Still on the subject of cooking and food, when we were having our lunch in Genting Resort about 2 weeks ago, I managed to talk to two chefs working in the Chinese Food section.
I was very impressed by the way the lady chef making ‘la men’ or the chinese mee with her hands. She was very quick with her hands and using her fingers she could make fine strands of noodles in a minute or two. From my chat with her, I learned that she has been in Malaysia for the past four years and basically doing the same thing – making noodles and chinese dumplings for this restaurant. She has only a day off a week and would just rest at home. Her working hours are long and tiring but she is cheerful and loves her job.
The other chef came all the way from Sibu, Sarawak. After taking an intensive course of Chinese cuisine, he has been a cook for a number of years. He too seems to be good and happy with his job. His job is to stir-fry vegetable with mushroom and seafood on the spot for customers. First he parboiled the vegetable in a big wok of boiling water before stir frying them with the other ingredients. He handled the big wok or frying pan with ease (he is a big fellow with big hands). He flipped the wok as he stir-fried the vegetables. Well he used a big scoop to stir fry and not a spatula like I do. I told myself that I have to practise on my small wok since I have small hands.
Finally both the chefs told me that their mothers got them hooked to cooking!! Now they are earning a good pay and enjoying their job. The best part I think is the satisfaction of seeing their customers tucking in and enjoying and their cooked food. I sure enjoyed the vegetables though I did not try the noodles – they looked delicious – because I was too full by then. I could hardly take a bite.
Thank you chefs for a job well done.
