Random Rambles of Lotfi

Hello semua, writing from Vallejo California here! My daughter recently gave birth to their 2nd child, another son, Alhamdulillah. So Tok Mama (that's me!) is back in the USofA to play nurse. The sun has been out these past few days but it is oh so chilly! I am bundled up in a jacket and socks indoor daily, even the heater's  not helping. Weather report says it will be warmer next week. We'll see. Summer officially starts on 20th June.  I have been cooking for Aisyah the past few days. Simple stuff, mostly chicken with lots of ginger, garlic, black pepper,sesame seed oil; just like my arwah mak and mother in law used to feed me. Lucky Aisyah's not fussy and will just eat whatever.  Yesterday, she told me I need to cook the potatoes or they will go bad. So today I decided to make my favourite potato recipe - the potato au gratin. There's no cream so I just use Coconut Cream. Santan laa..Here's how I do it! Once you're   done peeling the potato...

Just before Ramadan last week , I was tasked to be the emcee for Pensonic Chef's Like Live Cooking Session in Aeon Big Bukit Rimau. Just one of those things I also do beside baking, cooking, pr and media work and etc etc etc. No easy task to juggle a slash career. A week before the event we had a pre-event meeting  to discuss the event flow. So I came prepared as usual for my emceeing job with scripts and reference materials from the client. Pensonic Chef's Like Campaign is very interesting and engaging indeed. Helmed by Dato's Chef Haji Ismail, a Pensonic Friend, who's a known food ambassador, the campaign is made interesting with Chef Mail's friendly and cheerful character. Siapa tak kenal Chef Mail kan? He's already a Malaysian household name. On the event day at Aeon Big Bukit Rimau, 40 participants took part in the live cooking session. Imagine having all the work stations complete with ingredients, kitchen utensil and more importantly Penso...

When I chose to step out of full time employment more than 3 years ago, I didn’t have any plans of what to do, to at least make some sort of income for myself. After months of total chilling and panicking , a friend (who also left his job before I did) asked me if I would like to cook with him for small events and parties.   At the risk of turning into a couch, I told myself “Why not?”. After all, I was already cooking more at home and I just needed to cook in bigger portions. Akak bukan la hebat sangat pun masak-masak ni but I have always had the inclination to try out new recipes and taste plus suka makan..hehe. So we started an informal set-up, where my fried, Sid bought all the necessary catering equipment needed like chafing dishes, plates and glasses, and other cutleries. Orders started coming in through word-of-mouth of friends and acquaintances. At the same time, I also thought it’ll be interesting to learn a related new skill, which is baking. I started goin...

Salam and Good morning! I've been awake since forever ..5.30ish.. So Tuesday was my first day in the office. I work twice a week in a brand strategy and consulting company in Subang Jaya. So yeah, Tuesday being the first day of work in 2017 and during huddle (Every start of the week, there's taichi in the morning, lead by the CEO (how cool is that?!!) followed by a standing meeting (the huddle) which could be as short as 45 minutes or somedays could run longer depending on the agenda of the day. So during this particular huddle, after all the acknowledgements, focus of the week, personal and work gratitude, Patrick, our CEO announced the reintroduction of the 5am club, to a few groans and some enthusiatics cheers. You see, some of the team members are already on this (like it was some kind of a feel-good drug hehe).  So it's official and everyone bought the idea of waking up at 5.30am daily (with 5am being the ultimate goal). A whatsappp group was set up ...

Salam, and Happy New Year! How's everyone doing on this almost the end of the second day of the new year? Did anyone decide that they are gonna get fit this new year, lose some weight, gain some, eat cleaner, start a new hobby,or maybe work harder this year? I didn't make any specific resolutions this year.  I just decided that this year my goals are to be kinder and have more good thoughts of people, of situations, of things that happen around me. InsyaAllah, with these in mind, other good things will follow.  We served food at 2 parties in Blokke on the eve of new year. I took care of the brunch session and Liyana took over for the afternoon tea one. I think I am liking this new arrangement. We get some time off, not having to be on site for both parties. And Imran, my second child treated us to a late lunch at Mozer's in Subang Parade. We have always loved middle-eastern food, and this time we ordered the 3 different types of rice, the Chicken Mandhy Rice...