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Dec 24, 2009

Diet During Dengue Fever

I was down for about a week, hospitalized with Dengue Fever

This is my second time getting such fever, the first in 1995 which was quite critical

My diet that time was Coconut drink, supplied daily by my beloved mother

This time around it was an upgrade, no more coconut drink, but

1) Virgin Coconut Oil



2) 100 plus



I do take pre-cautionary action not to mixed the drink, taking the coconut oil before breakfast, and having 100-plus during lunch and I was out from hospital exactly after 5 days...though continue resting throughout whole week in PD.

(It was a special case since it involved my 2 kids and my wife, so we almost like having a vacation in hospital)

Dec 1, 2009

Makan Durian

I was invited to a business luncheon in Central Perak, or Kg Gajah recently, only to be served with a basket full eat-all-you-can durian served with roti jala, kuah durian and variety of malays kuih.

My record was 2 pieces ( not even two fruits!!!!)

will updated with pictures

Nov 24, 2009

My New Blog

This blog is about my bicycling experience and the journey it takes

visit http://white-mtb.blogspot.com/

Oct 15, 2009

my new bike

I have planned to get a bike for quite some time, objectively as my mode of transport to work and to travel some 100km a day for my thesis preparation while saving the petrol and toll charges etc. etc. This will require some financial commitment, as the 'B' license alone will cost me RM700, not to mentioned the other accessories that suits the rider. I have thought I would get one, soon after aid-fitri 2009. Then, a US university proposed to me to teach there, therefore I have to postponed this agenda, as the saving is now being prioritized for that. Nevertheless, yesterday I bought one for me..as well 3 other, for my kids

this gilera NEXUS 460cc fully automatic italian made bike will cost me RM35k.. nope, not yet




what I get yesterday is a different NEXUS - MTB size 26'- aluminium body, shimano with 21 gear, front suspension with disc brake, environmentally friendly plus 3 other bike for my kids and some accessories habis la jugak RM1K++


updates - 24th October- the bicycle accesories - I used to have a road / racing bike and MTB (both belong to my brother) and I have not riding any bicycles since 1997 when I moved to Terengganu . I have lost the any information on the price etc. etc.

I was informed, having a MTB is quite expensive hobby nowadays as a good frame / body (entry level) will costing around RM2k. If carbon body - the cheapest is around RM4K, which I dont have. So, I have decided to buy a cheaper version and gradually upgraded it - here the list so far 1) Helmet RM100 2) Speedometer RM90 3) Lighting set RM110 4) Glove RM40 5) Pedal RM70 6) bottle holder RM35 7) Pump RM40.........next upgrades 8) the shimano crank RM350, 9) straight bar RM100 and 10) stem RM140 (mostly on the next availabe budget) not including my son knee and elbow protector RM40 plus another helmet RM100 for him btw if you wanted to tuck you bike behind your car -the carrier will cost RM250... baru basikal belum superbike :)

Oct 6, 2009

History.....


Off topic and not related to culinary.

I love history especially about my country... only recently the internet and digital technology made me to think twice on certain issues and obviously about this country

visit the link, have a look and do you agree what you have learned previously at school?

http://www.naim-firdausi.blogspot.com/

http://sejarahnagarakedah.blogspot.com/

Sep 30, 2009

Mecca Project Re-visited


Re-starting a project which began early 2008 and subsquently was put on-hold early this year, may have some impact and effects in many ways. That is whole one year worth of time lost and not to mentioned the effort and the energy.

I am not sure whether I am ready to face it all over again, meeting the dateline, meeting those who walk within corridor of powers, meeting my phd, meeting my ambitions and meeting HIM.

Life..........

Aug 26, 2009

CULINARY COMPETENCIES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MALAYSIA’S CULINARY EDUCATORS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

here is the abstract of my Phd proposals;
Culinary program is a formal and structured-career-oriented program, which upon graduation, the participant or culinary graduate is expected to work in a kitchen environment. Then with sufficient training and working experience a person most likely to be conferred with the title “Chef”. There are now as many as 7 institutions offering culinary courses with different principles in teaching and learning of culinary. These many views suit well to reformers suggestion on the next new thing, while on the contrary traditionalists demand on the basic competency (Antun 2008).

The debate on culinary curriculum development continues in tangent as this exciting discipline continues to grow. However there must be certain elements of stages to the formulation and analysis before making any decision or framework apart of emphasize on the selection of content. Similar process is also being offered by Toohey (1999); it clearly indicated that the process of curriculum development shall have several stages starting with establishing the need and ended with program validation. It also mentioned the selection of content as the core elements in any curriculum development. This is not the only model, as other educational experts also suggested similar process which will be further discussed in literature reviews.


The framework of culinary curriculum which is adapted from Hegarthy (2004) suggested that the curriculum should be moving forward because of uncertainty in liberal vocational educational as it requires culinary program to be constantly upgraded to suit the need of the industry and the advancement of technology of hotel and kitchen equipment. The sample derived from culinary program (diploma level) of 4 institutions in Malaysia indicate that vast difference and similar competencies are offered since each institutions has their own philosophy of teaching and learning even though all are known as Diploma in Culinary Arts.

The findings resemblances to the research conducted on the culinary science program by Birdir (2000) that there are 46 knowledge statements, 38 skills and ability statements, and 23 behavioral statements. While Hegarthy (2004) suggested four (4) areas to be included in core area and further supported by Santich (2007) which offer a different perspective in culinary / gastronomy competencies by suggesting 15 orientations.

The significant differences in requirement across program lead to series of questions, what knowledge and skills are most important for future success? And what knowledge and skills will be needed to adapt to trends that are emerging in this area of industry? (Harrington et. a. 2005).

It is therefore, the intellectual challenge for these program, are

1) To understand the changes that are taking place in the new fields and
2) The interaction of changes between them.

Since culinary arts is still considered as a new discipline, retrieving academic articles on the subject proved to be difficult. Hegarthy (2005) argues that culinary arts, culinary science and gastronomy have received little serious scholarlistic attention to date. This is due to the factors such as:

1)Lack of theoretical underpinning that would allow it to become a discipline

2)The difficulty in separating its transitory nature and link with physical work.
3)The industry needs from those of knowledgeable in the subject i.e. science or theory

4)The absence of doctoral scholars in the field – a major defiency in culinary arts and science education

Overcoming the scenarios or rectifying the problems of which competencies to be included in culinary program can only be satisfied by conducting a systematic research. In holistic perspective, the objective of this paper is to further strengthen the framework policy which can be best achieved through re-evaluation by integrating the culinary stakeholders (Antun, 2008).

Rashi Hariri August 2009

Aug 17, 2009

My Dream Set of Knife

knife is the most important tools for a chef. Myself have very few type of knife, namely the chef/ french knife 6", a utility knife. A boning knife ( a gift from a NZ chef), Serrated knife 11'' as Pastry Chef should have and few type of small knife.


Frankly these knife did not come cheap. Nevertheless I hope to get few more of them, and recently I found ..... now the money issue :(

the set of knife; with everage price of RM150 per piece, looks alike I need few thousand then.. only time will tell when I will get these

Food and Hotel Malaysia 2009

.....or FHM in short, are the biggest food fair and exhibition in Malaysia and South East Asia. Conducted as bi-annual programme offer various updated information's on food, food innovations, F&B machinery's and lots more.



Machineries for food production are the main attractions, nevertheless my main objective was to visit the food display


Bread and chocolates


Bread and confectionaries


Florence Tan with all her jokes!!!

Fruit Coulis, ice-cream and cheese products


Pastries and processed meat product

premium meat cuts and confectionaries

Organic Rice, Purified Water and Bird Nests


Vinegar, seafood and Spices


Spices, mushroom and frozen food


Processed Meat, Cheese and Chocolates


Pastries, Coffee Products and Premium Meat Products

July 09 - letters as life experience

Here are the extraction of 4 mailing which I received recently which I indicate it as life experience. The first two was from my current workplace. It was frustrating indeed, but then the last two mails make my day.

Mail - One
Despite your exemplary contribution to the university, we regrets to inform you that we are unable to process further your promotional application..... (know how, not know who..that is me) sucks - dont ask people to apply if you dont have the intention to promote your staff

Mail - Two
We regret to inform that your articles are not qualified for the incentive scheme (again know how, not not who, my paper is indeed accepted by one on refereed conference) another stupid policy; dont come up with such policy if you have double standards

Mail - Three
We would like you to join us as ........ for time being. Once you complete the PhD, the university will offer a better scheme up to Associate Professor. Since we are a research university, it will offer a conducive environment for people like you( an invitation from a public university of Malaysia)

Mail - Four (the best moment indeed....)
We would like to extend our invitation to you as Visiting Professor, from Jan 2011.( what!! a US-based state university invited me as a professor) (since then the conversation has been continue....)


Sometime with office politics, its only killing you and subsequently the organization. People will move forward and contributes more if only organization appreciate the workers. That is the core in human capital.

Life is a climb, at the end, the view is priceless - Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana the Movie ;)

Culinaire 09 for Ghazali



Zali...An Eiffel tower made from baguette, decorated with French Color...bon appetite monsieur!

Aug 13, 2009

Culinaire 2009: The kitchen Artist

Here, the display more as artistic using stryofoam, pastillage, butter sculpture, modelling chocolate or hard dough (bread) as the medium.