Author: Kimberly Low

Eating live octopus at Crazy Fish – Solaris Dutamas

Eversince I read about this new Korean seafood restaurant in Solaris Dutamas, I was determined to visit the place. I tried to get some friends to go with me, but as predicted, only my foodie soulmate Jayna was up for it hehe.

We were there quite early so we managed to get a table though many tables were already marked as reserved when we arrived. The interior was simple and cosy.

# – Crazy Fish.

# – The area where live seafood were prepared.

After we were seated down, we were served complimentary banchan.

# – Seasoned cucumbers and some kind of julienned pancake/omelette?

# – Scallion pancake and dips.

Our main goal was to try the infamous Korean delicacy, “Sannakji” or live octopus.

# – Sorry, octo.

There were other live seafood on display that we just couldn’t identify.

# – Urechis and sea squirts? Nope, no idea.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of trying, we ordered a plate of sea squirts, on top of live octopus and salmon.

# – Salmon.

# – Octopus and sea squirts.

# – Octopus, chopped up and still wriggling.

# – Sea squirts, chopped up. We had a bit of a laugh trying to figure out how to eat it. Basically the fleshy bit is on top of the hardshell, which you can pick up with chopsticks.

The salmon was very nice but you could probably get the same if not better quality from a decent Japanese restaurant.

As for the octopus, well it was an interesting experience to eat something that lively. Everybody should try it at least once.

Taste-wise though, there wasn’t any discernible flavour other than the salt and sesame oil that I dipped it in. The texture was rubbery and chewy. Honestly, we were slightly disappointed at how incredibly bland it was.

# – The boss showing us how to eat the octopus. First you pick it up with wooden chopsticks (the traditional flat metal Korean chopsticks are pretty much useless as there’s no friction), dip it in sesame oil/salt then pop it into your mouth. Chew before swallowing.

# – Here’s a video of Jayna eating it for the 1st time.

Nevertheless, we were glad we have tried it, although it’d be our first and last time. At RM70 per octopus, it also felt incredibly expensive to me.

The sea squirts were spongy in texture and quite briney. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any addictive attribute to it. I’ve read somewhere that it’s reminiscent of oysters…but nope, not even close as it lacked the firm, silky texture of a good oyster. Perhaps it would taste better cooked?

We also ordered a bowl of spicy panmee for carbo loading purpose…yeap, really the chinese wheat noodles we’re all familiar with.

# – Spicy panmee. Nothing to shout about.

# – Me and Jayna.

So, will I go back again? I might bring friends/family there just for the novelty factor of eating a live, wriggly octopus but other than that, no. I am probably comparing apples and oranges, but I would much rather spend what we spent (around RM160) at a decent Japanese restaurant for flavourful raw seafood bursting with umami.

You definitely can’t fault Crazy Fish in terms of freshness but flavours? Well, at the end of the day it’s subjective, isn’t it?

Crazy Fish
9-G, Jalan Solaris 3,
Solaris Mont Kiara,
Kuala Lumpur.
Daily for lunch & dinner (until 2 a.m.), except the first Monday of each month.
Tel: 03-6211-7313

My staple pregger outfit – Same design, same size but different colours.

I haven’t been very creative with dressing my pregnancy. The two things I’ve been wearing to death….old oversized t-shirts or these basic dresses from H&M which I have been wearing way before I got knocked up.

Sometimes I would slip on an elasticated skirt underneath to extend the length if I felt a little conservative.

# – 21 weeks

# – 22 weeks

# – 23 weeks

# – 24 weeks

I love these H&M dresses! They fit my upper body (which hasn’t seen much changes, DAMN you boobs why have you stopped growing???) but stretch comfortably to accommodate the growing belly.

I am obsessed with dropping in H&M just to see if they had brought in new colours cause I want to buy them all.

And the best thing is, they go for RM39.90 a pop!

Red tide.

This was supposed to be a private post but I feel like I need to share it because it’s important. Initially I try to post only positive things about my pregnancy but the truth is, the thought that the worst could happen is always at the back of my head.

I don’t mean to say I am incapacitated by a constant fear for the worst but I feel like somehow publicly acknowledging that I have problems with my first pregnancy, along with the great things about it (better hair, better skin, better moods, etc) that I will be able to show a more realistic situation.

When I was about to hit the 3 month mark, something really scary happened, which I have written in length below. I am close to 6 months pregnant now and everyday I am thankful that I could feel every kick and movement from my baby.

++++++++++

It was 9 March 2014, 1pm. As soon as I looked down, my body went cold. Staring back at me was what used to be my pristine white panties, now stained with brownish, reddish stains.

I called out for Gareth, he rushed into our bathroom. I could see his face crumbled upon seeing what I had just seen.

We had been anticipating the end of the week as it marked the beginning of my 12-week pregnancy – the end of my 1st trimester. This was supposed to be the safe time to announce one’s pregnancy. We were so excited to finally be able to openly share our good news. We planned to make the announcement on Gareth’s birthday.

Suddenly, all our plans seemed a million years away. I was so confused. I felt numb but at the same time, I had to keep telling myself that this is common and it happens to many people.

It’s common, it’s common, it’s common…and yet, I felt numb. I told G we had to go to the hospital.

It was a Sunday and the O&G section had its shutters down. I was disappointed as I thought hospitals were supposed to operate 24/7. We decided to head to the emergency room instead.

There was quite a crowd. “I am pregnant and I am bleeding”, I told the young man behind the counter. I was whisked to the back of the emergency room almost immediately.

They gave me a basic check-up and then they told me my obgyn was on the way. She arrived from home 1/2 hour later.

She started giving me an ultrasound. As soon as I saw the image on the screen – the outline of a fetus with a tiny beating heart and fingers, tears started welling up in my eye. I dreaded what my doctor was going to tell me next – that our baby would start leaving my body.

Instead, she said the baby looked great, and I had no clots around my uterus which was a good sign. She told me I am suffering from a condition called “threatened miscarriage” and nobody, not even doctors know exactly why it happens. What she can do is give me some progesterones and a lot of rest. I was due to see her in another week.

Husband and I made jokes about how his Welsh blood would make the baby extra strong and that he or she would stick all the way to September (my due date).

It’s been two days since the terrible day. I am still spotting but I’ve never soaked through one sanitary pad per day, which to me is really good. In fact, I’ve never had any unusual cramp.

A moment ago though, while doing the number 2, I painlessly passed the largest lump of dark blood clot since I started spotting a couple of days ago. It’s the sized of a dried sliced apricot. This episode shook me a little.

We decided against going to the emergency, because I am not in pain and honestly there is nothing I can do if my body decides to purge it. We are just hoping for the best.

+++++++++++++++

A week after I wrote the above, I stopped bleeding. Doc gave me another scan and confirmed everything was okay. We went on to announce the pregnancy and I even went clubbing at Velvet (hah, don’t know how to die right?).

Since, my confidence about this pregnancy increased daily. Everytime I looked down onto my panties and saw nothing, I’d say a little atheist prayer.

A couple of months passed and a few days ago, it happened again. Spots of blood on my panties and in the toilet. Sigh.

That dreadful feeling came back, the questions and the constant googling about losses at this advanced stage. In the end I decided that I need to calm my shit down. We didn’t even go to the emergency room, I have done enough reading to know that as long as I’m not gushing blood and not having severe cramps being at the emergency room won’t help.

Thankfully, the spotting has reduced significantly. I am hoping it’s just a pattern – something that happens to me as I enter a new trimester. Maybe it’s the universe’s way of keeping me humble. It sure is effective.