VISITING FRIENDS IN SEREMBAN ON THE 18TH DAY OF EID 1445

    27th APRIL 2024    ~ My UPM TESL Class of 1993 friends went to visit another friend and her family in Seremban on the 18th day of Eid. Puan Rozida Ramli and Puan Zanariah Abd. Shukor went together in one car from Bangi. While Mr. Ridwan Wahid and his wife, Puan Suhaila, drove all the way from Shah Alam.

We were warmly welcomed by Puan Sakinah Ismail and her husband, Mr. Azhar Ahmad and Ms. Sarah, their daughter. The specially cooked food was already served on the table: Ketupat Jagung and Rendang, and Mee Kari [Curry Noodles].

We spent more than 2 hours there, eating and chatting and had to reluctantly excuse ourselves or else the hosts would have to entertain us longer.

Thank you Puan Sakinah and family for the scrumptious food and hospitality. We would sure come again to Seremban in the future, if invited.

MY MAKASSAR GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - "COTO MAKASSAR"

Another traditional food of Makassar in my list was "Coto Makassar". From the name, it is similar to our local "soto". However, "Coto Makassar" is eaten with "ketupat". [rice boiled in woven coconut leaves]. In Makassar, "ketupat" is common. It can be found every day at restaurants (and the hotel's cafe too), together with "burasak" [rice boiled in banana leaves]. I think they call it "buras" there. I found that they were using other kind of leaves for the "ketupat" as it was much harder than the usual ones.

Other differences would be the soup comes in smaller bowl and the gravy is much thicker and rich with spices. I was sweating after eating but it was really delicious. And there was no "bergedil" [fried minced potato and meat] to accompany the soup. But I was not complaining.

other local food sold there

MY VERDICT: definitely a must-eat local dish when you are in Makassar. I don't mind going back there again just for the food.