That's me and Hubs (please excuse our round-ness). For non-child-bearer like us, weekend can be so daunting. We ran out on ideas on what to do, normally I would dedicate my weekend for major house chores, like laundry, mopping, ironing a wardrobe, cooking big meals but at times all those were done by Friday, leaving Saturday and Sunday for lazing around. Lifeless, I know. So, last weekend was one of those days, we both got mati-kutu you know, he looked at me munching, I looked at him Facebuku-ing... until it was 11 am, I couldn't stand the silly shows on the idiot box, boomed! I got a BIG idea.
"Let's check out B.I.G"
"Apa?"
"B.I.G, kat Solaris"
"Apa?"
Me, giving up and hurriedly changing from shorts to my outing gears. Hubs is still in his sarong.
"Jom la" K-Pop duck mouth protruding from my face.
"Apa?"
By then, I got super annoyed and literally grabbed him and handed him a decent T-Shirt.
"Oh nak keluarkah," (like duh)
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| The back entrance at Publika |
I've been wanting to go this grocer since the BIG Group's facebuku announced the official opening. I've been pestering Hubs to go but he refused, he kept saying we don't do upscale groceries.
"We go kedai apek bawah rumah only, capisce (Rancic's style - kah-peesh)?" were his exact words and he said it with a very, very serious face. But that fateful day, he gave in because his smarty wife lured him with a plate of pasta, the dish he's been craving for days. Clever one.
Where is this B.I.G? It's at Publika, a new shopping mall located at Solaris Dutamas. Google map please. And B.I.G stands for Ben's Independent Grocer. It's part of the BIG Group. If you already 'Like' their Facebuku, it states there that the BIG Group believes in bonding humans, especially Malaysians, through food. True to their words, Hubs and I are no exception. We frequent Ben's; one of their flagship restaurant and we bonded over the food they served. Apart from Ben's they also own Plan B, Canoodling, Tate, T Forty Two, Ricetaurant, to name a few. Their maths is simple, they are determined to build relationships through food.
And B.I.G is their latest project.
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| That's one angry wife, because it was the 12897th shot and boy was I starving! |
So why do I wanted to go to B.I.G that bad? Simply because of the different ambience of doing groceries! But that day we did not plan to do groceries, we just wanted to check the place out. So before we regret any unplanned departures with our ringgits, Hubs insisted that we eat first. You know one of the shopaholic's rules right? No shopping if you're hungry as it would definitely lead to impulsive purchases!
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| Ben's General Food Store - yumsy display |
Please, who ever you are, please please please try their Nutella milkshake! Ya ampun nyaman!! I can't really describe the flavorful taste because it was so yummeh! Suffice to say that this shake right there is the reason (one of the many) why I'd surely make a comeback at B.I.G. Even as I'm typing this I could feel the dreamy taste lingering on the tip of my tongue... simply sedap!
So, once we're full, the adventure begins! The grocer's space alone lives up to it's name, it's big, spacious with endless isles that scream for your cart.
When the placard FRESH are put up, the produce literally represents the display.
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| Fresh as it gets! |
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| Fresh vege - hydroponic style |
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| Made famous by Jamie Oliver, fresh herbs |
And they just defy the mediocrity of a Malaysian grocery store. Every section is manned by a couple if not one attentive, knowledgable and friendly grocer. When I say defying mediocrity, I mean...
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Hubs doing the tummy tuck...don't be fooled
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| Wagyu beef |
They're well, not common.
Hubs was tired of taking pictures and continued to wander through the isles. A lot of imported goods I must say, and a lot of organic stuff too, which I guess is wise for going organic is an in-thing now especially at an upscale place such as Solaris, I'm sure every one eats like a rabbit. They also carry assorted brands of earth-friendly detergents, toiletries and a few household necessities. I was utterly impressed until the second I read the price tag, gulp! Threefold the price of your trustworthy Sunlight.
Apart from its choco bar, vinegar corner, spice nook, flower parlor, a tempting bakery and a humble kopitiam (sorry no pics here), this particular section managed to get Hubs to haul his i4 again and snapped some pictures;
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| TESLian knows |
The quietest area in B.I.G where I coaxed Hubs to enter but he refused. It's the non-halal section. I noticed no Malays went in. Why did I want to get in? Intriguing
lah...
Our tour ended at the magazine section. Of course, a no-brainer for nerds like us. Hubs took home a photog's magazine and I brought home a few no-brainer reads, i.e. fashion mags. Hubs was quite surprise that I was not tempted by the aromatic bakery located nicely next to the magazine section, and so was I. I guess the mushroom lasagna that I had earlier on still lingered in my tummy line. So, apart from magazines, what else did I purchase from B.I.G?
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| This^ |
And so that wrapped up our mini tour in a grocery store. Hubs said there's no way we're heading back home just for a packet of chewies so he dragged me to explore Publika, the mall. Now I shall let the pics do the talking ya.
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| The main entrance |
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| Hey, gotta love some pearly smoothies. |
And after an extra hour of wandering, our perut do the keroncong song again... teruk betul... hence;
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| Vulgar cuppies said Hubs |
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| The ntah apa2 chicken wings |
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| Ombak Rindu, the final quest! |
There was a charity concert going on at the open space near the Publika entrance. I couldn't resist buying the ticket (in the name of charity ok!) because of the goodies!! I mean anything with Empire Records on it an 80's baby like me would surely grab it! (^^) I didn't even bother to attend the concert!
And that was our aimless weekend. Hopefully this weekend would be more fruitful (you wish). Will I return to B.I.G? Well, yes but not in the near future. This place reads 'burn a hole in your pocket'. Perhaps some time farther away in 2012 ok Ben? Till then.
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| Le me boycott the common |
**PS: While we're on our way home.
Hubs: "By you know in fact this is where Petronas always held their meeting. I come here twice a week. No wonder it looks familiar.
Me: Fail.
