Nasi Dagang brunch...

Last Sunday we invite some friends and relatives with their spouse to a brunch at our home. For that purpose my spouse prepare Nasi Dagang. A speciality of the Malay from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since I came from the east coast, the town of Kuantan been my hometown, Nasi Dagang had been part of our eating culture from the moment we knew how to eat. I love Nasi Dagang, the type that is prepared by people in the state of Terengganu and the east coast of Pahang.

The Nasi Dagang that is prepared by the people of the state of Kelantan is different from that of Terengganu and Pahang. The Kelantan Nasi Dagang use a special rice slightly brownish pink in color whereas the one prepared by the people in Terengganu and Pahang is made of white rice mixed with white glutinous rice. But both the Nasi Dagang are eaten with the same type of fish curry, where Tuna fish is a must. In Malay Tuna Fish is know as Ikan Aya or Ikan Tongkol. Nasi Dagang curry would not taste as good without the use of Tuna Fish, for in the world of Nasi Dagang, Ikan Aya or Ikan Tongkol [tuna fish] are just a perfect combination. Although other fish could be use, it is never the same. It simply does not taste that good. To me it is not Nasi Dagang curry if it is not made with Tuna fish.

Well, we all sat at the dinning table of our home and enjoy the Nasi Dagang. A close relative who arrived early says that he just skipped his breakfast this morning just so that he could enjoy the Nasi Dagang at our home. I am famished he said and as soon another person arrived we invite both of them to start the brunch first and not to wait for the others to arrive. They would join as and when they arrived. While we were enjoying the beginning of our brunch, the others arrived.

True, with the right appetite one would really enjoy this simple meal. We chat a bit while enjoying the sumptuous Nasi Dagang. Since we invited more then three couple, the dinning table could not accommodate all that came that Sunday morning, so the man took to enjoying their meal at the dinning table whereas the ladies choose to enjoy their at the other table at the kitchen and enjoy their small talk there.

Since some of the attendance had not met each other for some period already, perhaps busy with their daily life, this small gathering at our home became a sort of a meeting of old friends and relatives, who had somewhat lost touch of each others and the Nasi Dagang brunch had become a means to an end. I love this small gathering for it give us the opportunity to have small chat and yarn of the nostalgic past. In a way it became a place to exchange small notes and refreshed the friendship.

It was indeed a successful brunch get together that lasted past lunch time. I am indeed glad that we organised this Nasi Dagang session. It did makes everyone happy and a Sunday to remember. A day that we all enjoy together, just because of the Nasi Dagang...