Eat & Drink

Sunday June 10, 2007

Mee Bandung with a Muar twist

FOOD SAFARI: By GEETHA KRISHNAN

KEDAI MAIL

No.4, Jalan 8/3, Petaling Jaya Open: 8am to 10pm(except Sundays) Tel: 019-679 0080 (Rozita)/ 017-399 3233 (Ismail)

ONE-TIME homemaker Rozita Azizon Zakaria was never short of compliments when she cooked Mee Bandung for friends and family. Her secret was, and still is, to use a delicate blend of dried shrimps, onions and garlic for the gravy and serving the noodles with sawi and beef strips.

On the occasions when the family ate out, Rozita was always on the lookout for tasty Mee Bandung. But she and her policeman husband Ismail Mohamed, who also cooks, were rarely pleased with their finds.

Dig in and enjoy!: Rozita's Mee Bandung Muar Udang Galah comes with sizeable prawns. – Photo by AZLINA ABDULLAH / The Star

"As we both hail from Muar and Mee Bandung has the reputation of being the tastiest there, we fine-tuned the family recipe and decided to open a stall seven years ago. Our first location was in Kelana Jaya where we operated from under a tree," said Rozita, 36.

During the time, many people who hailed from Muar but worked in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya stopped by the Mee Bandung Muar stall to savour the Mee Bandung. They told Rozita and Ismail, 45, it was difficult to find authentic Mee Bandung Muar in the Klang Valley.

This gave the couple a confidence boost and Rozita decided to concentrate more on her business by extending the opening hours.

The popularity of the stall grew and they stayed there for two years. But development at the place forced the couple to move their business.

They found an ideal location near the police barracks at Section 8 in Petaling Jaya where they live. It is at Stall 4 of the Section 8 food court opposite the police station.

"It is tradition to serve Mee Bandung Muar in a clear glass bowl with basic garnishing. I've seen portions served with carrots, greens other than sawi, and chicken, which changes the original taste," said Rozita, with a cringe.

She said it was common to enjoy Mee Bandung for breakfast back in Muar. And satay, too!

The gravy in Rozita's Mee Bandung Muar is a heady concoction that offers a spectrum of tastes – sweet, sour, tangy and spicy. You taste the shrimp immediately because the paste is made daily but it's not overpowering.

Besides yellow noodles, meehoon and kway teow can be used as substitutes.

The Mee Bandung Muar is RM3.50 while the Mee Bandung Muar Udang Galah with three sizeable prawns is RM5.50. Asam Pedas Johor is also available but only in the afternoons.

The stall also takes in catering orders for Nasi Briyani Gam prepared by Rozita's father, who is often engaged to cook for weddings and other special occasions.