Char koey teow would always remain a significant dish to me. If the government were to award an inanimate object / thing / food that has created an impact on a person’s life, my vote goes to this humble food.
For so many reasons.
Why ‘ humble’? Simple. Char koey teow is simply unassuming, unpretentious. Unlike human beings, it doesn’t judge you on how you look, on how you behave – and it won’t mind if you were to call it by other names. It won’t mind, either, if you were to serve it on a piece of banana leaf, wrapped in an abandoned newspaper ( particularly the section that people care less ), eaten by dirty fingers in a noisy and humid environment.
Char koey teow is the inanimate cousin to all the Simple Simons, Plain Janes and Ugly Bettys in this world.
It’s ugly – not to mention often burnt, soggy, oily. What decorates it would normally be similarly plain ( sometimes unwanted ) bean sprouts, bits and pieces of chicken meat, cockles and prawns ( if you are lucky ) – but a taste of this palatable char koey teow often sends you off to heaven!
It’s true. Never judge a book by its cover. Beauty is only skin deep.
No char koey teow ever tastes the same, even if it is cooked by the same person. ( Ever wonder why there’s no Mc Char koey teow , or Char koey teow Hut? ) There would always be occasions, events, surroundings, people that affect the taste, mood and effect of this cuisine.
What is so special about char koey teow?
Char koey teow would always remind me of certain individuals in my life. The most significant one would have to be A... who used to be the love of my life, the reason for my living ( ? ) – but who has come and gone just like the passing season! It was this humble char koey teow that brought us together.
Knowing that I had a weakness for the food, A showed up in front of my door on a Saturday morning ( year end to be exact ) with the dish! He claimed that he fell for the girl with tousled, wind-blown hair ( not to mention unruly – hey, even super models need cosmetic to look good! ) who answered the door. To be frank, I didn’t buy the line but to have someone cooking my favourite dish on a morning where people would rather be in bed than preparing breakfast for someone else, warmed my heart… ( Do I hear a sigh somewhere? Or is that a cynical smile? ) Frankly, I couldn’t remember how the char koey teow tasted like. I was too busy looking into his eyes and glorifying in the thoughts that I have found my Mr Right – and can he cook, too!!!
However, after tones of char koey teow later, we found out that we were as different as day and night; the relationship ended but memories remain. I've gone to numerous outings ( with different people, at different times and situations ), yet, never have I found a similar magical moment like the one on that early Saturday morning.
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