...and this time, as always, food will be the centerpiece of it ! 
Growing up in rather 'small' town in eastern part of Java island, Indonesia, my family were not foodies for sure. We ate what my Mom prepared for that day. Granted that most of the time, she didn't even cook them herself, but we ate what typical middle class family in Indonesia live by. Inexpensive source of protein such as tofu and tempeh (fermented soy beans) every day, different kind of fish, chicken and occasional red meat when she could find cheap cuts from her favorite butcher at nearby wet market. Eating out at our local noodles place was rather an extravagance that time.
I learnt how to cook out of necessity. I didn't like what's on table when growing up. Then, came my maternal grandmother, who was always showering us with homemade treats ...cookies, ice cream, sweet snack and such. Spending the night at her place was a big thing ! And being the only granddaughter (and other 4 grandsons too in the picture!), I got to help her most of the time. That meant that I could eat the spoon off the cookie dough, licked off my finger from half hardened ice cream batter, or ate unsuccessful dutch pancake while making them with her. My brothers, my cousins and I were fighting over helping her spinning the old-fashioned ice cream machine !
I inherited her love of cooking. I even got my hands on her 5 big clipping books full of recipes found in local newspapers and magazines. She started with them while my mother was pregnant with me. Now those books are the ever lasting memory of her love for me and cooking, the best gift I've ever received from her.
I remember the old days, when she took me to local restaurant, buying Semarang style egg rolls. It was an old establishment, my grandmother had been eating there when she was a young lady ! While we were waiting for our food to bring home, she ordered for both of us a bowl of noodle, called pangsit mie a.k.a cwie mie.
We shared a bowl of noodles (similar to the picture above), with chopped chicken as topping, boiled wontons, meatballs on the side, pickled cucumber and fried wontons as well. The best thing that I've ever eaten ! I was less than 10 years old at that moment.
Since then, this type of noodle dish is my comfort food. And usually I cook this whenever I'm longing for the place I grew up at. Just like a week ago. I made everything just like the way I know, even with fried wontons.
I've been homesick for awhile now. I even made plans to visit her in September, knowing how fragile her health was nowadays. I wanted to see her and take her to old eating places, and listen to her stories of youth days. The pride, joy, and regrets of her life. How she loved us unconditionally. Unfortunately, she couldn't wait much longer to be with my late grandfather.
She passed away yesterday morning in Indonesia.
Oma,
you were there even when my own parents couldn't understand me.
You're always my biggest support I've ever had, and I miss those days when you picked me up at school and took me places around town for snacks afterward.
Please tell Opa I missed him dearly too.
You'll be missed, and you have no idea how much !
Dec 1917 - June 2009
PS:
This is my submission for June 2009 Click! food photography event.
(haha ...in the middle of frantic packing for emergency overseas trip, I'm still thinking of food photography ! LOL).
