Teringat - Roti Canai

Weather was good. And so was traffic. Many KL dwellers were probably still sound asleep or happily holidaying somewhere away from hustling and bustling KL. I was having roti canai for my breakfast when the images of the past came to mind.

Back then, mamak shops were not a common sight. Not many stalls that sell nasi lemak or kuih for breakfast either. And I can’t recall many food outlets around. Most of the time, when we ate something, they had to be home cooked. And to me, Emak is an excellent cook. Not that she can cook like those decorated chefs. But whatever she cooks, are to my liking. Okay, not all but most of them. And she cooks almost everything. All the lauks for lunch and dinner, and kuihs for breakfast or teatime. Including roti canai.

The skill of making kuihs is probably common to many Malay women – especially the generation above me. I can’t say the same about my generation. But I am not sure about the skill of making roti canai. I am not sure if many mothers know how to make roti canai. But I am sure Emak can or could actually make roti canai.

Growing up, I loved to be with Emak when she was in the kitchen. I would spend time with her in the kitchen and helped her with little chores that she would asked me to. I would be with her when she cooked daily meals after she came back from work late evening. I would be with her when she woke up early to cook nasi lemak for breakfast. I would be with her when she made karipap and attempted on making one myself even though Emak would say that the karipap looked like my face. Comel lah tu kannn.. Ekekekeke.. I would be with her when she made kuih raya during the fasting month. I would also be with her when she made roti canai.

Emak would prepare the dough the night before. I don’t know where she learned how to make the dough. Certainly not from Google. She would tebar the roti canai just like the pros and then later in the morning cooked like the pros as well. I can’t recall the taste, and I can’t recall if there’s any complain. So I guess her roti canais were as good as those from the shops.

I wonder if Emak can still make roti canai or still remember how to make one. Of course there’s no need for that anymore with a lot of shops and stalls selling roti canai around. And not forgetting those frozen and readymade ones. But the fact that once upon at time she made roti canai for the family is something that’s worth remembering her for. Probably if I were a mother in those years where Google and internet and iPad were not in existence, my kids would only have bread for breakfast. Nasiblah.

Angah