Lunching in the City for less than RM 30. Max@iHaus, Jalan Imbi, KL.

from Paranoid Android by Paranoid Android

(no pork served)

It is still possible to get tasty and good food in KL for less than RM30 for lunch. Max offers a free drink (iced lemon tea) a choice of Starters and Mains for RM 25++

I was looking back at my previous posts and discovered that I have only started blogging just over a year ago. This means I have known my regular makan kakis for just over a year. It is strange that time flies so fast I feel that I have known them forever. Ciki plucked me out of the unknown and from then on, she and her friends have become almost a permanent fixture in my life.

I am shy, painfully shy. Introverted. I sometime imagine myself to be a XY version of Amelie from Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, stuck in my little cloistered make believe world and amusing myself with tall stories weaved out of fantasy. Some of the readers here would have caught glimpses of my mad musings from some previous posts.

Choose between this Marinated Feta Cheese Salad with Olives and raspberry Vinaigrette or Pumpkin Soup with Caneloni Beans

I am actually intrigued by the current 1 Malaysia campaign. I have always thought that there is only 1 Malaysia, because as far as I and my friends are concerned we do not go about our daily activities thinking that we belong to any particular race. Nor do we go around classifying our friends according to their races. The only time the subject of race or rather, religion pops up is when we have to choose a place to dine when we have to be sensitive to the restrictions certain religions impose.

Probably I am shielded from the harsh realities of racism by the urbane milleu that I often keep, but my best friend is a Malay. Both of us share a resentment of the polemics of race, especially used by an oppressive Government who remains to stay in power by constantly satisfying the lust for money and obscene wealth by it's power base. If the lazy mind is the playground of the devil, it is exemplified by the proponents of racial superiority.

For mains last week, there was a choice of Charbroiled Chicken Chop with Chardonnay Rosemary Sauce

If there is one thing that I have learnt from my blogging friends is acceptance. I have to admit I am probably slightly eccentric, and may not be the best company for a meal. I can hardly recall how many sentences I uttered during my first encounter with the bloggers at Sri Nirwana Bangsar. Despite my awkwardness and shyness, Ciki, with her big and open heart persisted in asking me out for meals with her friends.

I never had to hide the fact that I am an atheist, I have never got to be embarrassed about being a total moron when it comes to directions or the fact that I read the most inane and boring books ever written. And they respect my fear of being photographed and my dislike for big crowds and loud noises. I could just be my own morbid, neurotic self.

or, Oven Baked Butterfish with Thyme Jus and Sauteed Potatoes.

There is no time for the Germanic tradition of differentiating between friends of acquaintances. I had to leave formalities aside and not worry about using Du or Sie. I can hardly believe that we have only known each other for about a year or so. Food sessions are greeted with warm hugs and absence from twitter are peppered with "I miss you" or "are you still alive?" messages. And again, the absence of discussion about race during our meet ups.

or, Smoked ducked Breast with Olio Spaghetti.

We live in a country that is filled with ambiguities and paradoxes. A PhD holder which in any other country in the world be considered an ethnic Chinese who professes the Islamic faith has jumped into the racial polemics of asking immigrants to go home. The funny thing about this country is that I am constantly reminded of my ethnicity in my homeland. In Germany I will be known as an Auslander, in Thailand a Malaysian but in Malaysia, I am a Chinese. Ethnicity and Nationality are two different things.

You will have to add another RM 14 to 22 for dessert, and pay extra for coffee.

But thankfully, among the food bloggers, I am known as the Paranoid Android, not the Chinese Android, but an eccentric Malaysian who loves food.

These bloggers are priceless and not for sale.

Thank you, dear friends for your acceptance and for you friendships. Missing for lunch are @llemongrass, @nigelskelchy, @minchow, @boo_licious, @j_chocoholic, @unkaleong, @wackybecky, @lotsofcravings, @seanyoong

Max@iHaus
Lot No 32 Jalan Jati
Off Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur

TEL 603 2142 9720