From east to west
Tuesday, 19 July, 2005
General | 笔者: Twinsmom
Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering–Nasi Dagang House
Read about Pok Ku’s son had brought him to a place that serve nasi dagang which the “Secret Recipe from The East Coast”, can’t help but think about the nasi dagang in Paka, Terengganu.
My father born in Paka, after his parent passed away before he reach 10, he’d been drifted around between the relatives in Paka, then to Kemaman, to Kuantan, to Singapore, then to KL.
Even though father have been settle done in KL for almost 40 years, but he still going back to Paka and Kuantan whenever he is free. And since young me and the siblings have been tag along “balik kampung” during CNY, or any special occasion.
My granduncle (grandfather’s cousin brother) still staying in Paka, he was my father first care taker after my grandparent passed away, and my father treat him just like his own dad, and we all call granduncle as “Ah Gong” as like our own grandfather.
Ah Gong still minding his kedai runcit in Paka now, the location is coming from Kuantan, before cross the Sungai Dungun turn to the right, immediately we can see there is two role of shop house along the road, Ah Gong’s grocery shop is on the left, behind is the river.
My father have the habit of depart in the early morning about 3/4 o’clock, so by the time we reach Paka, we always have the nasi dagang as the breakfast.
Tha nasi Dagang packed like a cone in banana leaf, with a thin bamboo stick to secure the wrapping, once open it the rice still in the form of cone, it is sticky with few fenugreek, and the smell…there is no any other rice can smell the same like the nasi dagang in Paka. in the rice was the tuna fish cook in curry, and the gravy usually being separated paked and pour into the bowl (the bowl with the rooster painting).
That is, in my Ah Gong’s grocery shop’s kitchen, eating the simple nasi dagang, drinking the most authentic Hainanese coffee (each family have their own recipe to fried the coffee beans), listen to my father “report” to his uncle in the familiar-yet-couldn’t-understand-a-word Hananese dialect.
Just like Pok Ku said the portion is very small, each of us usually have to consume two packs to call it mission-accommplished.
Then after the nasi dagang section, my father will rest in the room on the second floor, we will off to the beach with my mother–same road straight till the end, passing the Malay houses, a mosque, and a well–there we are facing the South China Sea.
I love the scene, the tall and banding coconut trees, the fishing boats, the wave, the sea whispering…everything so peaceful and calm.
Those was at least 5 years ago. since married (or say got boyfriend) I hardly follow my father back to Paka, and father also getting older, he have no stamina to drive from early morning straight from KL to Paka.
But everytime we talk about Ah Gong, we will talk about the nasi dagang, and me and fahter always hunt for nasi dagang in KL.
even though we have being “fool around” by a lot of nasi dagang in food court and restaurant, we still don’t want to miss any chance to try the nasi dagang store, in hope that we can find one really almost taste like the one we had in Paka.
but guess just like KFC and McDonald, once it export to another place, it have to change and cater to the local taste bud, the nasi dagang we have tried beside the fenugreek still included in the rice, the rest all changed.
some just normal rice with fenugreek, some the rice sems right but no fenugreek! (how dare?) but one thing for sure all come with different curry, actually just same like nasi kandar.
And some don’t even serve tuna fish! gee…at least KFC still have the original recipe (even though not very sure it is the same like it motherland), and McDonald still have the cheese burger.
Once, again after me and father taste a genuine-imitation nasi dagang in PJ, we joked that the nasi dagang in KL just like some people, after leaving their home town study or work in city, everything have to change, from simple to glamour to fit in.
most of the people can never believe nasi dagang have one small piece of tuna fish curry in it, just like father take away few packs of nasi dagang for me years ago, I share the nasi dagang with my in-law, they open it with their eye wide: “hah? that it is? where got enough?” I explain this is te way the nasi dagang is — simple and humble.
MIL ended up cook some dishes to “accomplished” the nasi dagang.
Will try the nasi dagang Pok Ku mention, since father have closed the cake shop, he got plenty of time.
but guess without Ah Gong’s chit chat and the smell of the sea, the nasi dagang might still lack of something.
Gee…I am asking too much I guess.
Nostalgia..?? i read that post too.. yesterday.. and was thinking.. how nice his son was.. to have his father’s heart..
I am sure it won’t equal the Terengganu nasi dagang but it is close. It will give your dad something to talk about.
I think I bought some kerepok udang near the grocery shop in Paka.
O, I thought why they so stingy, only a small piece of mackeral/tuna in the already small pack, where got enough or where got tasty wan? ok, will try it out the next time we hit Kijal/Kemaman. Paka after Kijal is it?
Mrs.T,
Pok Ku have his son to bring him there, so I bring my father lor.
Pok Ku, hah…wander is it my Ah Gong’s shop :).
Mrs.B, yes, Paka is after Kijal. my dad joked nasi dagang is a very healthy diet, small portion and with fish :).
okie.. i’ll go give your ah gong a hug the next time i drive past paka. heheheh…
dSaint, very nice of you :).