Pantasia!!
the name of the shop in yakitate japan :) which is somehow indirectly related to today's feature article..

scene 1
-a normal looking kopitiam with a lot of people walking in andout and shouting
(a ravenous medicontherun staggers into the stage accompanied by 2 other more energetic people...)
motr: are you guys sure that this is the shop?
Tour guide A: yes, confirm... my mom always makan here one...
Tour guide B: really ah?
TA: yalah.. the noodles here ah mou tak deng one...
TB: sure not? u know how many places we go liao ah? even the one i recommend oso tak boleh laku... :(
TA: can de... if tak laku i belanja k?
TB: ya hor.. he now so hungry sure will taste good de :P
motr: oi.. i can hear u know... i'm hungry not dead!!!
TA: oops.. no worry man.. u eat this sure good de...
motr: really dude.. this is shop # 50++ liao...
TB: i think its 48 only...
motr: waaa u count ah?
(TB blushes as they sat down and placed their order..)
(they continue to talk as their orders arrive)
motr: so you're sure it won't leave that salty tang after eating?
TA: haiya.. why you so particular..
TB: yalor.. every time oso u liddat..
motr: this i'm particular because i wanna bring someone to go eat it later.. so cannot la intro salah..
TA: oh.. bawa awek la...
TB: nvr intro oso :(
motr:... eh come edi.. i pay first.. if not nice u pay me back i tell u...
TA: cheh.. its good one.. confirm
TB: then mine leh?
motr&TA: U PAY LOH!!!!
(laughter)
(motr eats the noodles in silence)
TA: woah see he like it so much he no make noise leh...
TB: ya wor... you not bad ah...
TA: i good leh
TB: ya.. how u find this place?
TA: i saw in newspaper...
TB: oh.. i oso must learn to read la..
motr: (finishes his noodles..) u owe me lunch tomoro...
TA: WAHT?? WHY>??
TB:....still cannot ah?
motr: yeah.. the soup is too thick... its leaving that fatty taste on my tongue even after eating...
(TA & TB resign with a sigh and walk off together with motr..)

scene 2
-a rundown shack at the side of a busy street in the early morning
-crowd is comprised of working class people
(TA & TB are in office clothes, whilst motr is sitting there eating noodles)
TA: eh dude, why u eating this noodles so early in the morning?
TB: later fat la...
motr: i wan to test it..
TA: huh? u every week oso eat here with us la...
TB: u must be testing noodles this time?
motr: yeah.. but only this particular noodle...
(holds up piece of noodle for all to see...)
TB: oh... so how is it?
TA: is that a stupid question?
TB: why?
TA: if he got time to talk means not 100% enjoy lo...
motr: hahahahahahaha... quite good actually.. but not good enough..
TA: oh no.. not again..
TB: wat?
motr: jom later lunch we meet bring u all go makan..
TB: ..... oh no......
TA: slow la u...
motr: dun worry la.. i belanja...
TA: got work la..
TB: sorry got to see boss later..
motr; eh potong la u all.. i go only lo..
(scene blacks out)
Disembodied Voice: so thats how the hunt began... searching and searching, motr brought TA and TB all across towns to scour for the best noodles...
DV: even until the 50th shop he relentlessly searched... and TA & TB were growing weary..

scene 3
-motr is in a car driving alone
(phone rings)
motr: yo man sup?
TA: hey today i cannot come with u la..
motr: why?
TA: got things to do la.. malas la..
motr:.... lidat oso can meh?
TA: oh shit credit habis...
(phone cuts...)
motr: haiz...
(dials from memory)
motr: hello
TB: bro, i'm in meeting now..talk later k?
motr: k....
(hangs up)
motr: haiz...
(drives to a new place)
motr: i've never seen this place before...wonder whats it like...gotta come back later with the guys...

scene 4
-motr is surrounded by 2 friends who arent TA or B
-the shop is panted half pinkish purply and half white horizontally on the walls..


motr: so what u guys think of the place?
F1: not too bad
F2: okla...
waiter: so what would u like to have?
motr: i'd like to drink honey lemon tea
F1: coke lemon

motr: i'll have the special thanks, and so will they (smiles)
F1: hey dun force our order!!
F2: yalor... u think u boss meh?
motr: shaddup u belanjaing hahaha
F2: waht??(pouts)
motr: dun worry its nice
F2: yealah tu...
F1:..(plays with phone..)
(food arrives)
waiter: here's your traditional style minced pork pan mee
motr: mine!!
waiter: here's your pork ball traditional style pan mee
F1: mine
waiter:and here's the dried minced pork thick noodle style pan mee
F2: mine!!!!!! finally!!! motr u starved us long enuff

(everybody chows down on the food due to hunger pangs..)

scene 5
the verdict!!
-bowls of empty pan mee on the table

motr: well that was refreshing (smiling) 8/10
, due to clear soup smooth texture, nice environment, fast serving, light yet flavourful soup, crunchy anchovies and wafting aroma.

F1: i think the one my mom goes to is better
motr: really?
where?

F1: far away from here..

F2: i still hungry...

motr: yeah the serving is small thats why drop.. oso becoz not cheap


END...


the reason for this blog and my tireless hunt for this pan mee shop?
aside from it being my used to be fave noodles of all time..(used to be, cos after 50 bowls of it u ge a little tired..)
The year was 2006, an anime was ended called yakitate japan...
it was about bread....
suprisingly... it was the same year that i met...
MEL...
ok she's not really a bread fan..
but.. a noodles fan..
and the type of noodles she digs is made of flour..
kneaded into smooth dough..
then pressed or squeezed or just pinched into pieces and strips..
blanched in a flavourful yet light hot soup, and served together with anchovies and mushrooms for the fragrant aroma and crunchy bite.
this dish, simple yet fulfilling was named PAN MEE.
after the original pan mee looking like planks of wood.
It used to be a poor man's dish and is best enjoyed in cool weather because of its light broth.
Its distinctive aroma although not particularly impressive, allows u to determine its taste right off the smell.
a unique dish that includes blanching of noodles with stock seasoned broth, frying and steaming all in its cooking...

to mel.. for her love of pan mee..
and as an apology for making her wait so long...
this post was about a place called "PAN MEE CAFE"
hopefully its still there when u're back :P