Review Zaks Place

the win/loss prospects for any business will be found in its parking lot. solely because of this thread, the wife and i will be looking for zaks today at noon to give it a try and will plan to report back our personal take. Go Chiefs!!

 

Good morning ladies, gentlemen and others,

My full time, live-in assistant has chucked her hand in here at Zak's Place ! At least she gave me half a day's notice. She has to return to her mum who's not so good.

That puts me on my own today. A few years ago it would have been a breeze. However, the ageing process doesn't come alone, indeed getting old is not for wimps. Arthritis and spinal stenosis is taking it's toll.
So, if there's a nimble and smart lady out there who fancies giving me a hand today (or for all eternity), come along around 09:00 , I'll give you an induction and have you sign the official secrets act.
The hours vary depending on the amount of customers we have and the salary is the usual filipino insult.

 

as a sidebar and fellow foe of arthritis, allow me please to suggest mobic/meloxicam, best price at generika pharmacy (with a k) equidistant from the north mcdonalds and evermall. i take a half tab (12.5 mg) daily. it changed my life more than 15 years ago. i encouraged a fellow sufferer who recently started this regimen and he is now a devotee. i am not a doctor, i am no longer a registered nurse. see a doctor first. i use johnny yee MD at Holy Child

 

Please take care when entering from the road to the car park. Plans are in place for repairs. Best to park on the right. Look forward to seeing you later. However , please don't make yourself known until after you've finished , then there will be no preferential treatment. If you get my drift ?

 

Wow! Thank you so much for your concern. I use a neurologist at Aces but I will certainly bring this up at my next appointment in a week or so. I must add that I have 6 or is it 7 destroyed or dessicated spinal discs. Surgery has been suggested but there's no guarantees . My pain management specialist , an anaesthesiologist from Manila, wants to give me 6 injections , I declined. They only give relief for a few weeks and at P25k, I just can't afford it.

 

hahahaha, well i have to tell you i use my own opinion as the first opinion, and then the doctor as a second opinion. most meds as you know you can buy over the counter here no script. there are many programs on the net where you can enter all of your meds including a new one and be advised of any interactions that should be avoided. every med has side effects so you always have to balance risk/reward issues. good luck!

 

ok, we found zak's at noon on saturday feb 1 with the following report:

service--was great. the owner was working by himself and had a total of five customers arrive at the same time. all were served food in a short time with full service. the owner is a very nice gentleman who operates with dignity.

food--got to preface this with the fact that i would never run a restaurant because i could not cope trying to cook better than everybodys mother. that said, i had fish and chips. the chips were maybe my best ever. the breading on the fish was wonderful. real del monte ketchup (was our guess). the fish was white marlin which i do not personally care for. too dry for me and this fish was to thick for me. my regrets but i am a slave to my personal tastes

my wife had curried chicken. curry is one of those dishes with a million variations and this one "wasn't like momma's". also she only likes white rice and this one perhaps turmeric? but she did not like. again, personal taste

prices were fair in our opinion for the meals. garnish was very good and varied. sauces were also good.

location---not good. zak's place is something you would never see if you were not looking for it. first its a small truck parked about three feet below grade but near the road. it is against a tall hollowblock wall/hedge so you cannot see it if you are going downhill unless you stop and know where to look. going uphill the view is blocked by a ukay ukay that runs out to the sidewalk and is taller than the truck.

the driveway is rocks, parking is limited and walking on the rocks hard on my old feet

the filipinos who ate when we did ordered hamburgers and reported to us they were very good and they would come back!!

if we go to valencia we would probably try this again. i would eat fish and chips again if its not marlin. tat would try something else if there is white rice. part of this is because the owner is a really nice guy. if i had any money i would buy a lot with a good view on this same road, something where he can park under the trees for shade, and i would lease it to him

 

Good Morning Shabbynomad70, Thank you for your kind and honest review.

My wife arrived shortly after you left and is to be forgiven. She is not tardy, she is suffering from violent bouts of morning sickness.

Oh yes, the rubble which is our car park and constantly up and down the steps to the truck for me is a nightmare. I'm only awake now because of the pains and cramps in my feet and legs. However, hopefully all is not lost. Myself, a good friend and his associate have mapped out a plan to , more or less, solve this problem. We're moving the truck to the very rear of the car wash, away from the ever present traffic noise, then employ some type of grass. The rear of the truck will be converted into a service bar leading to the next area which will be dominated by heavy duty bamboo walls and a combination of wood and bamboo flooring , all being well we'll be on stilts to keep our tortured feet dry. Superior furniture for customer comfort is already stacked at our house.This will be topped with a nipa roof to combat the sun and rain. Of course, finance will rear it's ugly head so this will not be happening overnight.
The shabby sign up front is to be replaced by another one, more vivid and possibly illuminated , I'll look into that forthwith.
It was actually Heinz tomato ketchup .
Yep, turmeric. White rice will not be a problem in future.
Your fish preference I don't think will be be a problem ( what is it ) ?
I get a number of requests on a regular basis, yours are easily dealt with... ask "momma" for her recipe and I'll make my best effort..

Other requests.... The fennel didn't, or has yet to turn up. I have a little time today so I'll get around myself and see what I can do.

Beef Rendang.
Usually cooked in advance for visiting dignitaries
A rich and creamy Malaysian/Indonesian beef stew made with beef, spices and coconut milk.

Calories 416 kcal
AUTHOR BEE | RASA MALAYSIA
INGREDIENTS
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. boneless beef short ribs, cut into cubes
• 5 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 stick cinnamon, about 2-inch length
• 3 cloves
• 3 star anise
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 lemongrass, cut into 4-inch length and pounded
• 1 cup thick coconut milk, coconut cream
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons tamarind pulp, soaked in some warm water for the juice and discard the seeds
• 6 kaffir lime leaves, very finely sliced
• 6 tablespoons kerisik, toasted coconut
• 1 tablespoon sugar or palm sugar to taste
• salt to taste

Spice Paste:

• 5 shallots
• 1 inch galangal
• 3 lemongrass (white part only)
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 inch ginger
• 10-12 dried chilies, soaked in warm water and seeded

CLICK HERE FOR CONVERSION TOOL
DIRECTIONS

1. 1
   Chop the spice paste ingredients and then blend it in a food processor until fine.
   
   
2. 2
   Heat the oil in a stew pot, add the spice paste, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and cardamom and stir-fry until aromatic. Add the beef and the pounded lemongrass and stir for 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, tamarind juice, water, and simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently until the meat is almost cooked. Add the kaffir lime leaves, kerisik (toasted coconut), sugar or palm sugar, stirring to blend well with the meat.
   
   
3. 3
   Lower the heat to low, cover the lid, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is really tender and the gravy has dried up. Add more salt and sugar to taste. Serve immediately with steamed rice and save some for overnight.
   

RECIPE NOTES
To prepare the kerisik or toasted coconut, just add the grated coconut to a dry wok and stir continuously until they turn golden brown.

Nutrition Facts
Beef Rendang Recipe

Amount Per Serving (4 people)
Calories 416Calories from Fat 468

% Daily Value*
Fat 52g80%
Saturated Fat 24g150%
Cholesterol 100mg33%
Sodium 132mg6%
Potassium 1001mg29%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 330IU7%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 64mg6%
Iron 7.4mg41%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
COURSE: MAIN COURSE
CUISINE: MALAYSIAN
KEYWORD: BEEF RENDANG

Beef Rendang is my Nemesis. From day one all I ever wanted to do is fish and chips. Zak's Place is just a food truck with 2 gas burners , a deep fat fryer and a puny little oven. My days of striving for Michelin stars are over , I tired of all the pretentious clap-trap back in the 80's ..

I'm going back to bed

 

Business takes a LOT of effort and reading your posts you sure put a lot into making your business model react to people's needs and desires and it deserves great success.