This was on the eve of the 2nd Movement Control Order (MCO 2.0, from 22nd Jan. to 4th Feb. 2021). We were walking home after morning walk plus breakfast and we passed by a house with the lady owner sweeping the outside area in front of her gate. Whenever we passed by, we will nod our heads (since we were wearing mask) and greet each other a "good morning".
We have noticed the above plant in front of her house and both hubby and I liked the variegated leaves. I just learned that this plant is the Blumei yellow and green coleus plant.
On this particular morning, as we greeted each other, hubby remarked that the above plant is very pretty. Quickly the lady asked whether we would like to have some cuttings. Instead of fresh cuttings, she gave us 3 propagated cuttings with roots growing in a plastic bag. According to her, it is very easy to grow this plant.
The 3 young plants are now doing well in their individual pot in my garden.
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Since it was the eve of MCO, we still can dine-in in the restaurant with friends. Our friend suggested an early dinner in Restoran J.J. Fatt, Lawan Kuda, Gopeng. We can avoid the after work traffic congestion and at the same time, we can drive back before it gets dark.
We haven't been to this restaurant after our last visit here in early July last year. So about 7 months we saw that the restaurant has taken over the piece of land next to it to grow their own vegetables.
You can see neat rows of vegetables and I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots. There are green and red amaranth, spring onions, Chinese kai lan, choy sum, siew pak choy, chilies, and etc.
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Since it was only 5:35pm, there were only 3 other tables that were ahead of us. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves after the earlier customers left. The restaurants here are famous for using a Snakehead fish to cooked 2 dishes. Snakehead fish is a fresh water fish (from fish family Channidae). This fish can breathe air with its gills which enables it to migrate short distances over land. The local Chinese refer to this fish as "san yu" in Cantonese.
We ordered the following dishes for 4 people
The meaty part of the Snakehead fish cut into slices and used to cook "kung pao" style, using dried chilies, big onions, spring onions, and various sauces. Nice, tasty and tender fish meat.
After the meaty part has been removed, the rest of the fish will be fried and used to cook soup consisting of Chinese dried medicinal herbs and glutinous rice wine. This soup is very delicious and flavourful. For those who do not like herbs or wine, they can request for other ways of cooking the soup.
This is a new dish which was recommended to us. It is a dish consisting of fried pork belly and fried garlic with skin on. It has a tinge of sweetness in taste and we even finished all the fried whole garlic cloves leaving the skin behind.
Home grown baby choy sum sauteed with garlic and salt.
Total cost of dinner RM70.30 including 4 small portion of rice and plain water.
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The following are sunset photos taken from a moving car travelling back to Ipoh.
#1, 6:49pm
#2, 6:55pm
#3
#4, taken from a flyover, 7:20pm
Same as above.
After sending our friends home, we bade goodnight to them and we drove home. Hopefully, within these 2 weeks, we will see a decline in the number of infected cases.
To everyone: Take care, stay home, stay safe and healthy.
Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble;
but with good counselors there is safety.
(Proverbs 11:14, The Living Bible-TLB)
Cool that the restaurant owner grow all those veggies! The fried pork skin looks fingerlickingly delicious, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteThis is one dish which we will order again on our next visit.
DeleteThe fish dishes sound so delicious! Good way to get many dishes from one fish. Do you know the name of the plant with variegated leaves that the lady gave you? Looks very pretty but I haven't seen them before.
ReplyDeleteI just learned that it is the Blumei yellow and green coleus plant. This is new to me too.
DeleteWow, this restaurant has a beautiful, tidy and well-kept vegetable garden. A joy for the eye as are your small seedlings. I am sure it is fun to watch them grow. The dishes look delicious too - wishing a pleasant weekend.-
ReplyDeleteThank you, Riitta. Have a pleasant weekend too.
DeleteThe last two photos look nice - the meal looks good and pleased you explained the fish..
ReplyDeleteI like the plant and how lovely of the lady to give you 3 pots of it.
The garden of vegetables looks good and the restaurant now have their own fresh vegetables to cook with.
I have been to a restaurant where they reared their own chickens.
Delete...that's an interesting plant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tom.
Deletelook so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Aleksandra.
DeleteSe ve deliciosa la comida. La plantas se ven muy bonitas, también me gustó la puesta de sol. Besos Nancy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Teresa.
DeleteHello Nancy, The variegated leaves of the plant are so attractive. It was nice of the lady to give you the cuttings. I would love to have this kind of plant in my garden. It is interesting that the Snakehead fish can migrate over land, how cool is that!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Breathtaking.
DeleteHow nice of the lady to give you rooted cuttings. You have a green thumb, they will do well in your care. I love that the restaurant grows their own veggies. Can't get any fresher than that!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha.
DeleteWhat a fabulous idea to grow your own veggies for your restaurant. Brilliant idea. The food looks amazing. I'm guessing you'll be visiting here more often.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and weekend, Nancy. ♥
Will have to wait for the lockdown to be lifted before we can visit the restaurant again.
DeleteHow wonderful! Love to see those plants and the food looks delicious. Love the looks of that fish.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gigi.
DeleteLovely plants and cool photos! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victoria.
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ReplyDeleteOur restaurants are closed. I miss meeting my friends. Good health:)
Our restaurants are now closed for 2 weeks and no meeting up with friends for meals.
DeleteSuch a good neighbour to give you cuttings from such a pretty plant. It as a delight to see the vegetable plot belonging to the restaurant and know how fresh the produce they are using is. Great looking and tasty meal.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to make friends with those who have the same love for gardening.
DeleteI have never seen a plant like this. The leaves look like blossoms. Do you know the name?
ReplyDeleteI just found out that it is the Blumei yellow and green Coleus plant.
DeleteSo much here to comment on and on phone so wont say it all...I love the plant. Brings back memories of how mom would always give people a start of a plant, and got some the same way. I love the restaurant's garden..and those sky shots are glorious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose. Those that love gardening loves to exchange plants with one another.
DeleteSpectacular skies.
ReplyDeleteThank you, William.
DeleteHola Nancy, es maravilloso que te regalen tres hermosas plantas. La huerta es hermosa y los platos se ven sabrosos. Besos.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lola.
DeleteThat is a very pretty plant, it was nice of the lady to give you the cuttings already rooted.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful skies!
Thank you, Mimi. Looks like we have made a new friend through our love for gardening.
DeleteThis restaurant is very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elena.
DeleteMore aweosme photos
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo-Anne.
DeleteIt is nice to know that the restaurant grows their own vegetables, fresh from the garden to the plates.
ReplyDeleteHope more restaurants will follow the trend.
DeleteBeautiful variety of Coleus ! It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/01/garden-affair-gazania-beauty.html
ReplyDeleteThank you, Arun for hosting.
DeleteI thought the coleus was a bunch of flowers at first. Very pretty indeed and good that you scored some cuttings.
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious... but here we are at MCO again.
We have been admiring the coleus every time we pass by. Finally, get to talk to the owner and get some free cuttings.
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