Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Ok or not

This bowl of pork rice vermicelli (mee hoon) contains pork meatballs, minced pork balls, pork slices, slices of pork liver, pork intestines, mee hoon and lettuce. It is tasty in a clear broth and only costs MYR5.50 nett.

Since the coffee shop is near my house, I would stop by to have a bowl every now and then until the last time I was there, I noticed that the water to cook the broth came from a pail on the floor and not from a tap. I know that the water is cooked to a boiling point but I am still in two minds about it - to continue patronising this stall or not due to the source of the water used?

22 comments:

  1. Actually when we dine outside, most of the times the way they handle the food can be quite unhygienic, just that we didn't see them

    I think you will feel uneasy after seeing the way they handle the water, if you feel uneasy, maybe have to think twice whether to patronize the stall or not

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    1. You mean at fine dining places also can be unhygienic?

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  2. If we don't see, we don't feel anything. But once we see, we will feel uneasy and somehow we don't enjoy the food as much as we used to. Most important whether the pail is clean or not.

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    1. Should be clean I guess cos we are ok after eating there.

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  3. Just close one eye. If the pail is always used for the soup (and you have had no tummy problems!) then it's fine.

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  4. Er... no. If I clearly see the water comes from a pail, bye bye forever.

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    1. That's why you always cook your own meals whenever you can.

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    2. If I cannot see it then assume is okay lah.

      That's the reason why I no longer dine in the House of Kolo Mee at D'Piazza. Once I tapao, I sat just beside the hole seeing into the kitchen, I saw the cook grab a bunch of romaine from the fridge, tear it to pieces, then chuck into the pot to boil immediately. Then mixed with oyster sauce, and into the bag as my veggie order. Did you notice what step(s) was missing here?

      That missing step was not performed directly in my line of sight, so no choice, bye bye kolo mee...

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    3. Didn't wash? Maybe they wash them before putting in the fridge.

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  5. Maybe there is no tap connection so they have to get the water in a pail and bring to the stall?

    I know where they boil the noodles and dip in cold water to remove the residual heat and prevent further cooking, they always dip it in water in a pail.

    Besides, the boiling water in the cauldrons at every stall must have been brought over from somewhere and even if there is a tap beside it, chances are they would use a rubber hose (How clean would it be inside?) or they would fill a pail (at least one can rinse it, make sure it is clean before use) with water to fill up the cauldrons instead of having to carry those huge heavy drums.

    That bowl of bihun looks so good, RM5.50 only so much ingredients! Never mind - like the old folks would say, la sap caik, la sap pui (dirty eat, dirty fat...their way of saying that it will build up one's immunity, healthier and stronger)

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    1. You are right, there are no taps near that stall. So far we are ok after eating it so I guess the old folks saying does apply.

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  6. hahaha I'll probably avoid for a while and then come back again one fine day! Actually, it's true what Libby said, try seeing how those economy rice stalls wash their vegetables, you wouldn't want to order vegetables anymore especially those with stalks..i.e kangkung

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  7. That bowl of noodles look so good and so loaded and is a steal at RM5.50. The water in the pail I wonder where is the source. From the tap? Usually if we don't see it, we don't think about it and just enjoy the noodles :) The other day, I walked past a coffee shop and saw a lady washing plates in a big tub of murky water. Ughs!

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    1. I guess the water came from a tap within walking distance in that coffee shop.

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  8. eating at stalls/hawkers/Chinese kopitiam always have a risk. The best is to cook our own food & minimizing eating outside ;-)

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    1. Be like RG? I am too lazy to cook la.

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    2. LOL! yea, be like RG...and he cooks one week of pasta at one go...lazy man style!

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    3. I am much more lazy than RG!! Hahahahaha!

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  9. Your vermicelli soup looks so good. That was a good handful of toppings and wallet friendly, too.

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    1. You are right! That's why we are still going there for it.

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