OF A REUNION DINNER AND A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

    23rd SEPTEMBER 2026    ~ After the first meeting during tea time [READ HERE], we were ready to meet up for a more serious meal. Dinner session took place at Zaituna Restaurant and we had Arabic food this time. 

This time, another UPM TESL [Class of 1993] had already arrived from Ipoh. [She flew all the way to get here].

The last time I was at this restaurant was in March 2024 [READ HERE]. The place was empty when I arrived before 8:15 p.m. but the dining area was filled up after 9:00.

It was at first a reunion dinner but then there was a surprise at the end of it. We had a one day belated celebration for one of the girls. I managed to get the joyous occasion recorded on my phone.

my advanced birthday brownies

This was a rare moment for us to get together - 2 people from Kuala Lumpur/Selangor, 2 from Johor Bahru and 1 from Ipoh. We had to excuse ourselves as it was already past 10:00 p.m. but the ladies had booked an accommodation for a slumber party past midnight. We planned to meet again the next day for lunch before they left Johor Bahru [READ HERE].

A LUNCH DATE WITH MY OTHER CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

 11th NOVEMBER 2022  ~ After all the plans, we finally met up for lunch at Zaituna Restaurant. This time the lunch date was with my ex-colleagues, the staff of SMK Taman Universiti.

I was glad to introduce the three ladies to the Arab food and they seemed to like all that was served on the table.

Thank you Puan Sri, Puan Hamimah and Puan Mahnum. We need to do this again next month when someone is retiring.

LAST WEEKEND'S EATING OUT SESSION

20TH AUGUST 2022 ~ The weekend's eating our session took place in Zaituna Restaurant with an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Afif Farhan Zulkefli. I craved for Arab food and luckily Mr. Afif was kind enough to agree with my choice.

After the rice, came the dessert and was complemented with Arab mint tea.

There were an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Hamzah Ali, with his wife and sons right at the next table.

Someone promised to take me to a seafood restaurant after this and I just could not wait for the time.

A FAREWELL GATHERING AT ZAITUNA RESTAURANT

 23rd MARCH 2021 ~  This was a gathering to bid farewell to two dear friends of SMK Dato' Jaafar, exclusively organized and attended by only the male staff. We will be losing Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Masiran, who is promoted to be the Senior Assistant of SMK Majidee Baru 2, and Mr. Mohd. Salleh Sairan, who is going back to his hometown in Batu Pahat.

Zaituna Restaurant which served Arabic food was full [it was a public holiday] and we were unfortunately given a small space to accommodate about 24 people. There were these two Japanese tables where we had to sit cross-legged on the floor and it was not comfortable actually. Surprisingly, the group members still enjoyed the food and everyone looked like they had a lot of fun - judging from the loud chatter and laughter produced by us.

We also had two ex-Jaafarians with us - Mr. Tukiman Sarmin and Mr. Abdul Rahman Ahmad, who are now in SMK Aminuddin Baki and PPD Johor Bahru, respectively.

The ex-Principal of SDJ, Mr. Hanafi Abd. Samad, who was just promoted to be the District Education Officer of Tangkak, was also present for the dinner.

There will be two less male staff in school after this but life has to go on. We wish Tuan Haji Abdul Karim and Mr. Mohd. Salleh the very best of luck in their new schools but as the saying goes: Once a Jaafarian, always a Jaafarian.

 

REVISITING ZAITUNA RESTAURANT FOR ITS NON-RICE SELECTION FROM THE MENU

I decided to go back to Zaituna Restaurant to try its other food which should be lighter as there was no rice served this time. I had the company of a regular ex-student who was available on weekends.

I chose Chicken Shawarma Plate, four pieces of something that looked like Samosa filled with minced meat, Falafel with Humus and Beef Pizza. And I guess I had overeaten my late lunch with all that was put on the table.

It was all good although I had to bring back some of the leftover. At least by now I know what to order if I am to come back to this Arab Restaurant for more Arab food.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE: ZAITUNA RESTAURANT REVISITED

Guess this should be the one and only exciting activity that I get myself involved in regularly. We had Arab food for this week's gastronomic adventure with my loyal partner in crime. This was my third time in Zaituna Restaurant and I don't mind coming back many times if the food was good.

We had rice with lamb, I think it's called Maqluba, hot mint tea and kunafa for dessert to sum it all up.

My friend loved the food and the place I recommended and we had already planned, to get something not-rice when we would get back to this place one more time.