Things are expensive but do not get shortchanged when you eat out

We are a family of three but whenever we eat out we would like to "stretch" our dollar. As you know, Malaysia now is everything boleh; boleh naik tak boleh turun (can go up, cannot go down). I'm talking about the prices of essential goods lah! Even then, you can just sum up in general, everything seems to go up nowadays. No thanks to our tak boleh BN.

So, how to stretch your dollar then? Take for example, if you have a family of 4 and you would like to have a family meal outside, say...chicken rice or duck rice. Usually you will tell the uncle "4 persons eating", right? There he goes and make you a plate of juicy chicken with 4 rice. Now, have you ever wonder or come across more often then not, the plate of chicken supposedly for 4 persons is not-so-enough? Either you eat less and let your family eat more or you order 'add one more plate please'. So, the uncle got more business from you and you also spend more instead - over budget lah sometimes.

How about order half a bird straight next time and you know it is more than enough? In a way, everybody can enjoy the meal and it actually cost less because half a bird is about RM9.00 nowadays. BUT, beware though...you may also get shortchanged or cheated (more direct) if you are not aware how a plate of half a bird will look like. Is it this much or that much when the half bird is totally chopped down to pieces? Worse still if it is de-boned (boneless) will look a lot less on the plate.

I have had my experience in BM and Chai Leng Park and I felt cheated by these not-so-smart con men. When you cheat or con people, you are known as conman lah! No difference. Like I say, to stretch my dollar and at the same time give everybody at the table a sumptuous meal, I usually order half a bird, even for my family of three. How do we determine that the plate is not half a bird? Believe me at certain places, we will totally get our stomachs all filled up. With these con men serving, you are left with half filled stomach - not satisfied! And the portion on the plate, left me scratching my head. How on earth they want to cheat people like that just to make a few bucks? Malaysia boleh!

Another way to determine how big the portion to expect on a plate for half a bird is - buy one and cook it at home and then chop them into pieces and see for yourself!

Now, I want to know; if this thing happened to you, would you stand up and confront the fellow (chicken/duck rice seller) or shut up and walk away, not going back there anymore? Or spread it to your friends? Use the internet/email if you do!