Survival of the Desperation??

When you reach some strange place where the currency value is around 6-7 times more than our little Malaysia, you tend to convert everything back to Ringgit Malaysia and compare the price before buying it. The old habit of Ta-Pao has to be put aside as it is unrealistic to spend RM28-RM35 per meal(conversion based on RM7 = 1Pound). This has indeed put me and my friend in a desperate attempt to cook ourselves.

To be able to see us cooking back in Malaysia is indeed a very rare occasion. You will even think that I never cook before. Well, the truth is, I don't cook at all. Back in Malaysia, if I'm hungry and need to grab something to eat, the easiest method is to 'tapao', 'bungkus' or take-away. It doesn't cost much, at a mere RM4, you'll get food which is decent and filling. Cheap, quick(30mins average plus eating time), and convenient( you don't have to wash your dishes), many people would have opt for this option back in Malaysia.

For the first month staying in UK, I dare to tell the world, I know how to cook food that is edible and filling (can't declare i'm a chef yet, or a cook).. It's all come down to Desperation. Desperation has a kind of motivation power to push someone over limits which they do not know of. Food is something we need here in UK, and since it's expensive to 'tapao'(take-away), it's more realistic to buy groceries and cook ourselves.

Below are some of the pictures of food that I had prepared together with my friends in UK. I'll only show some.. which I feel proud of.. which I feel it's better than outside restaurant dishes.





Name: Fried Broccoli
Ingredients: Broccoli, red pepper, carrot & garlic
Estimated selling price in restaurant : 4-5Pounds
Estimated actual price : 1.5pounds
Portion : enough for 6-7 people (with other dishes as well)






Name: Assam Fishes (combination of Salmon and frozen fish)
Ingredients: ASSAM cube(ya.. I know.. it's cheating), Salmon fish, frozen fish, onions, tomatoes, garlic
Estimated selling price in restaurant : Unknown
Estimated actual price : 3pounds
Portion : enough for 6-7 people (with other dishes as well)






Name : Pasta Sauce
Ingredient : Potatoes, Tomatoes, tomato puree & etc etc (can't remember all)
Estimated selling price in restaurant : 4pounds per person(with pasta)
Estimated actual price : 2pounds
Portion : enough for 6-7 people (with other dishes as well)





Name : Watery Curry Chicken
Ingredient : Potatoes, Chicken and Curry Paste
Estimated selling price in restaurant : 7pounds?
Estimated actual price : 4pounds
Portion : enough for 6-7 people (with other dishes as well)









Name : Dry Curry Chicken with Gravy
Ingredient : Potatoes, Chicken and Curry Paste
Estimated selling price in restaurant : 6pounds?
Estimated actual price : 4pounds
Portion : enough for 6-7 people (with other dishes as well)







For more food photos, please visit the website below and be stunned by what I and my friends can cook.. :
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=61468&l=9d93a&id=667326728
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59382&l=1c997&id=667326728