
Unexpectedly, a small affair turned out to make my wife to enjoy pleasant moments before the Chinese New Year in Medan.
As in Pontianak, Medan is also the basis of a powerful people of Chinese descent. The difference is much larger field than Pontianak - both in terms of population and economic levels. Therefore, from the outside, the atmosphere of Chinese New Year in the field far more highlights than in New York City as I did several years ago. International hotel where we stayed had felt "really red" because of Chinese New Year decorations. Likewise, the streets, malls, and shops. It's festive!
A day before the Lunar New Year, the streets in the city of Medan was denser than the weekdays. In front of some stores seem trucks were unloading hundreds of boxes of citrus imports - a symbol that is absolutely mandatory and must be on the Feast of Lunar. Somehow, I also felt that special on that day the women of Chinese descent are pretty specific as to show of force in the streets. Those who have been to Medan certainly know what I mean. In addition they are beautiful, they are also more daring escape with a sexy outfit - wide-open thighs and back of a brilliant show off their skin.
Eits, wait a minute! This column is not changed so Kamasutra, really.
OK, first breakfast, yuk! The first objective is Bakmie "Hock Seng". This famous noodle shop right now - due to popular demand! - Already have branches in the area of shophouses Muarakarang, North Jakarta. That in this field from the first hung in the corner of Jalan Kumango. Still remember? On the road is also entrenched a legendary food vendors, namely Bihun Kumango Duck.
Same with Kumango Duck Vermicelli, noodles "Hock Seng" aka mihil also very expensive. The price is Rp 34,000 for special servings. But, do not always say expensive. Look at them first. Lift the bottom up so that all components of this special noodles appeared. Contents are enormous. Meatballs fried shrimp, fish ball wet, hekian, oysters, boiled shrimp, Spanish mackerel fish slices, cingkong crab, duck egg stew, fried fish eggs, pieces of crisp fried lard. On it sows wan sui (coriander leaf = cilantro) in a generous amount.
Smells good, its chewy noodles. Excellent! World champion! This noodle champion who beat me earlier, crab noodles Road Hijas Pontianak.
To the owner, I asked: "If anyone asked, can be made without a specific portion of the pig and pig oil?" He smiled, then replied: "I could, sir. His name is also the selling. But, I do not guarantee the same good taste. "Understand, right?
The next target is a simple tavern near Petisah Tax. People Medan and Tapanuli called "market" as a "tax". "Market kelontongan" spelled "trash tax" because the goods are mixed with all sorts of interference. This shop since the morning was super-busy. When we want to have lunch there, the owner had trouble emptying a special table for us. You see, that day almost no one ate there. However, since the morning they were already busy cooking orders to take home as a dish for dinner before the Lunar New Year. All full table with the pack and food hamper orders.
The owner cum cook is a craftsman of overseas Chinese from Perak, Malaysia. Not surprisingly, when the cooking has a touch that was very different. I've never stopped by this place a year ago, and will always come back. The restaurant named "Pare 31".
Bondan winarno
Pari Steamed Fish
Bondan winarno
Fried Eggplant
My favorites here are the stingrays steamed and fried eggplant. Enjoy two dishes alone would make brake-literate. Fish displayed par with sambal belacan which is typical of Malaysia. Similar to a similar dish called grilled stingrays usually peddled along Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. The difference is, here par fish steamed, not baked. Its texture becomes smoother. Feel like? O la la, mak nyuss!
Eggplant fries also should not be missed. Purple eggplant cut into pieces for little fingers, then fried crispy (deep fried). Spices are also sauteed dry: dried shrimp, red pepper, onion, pepper, curry leaves, and some other fragrant spices. Duuuh, this simple dish really like submissions from swargaloka.
I did not get to taste, but he said thai fried chicken at this place is well qualified "murderer". You see, New Year's Eve this shop busy cooking special dishes. There are similar khim Kien Hiong kekian or spring rolls with fish and crabs content. Nian tasty and fragrant! When I "reported" this food to William Wongso, he became confused. "I do not understand what it's food," he replied via SMS. Understandably, though he understood Putonghua, but the Chinese language in the field are very different and distinctive. According to William, khim means gold, whereas Hiong means fragrant. Cocoklah! Gorengannya colors are like gold, and also gave off the aroma of fragrant ngohiong good. "Kien" equals "more" as in hekian which means spring roll shrimp.
William more confused when I say that the order of the most popular dish for Chinese New Year dinner is khau like taro. "Why, what's that?" You see, he says, in Hokkien "khau tub" means dog meat. In fact, the shop is in question is part of the thigh meat pork and taro slices were inserted in-stew (slow braising, cook over low heat) with soy sauce until half dry.
The term Hakka dialect mixture and Tiochiu which is widely used in the field is often confusing to people coming from outside. In Medan, for example, there is a popular food called tukha hong aka pork leg stew. In fact, in Hokkien it is "tikha", not "tukha", while elsewhere the general term is "cu kiok".
"Should his menu with Mandarin characters in order to understand its true meaning," said William.
Merely as an additional note, in Medan since recently opened a restaurant owned by the Minang-Malay of Chinese descent. His name is "Pondok Krakatau", because the place is at Jalan Glugur Mount Krakatau in the region. Presentation style is really similar Minang restaurant in general. However, the cuisine is very distinctive feel. The new restaurant is already very crowded diantre fanatical customers. Try the chicken rendang, curry head snapper, curry goat, or Bawal kukusnya! Mantapffff!
Unfortunately, this story had me close with a bit of disappointment and resentment. Having succeeded in "conquering" a half-hour congestion more, we finally arrived at "Hawwi", a small restaurant in Medan Plaza complex. Not many know this restaurant. However, crab sauce pasture a few strips on top of another. Henny Supolo Sitepu, fans of this restaurant, says: "Every thought, I am so abisss laper and drool."
"Hawwi" - as well as "Surya" in Pakistan - providing special services for those who want to bring a souvenir crab sauce pasture to another city. Unfortunately, he closed that day because they want to celebrate Chinese New Year. What can make! I shall return!
Around nine o'clock, when the plane approached the airport of Soekarno-Hatta, sunny skies made us able to see the flickering glow of fireworks that slid into the space around the city area.
Kiong Kiong Hie Hie! Happy New Year, brother. May the Year of the Rat gives a better path for us all to peace, health, happiness, and prosperity.