Born in Terengganu, actor-comedian Zizan Razak fondly recalls ayam golek as one of his must-have items at the Ramadan bazaar back home.
“Ayam golek is called ayam percik (in Klang Valley), so that’s one of my favourite things to get whenever I go to the bazaar,” he says.
These days, however, visiting Ramadan bazaars has become a little tricky.
“When you’re an artiste, it’s not that easy anymore. On the days that I do go, I go there intending to buy something, but sometimes people – with good intentions – end up giving me other things,” shares Zizan, whose full name is Mohammad Razizan Abdul Razak.
“I still graciously accept them because I don’t like wasting food.”
There is, however, one thing the 41-year-old refuses to compromise on.
“Every time I go to the Ramadan bazaar, I must buy air tebu – and it has to be with ice.”
More than bazaar fare, Zizan says what he looks forward to most each Ramadan is his mother’s cooking for iftar.
“We’ll usually have ayam golek and crab sambal, which my mum prepares. When Ramadan comes around, the food is just wonderful because it’s all cooked by her,” he says.
When asked if he plans to do any cooking this Ramadan, Zizan admits he feels like he should... but says nothing beats his mother’s cooking.
Still, his culinary skills aren’t entirely going to waste.
After completing his SPM, Zizan enrolled in a culinary school in Kuantan, and he is now putting that experience to use in an online Astro Gempak programme titled Dapur Goodday: Misi Inspektor Sani.
The show sees him reprising his Polis Evo role as Inspektor Sani – this time going undercover at a food stall to track down a drug dealer.
What makes the show unique is that the dishes featured on screen will be sold at Bazar Ramadan Presint 3 in Putrajaya, the next day.
“Some of the dishes on the menu are things I’ve never seen or even heard of before,” he says.
“It’s quite challenging – but I love the challenge.”
Dapur Goodday airs daily at 5.30pm on Astro Ria and is also available for streaming on Astro GO.
