy and pungent flavour.
I loved the noodle dishes. The Bakmi Goreng with Seafood in IR1968 is essentially Sang Mee (crispy noodles) topped with a delicious seafood sauce consisting of fresh, crunchy prawns and squid, and while the purists may dispute the label, I thought it was a very tasty Sang Mee dish. The Meehoon Goreng, a simple dish, was fragrant with the flavour of seafood and fried egg and sambal. An absolute must-order.
For desserts, skip the fried pineapple (which seemed to have come from a can) and try the pulut, a rich creamy concoction that will leave you quite satisfied.
Prices are a bit random. I thought the Taufu Goreng Telur expensive at RM18 considering that it contained only tofu and eggs, but the other dishes seemed more consistent in pricing. Be prepared to fork out between RM50 to RM80 per person for food, but rest assured that the ambience is warm and cozy enough that you won’t feel like you have given your pound of flesh.
For a cheaper fix, try the executive set lunches (presumably on weekdays only) priced from RM18.
IR1968
Terrace at Hock Choon
241-B, Lorong Nibong, Off Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 017-209 8477
For other opinions, check out:
Eat Drink KL
Masak-Masak
The Malaysian Insider
Acknowledgements: To my BFF, A Lil Fat Monkey, for loaning me his camera for three shots used in this post, to my dear friend, Hairyberry, for sharing many moments of Tagore with me, to my red-haired friend, Msiagirl, who brought so much love and beauty into my life….thank you.
The best does not come alone. It comes with the company of the all.
from Rabrindranath Tagore’s Stray Birds
Meehoon Goreng (RM18)
Bakmi Goreng + Laut (RM18)
Tauhu Goreng Telur (RM18)
Mee Kuah Wanton (RM18)
Rendang (RM30)
Ayam Kepak Goreng (RM15)
Gado-Gado (RM18)
Peanut Sauce for Gado-Gado
Nasi Kuning (RM5)
Kari Buntut (RM22)
Sate Ayam (RM18)
Accompaniments for Sate Ayam
Fried Pineapple with Chocolate Ice Cream
Pulut with Santan and Vanilla Ice Cream
Lemongrass la….
I really shouldn’t be reading food blogs at this hour. The pictures are midnight poison.
How come you needed to borrow a camera though? Did something happen to yours?
Marcky: I went there on two occasions. On the second, I didn’t bring my camera, so Munkey very kindly loaned me his. Same model anyway. 🙂
It’s an absolute honour that my camera can be of service to the Queen. It’s almost like being touched by the hands of God *runs away for fear of being strike by lightning*
p/s: I’ll never wipe my camera clean. Ever!
Hey darling, you make my life so much richer too, miss you lots and glad to be able to see you again this week!
Munkey: chis…it is I who should be honoured as you’re a star in the making, O Hipstamatic King!
Msiagirl: Wish you were staying longer, though! I enjoyed Sunday with you and the kids. 🙂
Uhnz! Everything looks/reads delicious. Fried pineapples sounds goooood, i love it when pineapples are caramelised just nicely
ooo, how come i’ve never heard of this tagore. hmmm, but then, the only book/magazine i’ve picked up in the last 48 hours is entertainment weekly 😀
i’m trying to resist making a terribly offensive remark about one of these photos (hint: cannibalism!). i might not be able to resist much longer, so i’d better sign off here!!!
I absolutely enjoy the simplicity of Tagore’s words. And that is why Stray Birds is still safely stored in my phone. Haven’t made a copy into my new phone though.
“We live in this world when we love it”, said Tagore. How true. And it’s only when one loves the food and company very much that can result in such beautiful pictures and words.
This post is worth the wait. 🙂
Lainie: The food was surprisingly good. Yeah, fried pineapples done right would be absolutely delicious!
Sean: Stop hiding behind the veil of bimbo-ism coz I know you can spout poetry better than anyone else. 😛 Oh dear, I don’t think Msiagirl is gonna want you near her kids….or herself! Thankfully, they all smell of flowers and herbs instead of garlic and errr…herbs…hmmmmmm.
HairyBerry: Oh, we ought to look for a Tagore app for our iPhones! 😀 Y’know, I can read Tagore over and over again and find new meaning everytime. Thanks babe….you’re very kind!
lovely simply lovely:)
I thought u sed u gonna write something about the year u were born coz it has such a wonderful story in it?? no arr.. 😉
if they only add bacon to the gado gado…
ciki: shhhh! 😛 seriously though, whenever I write, the writing takes a life of its own and I sometimes deviate from my original plan. 🙂
KY: you and your babeee!
this restaurant getting the attention from the queens. must go take a humble visit but rm18 for taufu? wow..
lotsofcravings: Try their lunches 😀
[looking for scuba gear]…wah, so deep. what did one bull say to the matador? tagore or not tagore you today senor?
IR is what ah? engineer ah? intergrated resort? and whats 1968? the average price of your bill?
fbb: You smiled and talked to me of nothing and I felt that for this I had been waiting long. Tagore, Stray Birds
Great quote, LL! There is beauty in everything. I’m not sure about Prada. Maybe it’s just sour grapes, hehe.
Everything looks so good. Not good for midnight. And a light and early dinner. Argh
The bakmi goreng looks divine dah-link 😉 You look beautiful whether you have your glasses on or off, my snub nosed friend 😛
fbb: You smiled and talked to me of nothing and I felt that for this I had been waiting long. Tagore, Stray Birds
*burst out laughing*
For a while I thought it was a Vietnamese/Cambodian restaurant.
IR1968 – looks like hubs’ P.Eng number.
I met a lady at the bank the other day, my new Relationship Manager. She had gorgeous cocoa skin, lovely long eyelashes, deep red nails and the cutest little button nose. Reminded me of you. I almost wanted to take her out for dinner.
Manggy: LOL! To each his own. hehe. (I shall always love my Prada. :-P) You gotta try this food one day!
unkaleong: So sweet la you! You’re a keeper!
gfad: teehee! FBB didn’t get it though. Chis. Ya lor, the first thought that came to mind was Ingenieur. Aiyoh, you’re so sweet for associating all those positive virtues to me. I’m touched. You can take me out for dinner anytime too. 😀
Lovely shots as usual 😉
i’m falling in love more and more with Indo food everyday 😉 & been lookin for cheaper options..heard there’s a lot in Segambut area u knw..
..but mee kuah wanton looks good tho..err..must be the cina in me..hehe..see wanton..eyes went BIG!
absolutely love your shots! The colours are so vibrant and the food- ooh la la..
Tagore never left one’s lips as smoothly as with food this heavenly and company this warm and wonderful. Nothing like good friends to truly spice up a meal. 🙂
Becks: LOL, you’re so cute. Yeah, there’s loads of food outside our comfort zone and I’m really excited to try them all.
eiling: thank you! It helps that the place is so pretty too. 🙂
LFB: True true….I am blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful friends.
Kari Buntut! What an interesting name!! Hahaha…when I saw your first few photos on this post I was “wow-ed”… classic! U get to go places for food…I wanna do alike!! 🙁 (I’m stuck in Cyberjaya….sobs)
LOL Perutbesi! I guess it does help that I am a little more centrally located compared to you. Hopefully there’ll be more eateries in Cyberjaya soon. Keep your fingers crossed!
phuh… nice…
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