Thursday, September 25, 2008

Restoran Sri Kortumalai

A supposedly retrospective food crawl over the mid-autumn festival weekend has been reduced to a post about a lunch which took place a good few months back.

I guess my good friend has now settled down in London.

The lunch we had was nothing spectacular. Nor was it bad. Just that we had tasted superlatives in Brickfields before. But had we known that we were already on our way towards our goals in different parts of the world during that particular lunch, we would have talked less about the hottest babe at Karma the night before and more on…well, who wore the least fabrics.

Then again, we did enjoy the crunchy, fried bittergourd slices. I bet they would have gone well with our beers the night before.

I’m still regretting over the fact that minor immigration issues deprived us an opportunity to celebrate, get drunk and of course, taste a good dry curry chicken (like the one at Sri Paandi’s) before he left KL. The chicken at Kortumalai’s was rather tough despite the nice charred aroma. And globalisation is not so globalised afterall.

It’s amazing how time motioned in the most ironic of ways. While it took forever to get an opportunity like this, preparation prior to the departure date was restricted to a timeframe of no longer than a game of bottle caps. Yes, that game we played in primary school. And the tangy fish curry drenched rice I think he’ll be reminiscing as he bites into another piece of wholemeal bread sandwich near St. James Park.

As we discussed the nonsensical belligerencies haunting our society, we felt the jaded souls within ourselves. Which was somehow physically similar to the soft okra, bittergourd and green mustard leaf bits presented on the banana leaves in front of us. Only tastier, these. But he felt that something can be done. He was braver than me.

“I wonder if that Indian rice stall next to Sky View is still around”, I asked as I tasted Kortumalai’s curry mutton. He shrugged. Though tender and spicy, I couldn’t help but compared it to the absolutely, delectably soft, boneless curry mutton I had back in those school days at a nameless stall along the busy Jalan Sentul. Food, like all things, tasted better in the olden days. And cheaper as well.

A Sunday lunch at Kortumalai’s or Brickfields, in general, is a relaxing affair. Complete with newspapers and a glass of sweet mango lassi. As we folded the banana leaves towards ourselves (as a sign of respect and satisfaction) we spoke of hopes and aspirations.

And when you wish and work hard enough, you may just get what you want. Deservingly.

So, my macha bro, best of luck in your undertaking. I hope to see your name next to Kofi Annan's and Ban Ki Moon's one day.

And if you can, please bring back the forgotten curry mutton. We desperately need it, especially at distasteful times like these.

Consider this post my farewell treat.

Restoran Sri Kortumalai
No. 215A, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
50470 Brickfields
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: (+603) 22737728

* The above meal cost RM21.60, for 2 pax *

21 comments:

Ciki said...

21.60 for two pax... what a steal! got vadai sambar or not...

backStreetGluttons said...

Indian restaurants, we have come to appreciate , are as good as the superlatives some people pour on the colors of the curries and the green of the virgin banana leaves ( and sometimes the freshness of the grainy mints ). For how the heck are we gonna sip and bottoms up the golden liquids ( if we are lucky to get em )in full glaze of those traditionally clad Moslem wannabes tho the crunchies aka okra n gourds are but a dry run for the night? and the deadly frieds cry out silently for the distant high liquids?

Kenny Mah said...

*whines*

Darn me tummy flu... it's been ages since we've had Indian food and this looks absolutely gorgeous. Viva la Banana Leaf Rice! :D

Weekend Peach said...

Your wistfulness is obvious, despite being camouflaged in banana leaves and wilted okra. And that's the beauty about friendship, isn't it? That one doesn't need to put everything down in black and white?

I hafta show you the best banana leaf place in Brickfields, dude!

fatboybakes said...

ya, quite reasonable hor, despite the tough chick.
of course, as usual, your posts are full of mystery...

choi yen said...

I'm so shame to tell you that I never try banana leaf rice before =.="

HairyBerry said...

cumi & ciki, yupe, it was quite a steal, i'd say. plus the lassi somemore! i din ask whether got vs or not leh...woah, someone's addicted to vs, i see...hehehe..i love it too!!

backstreetgluttons, good point there. even the golden and green contrast is considered superlative, by any standard! and yes, we are not so lucky to have the distant golden, high liquid from them wannabes but the taking out option might entice a little fun in another fun world. together with the frieds, of course. but not the superlative colours that might cause a disasterous aftermath. still, we'll enjoy the ride. and the taste. and scent! lovely!

kenny, get well soon, dude! hey, i heard spices are good for the tummy! :D or as the chinese would put it, "fight poison with poison"..haha! yes, long live BLR!!!! oh, and teh o ais kosong..hehehe...

weekend peach, you so observant! :) well, it's always interesting to see things from another perspective, be it wistful or not. it's a lifetime self-discovery process that makes us a better, happier person. i believe lar..hehehe..

ohhhh, when wanna bring me there????

fatboybakes, yupe, i thought it was rather reasonable! tough luck on the touch chick lar...sigh...haha, really that mysterious ar? i guess sometimes, the shiok sendiri bug is rather difficult to remove. perhaps it's time for somemore donuts! hahaha!

mimi, really? aiyah, one day, we go makan banana leaf rice lar, ok? there's one near goldhill at manjalara. aiyah, i forgot the name already. i'm sure you'll enjoy it! i'm looking forward to my next banana leaf rice adventure already! ;D

J2Kfm said...

ha?!! and I tot fold up is right, while fold down the leaf means vice versa. whoopsie... =P

~Christine~Leng said...

Can't get any good indian food around here :(
No Oomph at all....

Big Boys Oven said...

wow! this is good value meal I think! lovely indian meal!

Simon Seow said...

It's a long time I haven't eat banana leaf rice. Usually if Brickfield, I'll go to the stall that's in a kopitiam. Not sure whether the the kopitiam is still there or not though. Have to go and check it out when I have time.

Jun said...

i wished we had banana leaf rice here in adelaide too :<

Little Inbox said...

Your friend may not get a chance to enjoy such delicious Indian meal in London...

wmw said...

Ahhh...you got me craving for this. Haven't had this sort of food for a while now...

choi yen said...

sure...

HairyBerry said...

j2kfm, hehehe, i asked my reliable source already. me thinks it's towards oneself. ;)

christine, no good indian food in glasgow? hmmm..nevermind..next time come back to kl, can makan habis-habisan! ;D

bigboysoven, yupe, i think for the amount of dishes we had, the price was kinda good! :D

simon, ohhh, i think you are referring to the corner stall. the one where they sell pork noodle as well, right? woah, love the food at brickfields lar! :)

jun, adelaide dun have blf ar? aiyoh...we can go makan when u are back in singapore! :)

little inbox, yupe. i pity that fellow lar..cos he's been living with meals like these in kl..now, it's just bread. but at least my friend can go on diet lar..heheheh

wmw, yeah, me too! there's something about the colour and aroma of the blr that makes it so darn appealing hor? yummy!

mimi, okie okie. i'm usually back in kl on weekends! :) email me lar! :D manjalara very near for us! :)

Shell (貝殼) said...

fried bittergourd slices is my favourite indian food^^

Unknown said...

haiya, quick quick, why still no update one. i need my hairy berry fix...

ling239 said...

i like mutton curry....^_^
the chicken looks sad ya....:p

fatboybakes said...

oops, hairy, that comment under "aun" is mine...EFFBEEBEE... didnt realise son had logged on to his gmail.

HairyBerry said...

Shell (貝殼), i love that too! not very often we get bitter fried stuff right? this is yummy! :)

fbb, actually i know it was you already! cos i went over to C&C's site just now :) ok, ok, will get a post up ASAP...hehehe...

ling239, oh, i like curry mutton too! but not easy to find a good one, hor? ya, the chicken's kinda tough. but smells good lar..hehe