Black Bean Burgers?

This morning = absolutely lovely.  Pulled tea and roti for breakfast: RM$4.80 (USD$1.60).  I do believe breakfast is cheaper to eat out than to eat in.  Plus the short walk is really nice before the sun turns to scorching.

Contrasts can truly be beautiful.  For instance, the contrast between breakfast this morning and dinner last night: the furthest thing possible from the same level of enjoyment.  We had attempted to make black bean burgers.  However, a combination of exhaustion, lacking familiarity with local ingredients, not having made them at home ever, and zero patience to let the turtle-esque member of the food family (i.e. beans) simmer for a quarter-century led to our "black bean burgers" having to come to terms with a new name: "garlicky green globs".  The only black bits were the charred chunks as we struggled to master our two-burner stove.  Our tired selves were quite relieved to find a food processor in our unfamiliar cupboards; but alas - the garlic-and-onion puree did our green globs no favors.

Food is a primary focus in Malaysian culture.  While we have been here for a week now, yesterday was our first attempt with the stove as we've been graced with amazing hospitality and meal invites during these first days.  In fact, our first full day in Kuala Lumpur consisted of a walking tour to the close shops and markets, lunch and shopping, and then a dinner outing.  We ate four times with our neighbor Brian on the first tour, three times with Adeline, Alpha and Seth (from Bangsar LC) during the mid-day, and only once with Brian, Pr. Thomas and Suzie for dinner.  Though to be fair, the last was a ten-course Chinese meal - and we were sent home with a bag of cookies.

Hungry, anyone?  Come visit us!  (We promise to eat out...)

Much love,

Emily