The Roasted Venison

the roasted venison for "sahur", anyone?

Venison can describe meat of any mammal killed by hunting. It was originally applied to any animal from the families Cervidae (deer), Leporidae (hares), and Suidae (wild pigs), and certain species of the genus Capra (goats and ibex), such as elk, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, moose, reindeer/caribou, pronghorn, brown hare, arctic hare, blue hare, wild boar, and ibex, but its usage is now almost entirely restricted to the flesh of various species of deer. In Southern Africa venison is the meat of antelope. (wikipedia, last visited: 12 Aug)

I got a chance to have a roasted venison for my lunch recently prepared by a team of chefs. I do cautious on my red meat intake, nevertheless, the taste is awesome and I even manage to packed it for my family, which later taken during their first day of sahur* :)

*Sahur; the early breakfast, obligated to be taken before the start of fasting for the whole day during ramadhan month

DSLR Training

In my previous entry, I have informed about my toys which include 2 mountain bikes and a DSLR equipped with 18mm-200mm, 50mm and a flash. It was  a great investment as I was fast moving into sports fotography not to mentioned the food as well.

As I gradually improving myself, attending a training or two in fotography became one of the agenda for this year. I immediately register the two-days Nikon in-house training. the fees was reasonable if compare to other training offered, and the best part is the focusing on D90 cameras.

The first day training was focusing on button and gadget available on the D90. While the second day focusing the shutter, aperture and ISO, ways of manipulation of lights, the lenses and obviously the object, subjects etc.etc

I must say it was a great journey and I love it every single moment....

If compare to mtbiking, the SLR is much cheaper...if combined both....there a very expensive hobby indeed, nevertheless you are invited to see some of my pictures at http://www.white-mtb.blogspot.com/ and I am improving fast on every single shot :)

Culinary School Architecture

I have designed and developed many kitchen, be it for commercial restaurant or learning institutions. My knowledge was used intensively during teaching and of course, when a client asked me to design their kitchen. Once someone claimed my drawing as his design and getting awarded while lying and stealing all my effort (plagiarism) .... but GOD is great, he will get his payback soon :)

Back to the issue, in designing the training kitchen, there are several factor to be considered

1) the kitchen mileage
2) ergonomics
3) type of equipment
4) psychological
5) curriculum content
6) cost

But the most important aspect will be on the teacher or chef instructor must have sufficient knowledge in culinary to teach young generations of chef. It is a skill that many young lecturer obviously are lacking of or worst simply without any...what!!! :)

Another Favorites...ABC

ABC is an acronym for Ais Batu Campur or literally translated as mixed shaved ice. This product is categorically under soft ice-cream which includes the sherbets, cendol and ever-popular ice-blended.

Normally taken during hot summer :) or whenever you have hot food & spicy like satay or chilli-based dishes

It has varieties of condiments like roasted peanuts, jelly etc sometimes served with ice-cream. I love it when it has lychee...simply cool and amazing.

Another Favorites

my whole family loves this soft bread :)

Lontong Klang

Lontong is traditional breakfast item made from several ingredients namely vegetables and fermented soya served with diluted flavored coconut milk making it suitable for vegetarian.

Frankly I never like having a lontong, maybe due to I never been trained to a soup-based breakfast products, with exceptional this "Lontong Klang". This famous lontong offers an enhanced version which include bergedil, sambal sotong while its fermented soya was crispy fried and the secret lies on the dessicated coconut; all compliment each other making it the best lontong available.

In yesteryear, the shop was located along the bazaar near Klang Bus Station, thus the name is derived. Nowadays it has one restaurant located in Seksyen 7 next to Shell station and UNISEL of Shah Alam. Since its normally full house, please come early to avoid any disappointment.

Nevertheless, for your eyes only; enjoy the lontong served with sambal sotong

Our Favorites

My family favorites flavors & brand of ice-cream,

simply lovely and indeed considered as some of luxurious item that I could afford :)

Being a member of NZN Expressions!, I will get discount of 10% anytime,

30% on the 29th & 30th day of the month plus a tub of ice-cream for my birthday...

marvellous!!!

Kopitiam - Kluang RailCoffee

I must admit that I am a coffee lover despite at very minimal consumption. Nevertheless if I got a chance to have a cuppa or two, I will never resisted the concoctions

Given a choice, I still prefer local brewed coffee rather than the overprice and over promoted international brand of coffee.

Some of the popular kopitiam which I frequently visited are the Uncle's Lim in Subang Jaya and Kluang Station in IKEA, Damansara. Previously, I had my chance to drop by to the other Kopitiam as well like the one in Kemaman, Terengganu and White House in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to have my coffee at the 'original' Kluang Station in Johor. In term of taste, it was not much different from the one located in Damansara. Perhaps, more importantly of being in such original place with the original ambience, which definately cannot be replicate elsewhere.

Enjoy the coffee 'O' and served with kaya/butter toasted bread....bon apetite

Basic Fruit Carving Session

The Classs was conducted on Saturday 3rd April, lead with Chef Hamir.

Opportunity Knocking The Door - The Decision

I will be joining a Research University soon.

The University is ranked first in Malaysia, 11th in South-East Asia, 81st in Asia, and 686 in the world currently.

It wasn't the ranking I am concerned nor the salary scale I am receiving, but rather the opportunity to complete my PhD as soon as possible as the teaching hours are reduced by 50% as to compare with my current employer.

I am qouting my advisor - "view this opportunity as if as getting a scholarships for your PhD"

Opportunity Knocking The Door

I am in the midst of discussion of accelerating my own career, hope to strike a good deal

Cuti-Cuti

This Friday and Saturday to Lenggong, Perak to cycle with my brothers.

Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday to Malacca and Batu Pahat Johor for a friend wedding.

I guess that is the impact of riding and shooting as a hobby.

Building New Hotel School

I was invited as Partner-Consultant in developing new hotel school in Malaysia. This is my second project whilst being a PhD candidates in Curriculum and Instruction, and the first project was about 2 years ago.

The project will include the Vision, Mission, business orientation and drawing of strategic blueprint for the school.

Being the key member in this project, my conceptual idea is vital in making sure the successful rate in the both area of hardware; the infrastructure and the software-the knowledge and skill needed for a school.

Nowadays; a hybrid program is the keyword for success.

The experience in developing such school are related to my long term career planning, as I already anticipating being a referral in the area of Culinary and Hospitality Infrastructure :)

On TV2 630am-700am

I was informed our cookery program has been be appeared daily on TV 630am onwards.., others are my colleague, Chef Abdullah and Chef Asmah.

Genting 26-28 February

I am off to Genting. Objectively to prepare strategic paper on Knowledge Management. I have been involved with experts on this area for the past one year. For sure, I will having fun with these wonderful people. I consider myself as rookie in this area with some exposure during my master paper and assisting a friend of mine completing his PhD thesis. During the meeting, I will present the implementation strategy which highlight some aspect of Management and Organizational behavior as well the solutions

Knowledge Management is a new area in both theories and practical, not to mention almost non-existent write up in Culinary perspective. I believe I am in the right direction.

Thinking of Future

Now its time to have a deep thought and self-reflection on my future

Happy and Prosperous CNY

Wishing all my friends and students, A Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year 2010

On TV last Tuesday

I was on TV2 last tuesday.. morning segment, preparing the sugar-less bread :)

I didnt know or let alone watch it as I was having a class that time, until a friend of mine inform me.... ghee, where is my copy of that session

Office Politics

Technically I prefer to read others's blog on politics - example like Malaysia Today or Kopitiam Abg Nan, but that is on nation politic.

Office politics, hmm... I am not interested. As for I know most of Hariri's are very professional, hardworking while accepting whatever came in their career life, me included.

I was introduce to this kind of politics since 2002 when I was requested to take the 2nd top position in a institution/company. That point is more as strategic move as I was tasked to turn-around the company which has been loss since the last 5 year.

It was a small group of 12 employee - Not much on office politics there, nevertheless I learn most of the business strategy, art of war and organizational behavior, luckily we manage to turn-around within a year and I manage to secure half-day leave to further study and whenever CNY - I will get 'big' angpow.


That did not make me an expert, but somehow I has manage to handle a case involving a particular organization, where I acted as consultant for knowledge management system.

Now as 'unofficial' adviser to my colleague, I found that human never had enough despite fat salaries and tremendous benefits given by the employer, still wanted to 'kill' a person so that he/she can hold the position.

For me, rather simple.. rezeki Allah bagi, cukup-cukupkanlah.. kalau tak cukup pergi cari project lain takpun pergi ngajar part-time. Sibuk-sibuk dengan 'position' nak buat apa, lainlah kalau kita ni bagus sangat or can bring few million ringgit worth of business to the company. Setakat menghabiskan beras aje...semua orang boleh buat

Hectic Week

Fuh... anticipate a hectic week ahead with classes, consulting and Phd paper starting with a news of failed attempt to revive the mecca project... tak apalah rezeki Allah beri

My New Found Hobby

I am now having 2 new toys to play with. It cost me quite some - expensive and expandsive- but I believe it will be worthwhile investment.

The first was a mountain bike - Orbea Scape, which aims as my tools for exercise. It was lighter than my training bike (nexus) by 4kg, which resulted to better speeding ability. The nexus, which was bought 3 month earlier now turned as training bike a.k.a leisure riding with my kids.



I have dream a good bicycle since childhood, but never afford to have any so I am happy with whatever I had previously. Once I even race the bicycle with better and expensive RB owned by my classmates, obviously I won :) it is not about expensive equipment but rather the will and proper training.

I love the road/racing bike and still remember when I upgraded the RB with stainless steel fork costing 18ringgit, way much cheaper than my over 1k fork I am attaching to my orbea nowadays. I also still remember, riding a MTB while going for teaching at a University back in 1996.


After 14 years leaving this sport, yet I have not lost the skills but only the stamina.

Under tutelage of my neighbour - Chief Khalid - for the first time in my life, I went for off-road last week. Utilizing my training bikes (which upgraded for the purspose) I manage to cover 32km and being guided to all version of road available - single track, gravel, road, cement, sandy and earth and lastly flood... yup, flooding up my my waist.Now, I am addicted and surely it will be off the road on weekly basis riding my new orbea which equipped with Manitour Seven Fork, Shimano Deore System ncluding RD, FD and disc-break. I am now ready to rumble (visit my white-mtb blog for updates on bicycling)

The second equipment is a DSLR. I still remember with my first camera which I bought while I was in form two (secondary school) more than 25yrs ago, followed by a 35mm. While I was studying culinary, I always targeted my eldest sister's - Minolta- DSLR for picture taking whenever she allowed.. so I became unofficial photopgrapher for my university classmates. That almost 20 years ago. This was followed a digicam bought in 2008.

Now I call it as the revenge time so I bought the D90 with 18-200mm lenses, 50mm 1.8 lenses and some other equipment. At first I thought I will getting the basics, since my wife agreed to chip-in together, it was a breakthrough. Now I hope I will getting some guidance from my hariri's clan, as to improved further my photography skills , then I might starting photoblog.

I guess 20 years of waiting is worthwhile........, okay have to go now for riding and shooting.

Which The Better DSLR

I have done the survey and window shopping while finding the best price.

The first two picture is Panasonic GF1 costing around RM3200+1000 for the lens that I wanted, while the other two is Nikon D90 costing RM4200 including the kit lens.

So the price is identical, now where is the money?

I love panasonic since I am using a similar brand digicam already. The best part it uses Leica lenses, a leader in camera and lenses, and I am satisfied with the picture churned out from the camera. Well you may argue on the lenses. For me, if I have enough money I will buy Leica Camera instead. So at this moment it goes back to to basics in economy...alternative buy.

While D90 is definately the bestbuy as the quality is far more superior.

One issue between these two are the size.

The GF1 is slightly bigger than normal digicam, some may even thought is just another digicam. Since I travelled a lot lately and near future, this should be the most suitable for me.

While D90 offered the picture quality, and its professional outlook definately another advantages.

Upgrading issue on the lenses? I am not worried about getting different specs on the lenses, since nowadays it is quite easy to get one so it is more on budgeting perspective.

I am more confused on which the better for me...the issue on size and overall quality does require some kind of opinion and professional advice.

As a Chef I more towards taking picture on food and its details apart of potrait of my kids, family and of course the scenery while I goes cycling :)

By the way I am planning to procure the camera before CNY, care to advice and suggestions?