Ayam Goreng 99 is that temple where Sydneysiders go to sear their tongues in the name of devotion to the Indonesian gods of chicken. Located in Kingsford, its a lot more than a stone’s throw from where I live but I know it thanks to friends who live around the area.
Its almost always packed and you’re either going to have to wait for a place or you’re going to have to go to one of the other copycat joints nearby. Ayam Goreng 99 though, is the real deal. I brought 2 Indo mates along once and they were fulla praise.
You come here for the sambal really. Which is like the spiciest yet tastiest chilli I’ve had Sydneyside. The chicken can be a touch dry but its flavorful and cheap. So cheap, you can pretty much ignore everything, kinda like when the sambal first sets onto your tongue and your tastebuds succumb to the flames. Good thing you get to quench it down with cold water or hot tea free flow.
I recommend getting the char-grilled thigh with some rice and also some of their other lighter options. The kangkong is a good bet. Then finish it with an Ice Durian which some of my friends swear by. I never expected to ever find good durian anywhere in Australia but this comes as close as ever I guess. I must also remind anyone going for the first time to take a tiny amount (tip of the spoon tiny) of sambal to test before you slob a dollop of the stuff on your plate.
Ayam Goreng 99 464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford 9697 0030 Wed-Sun, 11.30am-4pm and 6-9pm BYO, cash only about 10-15 pax.Filed under: Fashion
Mayne it cold right now in Sydney. Wish me had onna deez Rick Onens jawns to keep me warm.
The other superb documentary I caught was Air Guitar Nation. Which is like half as emo as King of Kong. The film is directed by Alexandra Lipsitz and follows the Americans and their recent uptake on competitive air guitar. Since 1996, the Air Guitar World Championships have been held in Oulu, Finland. Yet it was only in 2003 that the Americans started to take part and this film follows the main characters from the regional east/west coast competitions in the US to the national tourney and finally, their trip to Finland.
How in the world would you ever find someone pretending to play on a guitar entertaining? Well, that shit is basically answered when you watch a clip of C-Diddy. So without further adieu.
The clip above shows Korean American David Jung wearing a red bathrobe with a Hello Kitty plaque strapped across his chest as he imaginatively strums to Play With Me by Extreme. The song takes parts from Mozart’s Turkish March at the intro and was used in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure FYI. In the clip, Jung, who hails from NY, is playing to an initially hostile booing West Coast crowd, who eventually cheer his mad antics. Such is the power that this rubber faced dude possesses. He also happens to be a smalltime actor, appearing on a host of American productions, which probably helps him a ton. The depth/thinking behind his absurd getup and style is quite remarkable. His sheer drive and dedication to being in character is also amazing. From the moment he appears on stage, you get disarmed by the ludicrous nature of it all and you have no fucking idea what he’s going to do.
Its not just C Diddy either. There’s a load of other guys like try hard Bjorn Turoque AKA Dan Crane who always ends up losing out to Jung but gets to go all the way to Finland where he doesn’t get on the podium. He does get to release a book about his exploits. Then there’s also other guys like a born again Christian rocker who gets off his wheelchair because he’s healed by Jesus and all manner of wannabes in the documentary itself.
The thing that makes Air Guitar compelling isn’t just the ridiculous hijinks and over the top exaggeration. Its the fact that these people know its all one big joke but that they take it seriously as well. Apparently, there’s some substance behind all the hot air. There’s no condescension when you watch these guys perform. They’re almost like real rockstars and to be honest, guys smashing real guitars and biting bats heads off and shit, that’s pretty silly as well. Sure the air guitarists might lack real musical talent but they make up for it with wonderful imagination. Its about making something from out of nothing.
Trailer for the film.
How is it I forgot to post about two recent documentaries that take a look at the awkward side of life? I must be missing my SNES or sumtin. So I gots to talk about some wiideo games for a bit.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters was quite celebrated I think, because it was a documentary that looked at the real life story of one man’s fight to break into the world of competitive retro gaming. Lolwut was my first reaction when my friend told me about this absurd premise for a movie months back. I dutifully went and procured a copy and watched the film, which I think is remarkable in many ways.
First off, its a documentary, meaning there’s like zero actors, which means that all the outlandish characters in the film are real. Like the dude that reviews new gaming record claims, spending hours watching someone else play or the referee dude or the granny that plays Q*Bert. The two main characters in the film also play out like the best “hero” and “villain” of any flick I’ve seen for a long long time.
Steve Wiebe is the pretender to the throne of Donkey Kong champion. He got laid off work and became a stay at home dad whilst his wife made the dough. So in his spare time, whilst taking care of the kids, he delved into Donkey Kong. He recorded himself playing the game till the point where he beat the 1,000,000 point mark, which is a big deal cos its like a marathon event and requires like a lotta tapes or something. At the point where he’s about to break the record, his son actually comes up to ask him for something but brushes him off instead.
Billy Mitchell probably needs Paul Mitchell in his life to tame his mane but he’s the villain of the piece. He’s brash, flamboyant and arrogant. The anti-Wiebe, who’s comparatively mild-mannered and calm. Mitchell owns his own restaurant, which is strangely named Rickey’s World Famous Restaurant, where he peddles Rickey’s World Famous Hot Sauce. He wears loud shirts and ties emblazoned with American flags and shittalks like the best. As he puts it, “Billy Mitchell always has a plan”. He’d been the Donkey Kong record holder for a long time until Wiebe popped from outta nowhere.
There’s in fact, a whole organization designed to cater for dedicated hardcore gamers like Wiebe and Mitchell, who devote their lives to their fave video games. Twin Galaxies was founded by Walter Day, who is typically seen in his referee suit. He was the guy that became like the scorekeeper for competitive retro gaming. Which is why there’s such a big deal, cos world records of old school games are on the line.
You probably couldn’t script this one better. The story really wrote itself. The amount of details that add dramatic tension to it all is just simply amazing. You’re going to root for Wiebe. You’re going to hate Mitchell. You’re going to snigger at a whole lot of people. They are all REAL. There’s plenty of ego, geekdom, tempers, drama and a bucketload of intellect on display. These people may be nerdy. They may dedicate themselves to something “silly” but they are the best at what they do. Walter Day, in particular, strikes me as a guy who knows where its at. Director Seth Gordon really lets the film play itself out quite beautifully and at the end, really touching. I shed a tear. Truth.
By the way, if you think all this is absurd, try playing Donkey Kong once in your life. Shit is mad hard. Check da trailer below.
