Found this in SFOGS:
"Satay is a traditional delicacy loved by most. They are basically
chunks of meat on wooden skewers, charred and grilled over naked
flames. Juicy and tender, garnished with slices of cucumber and
onion and slabs of rice cakes, dipped in thick, peanut sauce for a
complete bliss. Yummy, aye?
But what makes it so mouth-watering that you just keep coming back
for more? The ever dependable MSG? Yeah, maybe so. But is there a
possibility of supernatural influence, or traditional, secret
ingredients? Answer - YES!
While stallholders are generally known to have their stalls blessed
by experts like monks and even bomohs for good business, becoming
more like a standard practice nowadays, some have actually resorted
to unhygienic, or rather disgusting ways for that extra
boost.
If a particular stall is flooded with customers, usually ending its
business hours before the others, when their food is just
"okay-okay lah" and nothing great, chances are that it is
'blessed'. To confirm your hunch, look out for a small suspicious
looking bundle or pouch, usually made of yellow cloth, hung from a
hidden corner of the shop. The pouch usually contains an amulet,
and it acts as temporary house for a jinn or ghost. Sometimes it
can be in the form of offerings on a small tray, placed under the
counter. The unseen creatures are tasked to literally pull and
attract customers to the shop.
I spoke to several satay hawkers and they were quick to mention
words like "pelaris" and "manderem", both carrying a similar
meaning or purpose as described above. This may explain why you
ended up eating satay when you actually wanted something else. You
were hungry and you wanted something more filling. Or a nice bowl
of noodle and fishball soup to beat the hot weather, and satay was
like the last thing on your mind. You would be in a daze, eating it
almost unknowingly.
What about the secret ingredients? From my, uhm, investigations,
but before that! I must warn you to hold your guts. This must not
change your liking for satay. And I cannot be held responsible for
any drop in satay sale. Although I am inclined to believe it, these
could be just some baseless facts. So read and know it at your own
risk.
I gathered these word-of-mouth from satay lovers and peddlers,
including those who claimed to be veterans from the original Satay
Club at Padang. Apparently, it is the thick peanut sauce that
matters most. The greasy gravy taste so nice, it made us go asking
for more. And here was what found or added in it, on purpose or
unawares...
Insects, mostly roaches and lizards, rats, toads, and for the
ultimate ingredients, soiled underwear and sanitary pads! Urgh! I
find it VERY disgusting, and I must admit my appetite for satay
have dropped dramatically after knowing this. My sources were very
positive on the last two items, having actually seen them in the
cooking pots before. According to them again, it gives out a unique
taste (URGH!) and that extra punch to entice and draw more
customers.
I was also told that some stalls actually collect used wooden
skewers from the leftovers, wash them (like how clean can they
get!), and then reuse them again for fresh satay. I know the
economy is bad, but to this extent? And so the tip I got, break
your skewers after eating. "
