Stop Mocking Chefs

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Every so often I see, hear or witness people mocking chefs, restaurants and the food they get there. Now I don't mind legitimate complaints especially if it has to do with the quality (note: QUALITY) of food and service.

But I've seen and heard too many people mocking chefs and chef-driven or prepared food. They mock the portions (even though they order starters, mains, side dishes AND dessert AND God knows how many drinks) as being 'tiny and not filling' or they mock the presentation skills of the chef, or they claim they either make it themselves and not pay the chef or they shouldn't have paid a certain amount for that food.

Please lah. If everyone can do what chefs do, there wouldn't be shows like Masterchef (eleh korang tengok kan pastu teruja kan) or Top Chef. Celebrity chefs wouldn't exist. Good food, revolutionary food and innovation in food wouldn't exist.

Sea scallops, Bell-Pepper Sauce, Ikura, Mesclun Mix, Calamansi-Gula Melaka Vinaigrette. One of my signature dishes.

Stop mocking chefs. Of all kinds.

Like with any profession we go through years, YEARS of training and learning and fucking up and falling down and learning again to be where we are or where we want to be. Stop mocking the culinary arts profession as if it's 'lowly'. Half of you couldn't do what we could do on a daily basis. Stop questioning why the food is priced that way: reality check, you're not just paying for the food. You're paying for the experience, the skill, the service, the damn rental and overheads of the place. Ingat Chef ni tak payah untung ke? 

Let's put it this way lah: when you need to give your kid an innoculation shot, or you need to have that weird boil on your back checked out, do you go to the doctor or the drug addict on the street? When your car breaks down would you rather a trained mechanic or some hobo come and fix your car?

I am most definitely worth it. Harumph.

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Respect Food

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If you ever get the chance, do watch first hand how an animal gets slaughtered. It doesn't matter if it was the halal method, the shechita, a commercial gun or someone shooting an animal in the heart. Watch the animal die.

Thanks for the meat.

Because when you see it, you will develop a deeper appreciation to what you eat. You will know that a living organism gave its life for you to enjoy a good meal.

Be thankful.

Respect food. 

From seed to animal, from farm to plate.

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Ramly 'Sliders'

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Overcooked, Ramly burgers are nasty. The thin patties turn into stupid ovals no matter how much you press onto them, and they'll end up dry, with the texture of dessicated haemorrhoids (not that I've tasted any haemorrhoids, but whatever).

But done right, nothing else can quite hit the spot like that Ramly burger. Seriously. But at home, I normally don't take the whole Ramly special route. You know what I do?

First, I take TWO patties, and defrost them slightly so they're brittle, but not soft. In a food processor, blitz the patties into rough chunks. Pour it out, and form them into one circular patty. Sorry I don't have photos of them raw. But it's important to NOT handle them a lot.

Make sure the patty is slightly wider in diameter compared to the buns you're serving them with; allow about 1cm extra. Why? Because burgers shrink, so you gotta take that into account. Put them in the chiller while you prepare the bun however you see fit.

So now it's time to cook the patty. Season the patty with salt and black pepper. Get a skillet smoking hot; as soon as you see smoke rise, gently place the patty in and LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES. This will help develop a crust.

sizzle, sizzle!

After that 3 minutes are up, flip the patty. Cook for another 3 minutes again, on high heat.

crunchy, crusty beefy patties :D

You'll end up with crunchy crusty patties with a moist, juicy, medium rare interior. I don't care about eating Ramly burgers medium rare, though some might puke at the idea.

melt some cheese on top for some 'tang', and also for deposit for an arterial sclerosis

I finished my burger with some cheap cheese because nothing works better on a burger. But on another day, I'll have caramelized onions and Habanero sauce along with the cheese.

look, my patties are nicely aligned with the buns.

see how, with some effort, you can make even the crappiest food look nice? :)

crunchy exterior. juicy interior. best. Ramly burgers. ever.

Oh and my burger joint?

Think along the same lines, but with better, higher quality ingredients.

:D

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