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. "
