Enot Is One Smart Cookie

Comedienne Enot is no stranger to good food.

THE buzzwords for cookie selection, according to TV comedienne Alliza Abdullah, who is better known as Enot to her fans, are mantap and mampan.

“Mantap means satisfying. A good cookie must have the ability to create a harmonious symphony in one’s palate. It should give one the feeling of euphoria and induce the diner to reach out for yet another cookie. This means that the cookie has to be rich, luxurious and most importantly, crunchy to the bite,” affirmed the 29-year-old comedienne turned cookie vendor.

Help yourself: Enot offering cookies she is selling for Hari Raya Puasa.

As for mampan, this would refer to the contents of a cookie container which should be packed to the brim, with no room for any of the pieces to shift when the receptacle is overturned.

The star who has been appearing on Pertama Ramadhan over TV3 during the fasting month is no stranger to cookies as she was once part of the pastry team at Concorde Sepang and First World Genting Hotel having graduated with a Certificate in Pastry from UiTM in 1999.

When she is on set, it is not unusual to find that in addition to being part of the cast, Enot is also responsible for catering the meals.

“From as far back as 2002, I used to make Hari Raya cookies for my family and friends. It wasn’t really a business back then,” recalled this mother of two girls.

But in answering the call for diversification, Enot found herself going into the kuih-making business two years later. “I was the middleman, placing orders for kuih from different people but that did not last long because I was put off by the inconsistency in the taste.

“You know, I am very particular about food and I am very insistent that everything that goes into my mouth must taste good,” declared this foodie passionately.

Enot found the cookies made by Radimas, a cookie factory in Johor, met her high standards. It is assumed that Enot, a fussy cookie perfectionist, would be quite the nightmare customer. Afterall, she has admitted to rejecting entire batches due to slight over burning or careless strewing of chocolate sprinkles.

So come Hari Raya one would expect Enot’s larder to be a haven for the cookie lover?

“Well, I do like cookies, especially the chocolate chip variety from Famous Amos,” she began hesitantly.

“But, you know, when you’re in the cookie business, you just want to have something different. After trying hundreds of cookies, I think it is fair to give my palate a break.

“So, this Raya, instead of cookies, I will be having ketupat, rendang, lemang and kuah lodeh. I will also be making my specialty, which is kek batik,” said Enot.

It is obvious that her kek batik is a hit with the family. At the mention of it, her Kelantanese videographer husband, Zainal Abidin Mat Noor, 37, and her elder daughter, Andriana, would mosey over to listen in on mum’s Raya cooking plans.

As for the prospect of this former Convent Seremban old girl introducing her kek batik as another product, she groaned and begged for time off.

“Oh, I’ve been so busy with the cookie business that I am only running on two to three hours of sleep this Ramadan. Maybe next year,” said Enot.

So far, this comedienne who has 12 years of experience when it comes to delivering punch lines, confessed that she has been combating fatigue with laughter, which she attested is the best medicine for stress.

For enquiries, call Enot at 017-3721978.