My CNY dinner at CRC restaurant

Last night, I had a dinner with my banker friends in CRC restaurant. I have not been there for the past one year. Yeah, that is last year's CNY dinner. Now, there are two CRC restaurant and they are located nearby. They have the same English name but the Chinese characters are different. Same owner but different chef. Yes, we can understand that Chefs are special creatures.

On my way in.I met an old friend having valentine dinner with his wife. Ow! So loving after so many years of marriage. They are staunch Buddhist and vegans what are they doing in a meaty restaurant ? Well, better not to think so much.

After entering into VIP room,another old friend asked me to sit with him at the main table with my banker friends. The subject was usually wine,women and song. Abit of naughty jokes about three grades of "sushimi on ladies" servings. This is the work of the yakuzas , the Japanese mafia. Then the topic dwell into properties in Penang. One of my friend, Khoo was saying the land price in Penang is too high and at some place it is selling RM1,000 pet sq ft. For a 1000 sf ft area it will cost RM1 million. Where can you get money or your salary to buy a house at the current price level ? The housing situation is so rediculous now. The youngsters will need to stay far away or in smaller units. Pitiful, right ?

Now, the subject of discussion turn back to food. My banker friend,J was complaining the price of food. He told me that 15 years ago, the grilled spring piglet was only selling RM80 per piglet and it cost RM230 and the dragon-tiger fish cost RM100 per kg, five years ago and now cost RM180 per kg. At this rate of inflation and earnings,we would not afford good fish and pork, maybe we should become vegans. But, coming to think about, vegan food are neither cheap as well,nowadays.

If we talk about an inflation rate of 2% per year, on a simple calculation basis, for 10 years, the price of food could only increase 20% but for the fish, it is 80% and for the pork, it should be 30% but it went up 150%. Even if compound the inflation, it will still be much lower. So, goodbye, fish, goodbye pork and goodbye house. Things will get more expensive and we will not be able to sustain. The Country will be heading towards social trouble in the near future if the rate of inflation is not handled properly and orderly.

Namaste.