The idea of the business was mooted by a common guy turned philantrophist from Yayasan Nurul Hikmah - to help people to fish, and not by giving them the fish. It is to help single mothers.
This is what the business does:
- Get application from single mothers (ibu tunggal/ibu tinggal) or wanna be housewives.
- These mothers are to do their normal cooking at home, and if they feel like making extra money by cooking, they can cook extra portion for people to subscribe to their cooking.
- But before they can start the business, they have to attend a course on cooking the right way and get certified by the Islamic Manufacturing Practices.
- Once in a while, they will be audited (spot check done). Their kitchens have to be cleaned and no MSG to be added in their dishes. If found guilty, that's it - license to cook suspended.
What do they truly sell?
Food which is prepared at home, with the intention to serve the family, not for making profit. Somehow they believe that the intention in cooking will affect the quality of the food and ultimately, satisfy the eater with a different aura of fulfilment. Get the idea?
How to order?Working men and women can place their order online, and the lunch will be delivered in tiffin carrier to your office and hence the name "mangkuk tingkat" originates.
Price
Order is for one month (block order) and the booking window is only 1 week before the month starts. For price range of RM4-6, you can get great deal of rice, 1 main dish and 1 vege dish. Very affordable and easy.
The fun part
Starting off his speech, the creative guy who created this business showed a slide on types of mangkuk tingkat - those were the 2 tiers, 3 tiers and 4 tiers. So he said:
"Makanlah kamu dari 2, 3 atau 4. Kalau tak mampu, maka 1 sahaja". Much to the delight of the audience.
The dishes are served in 4 tiers mangkuk tingkat, but only 3 tiers will be filled. The top tier is called "tingkat kasih" and it is supposed to remain empty (since it is up to the cook to put in something extra, like fruits for example).
I strongly recommend that you visit this very interesting business's website - http://www.mangkuktingkat.com/ to find out more and try it if the cook is available near your working place.
During the Q&A session, there was a senior citizen who commented that the guy should really consider to change the name of the business. Apparently, the word "mangkuk" is not a good word in the Japanese language. Yup, I did check with a Japanese speaking guy, it is a vulgar word.
But for us Malaysians, we use the word "mangkuk" to swear at people, without knowing what it means in other language. Have fun searching for the meaning!
There was also a question by a lady that goes like this,
"If let say the eater really like the cooking, and wish to get to know the cook in person, have there been cases where the eater fall in love with the cook?"
Yeah, she's damn worried to subscribe it for her hubby. Just in case.
The creator responded:
"The customers will never know the cook. The cook will always remain anonymous. But there are cases where the delighted customer send flowers to my office, to be passed on to the cook".
You see ladies, it is true. The way to get to a man's heart is thru his stomach. :P No matter how busy you are, try to squeeze sometime to do some simple cooking for the family.
Conclusion - Food that binds the stomach, binds the family.
2 comments:
I totally believe the philosophy of cooking for the family. That's why our mothers' dishes are the best.
My parents are great cooks. My cousins, aunts and uncles would always be delighted to come over their place for a sample of their dishes - whatever may be on the table. Ibu told me "the secret ingredient is the sincere intention (niyyat) that you have while cooking". I could finish 5 plates of her simple green chili fried rice in one seating. Ayah's fried beehon with taucu is out of this world. For me, at least.
I've watched a report on tv about that mangkuk tingkat business. Especially in KL where fast food flourish, they need something homely. Ayam kampung, ulam, and food they enjoy during childhood would always make good business.
As for the word 'mangkuk tingkat' - let it be. It's the original Malay phrase for it. Toyota-san and Mitsubishi-san would just have to adapt (regular customers, BTW?). Tepen is the other word we use, but I suspect it's not Malay.
The niyyat is noble, and I really salute the creative guy who came up with this idea. Let's pray that the venture will exist for a long time. In JB, Skudai has been covered. Maybe we could try once it reaches our far away land.
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