I was keen to draw a distinction between the cuisine of Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, and what we here in the West know as Thai food i.e. Pad Thai, red/green/yellow curry and the like. Because Chiang Mai is landlocked, seafood does not feature that prominently in its recipes; I was told pork is very popular, which I have to admit gave me pause » Read More
Press Release: Jackie M Charity Wine Dinner in the Pyrenees
August 5, 2015 by
I've been invited by Rainbow Gallery Café in Victoria's Pyrenees wine region to do a Malaysian wine dinner on Saturday 5 September. After the media storm of the last couple of weeks over baby Noah, I've asked that part of the proceeds go towards Down Syndrome NSW. The 5 courses I'm preparing will be gluten-free, and if you book by 14 August, » Read More
How to Cook Khao Soi
July 30, 2015 by
I had the opportunity to visit Chiang Mai last month courtesy of Shangri-La Hotels and whilst there I filmed a series of cooking videos consisting of dishes unique to that part of Thailand. I’ll write about my Chiang Mai travels in a separate post, but right now I just want to get this recipe across to you. This is the first in the series, and I’m » Read More
Why You Shouldn’t Boycott Orange Grove Market
July 23, 2015 by
A week is a long time in social media. When I received the phonecall a week ago today about the pending complaint about baby Noah, I felt duty-bound to immediately inform my followers that I was going to quit my Saturday market. I posted the announcement across my social media accounts and within an hour or two the mainstream media had caught » Read More
How to Cook Sambal Prawns – Everyday Gourmet TV
July 23, 2015 by
This is my Sambal Prawns recipe from my recent segment on Channel Ten's Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield. Keep an eye out for my other upcoming appearances featuring more Malaysian dishes. INGREDIENTS: 12 large prawns (shell on) 4 tbsp tapioca flour 2 egg whites, whisked 3 cups cooking oil Fresh coriander, to garnish Sauce- 3 » Read More
Why I’m Quitting
July 17, 2015 by
I get asked all the time why I don’t operate at more markets or do more events and festivals. This is the first time I’m speaking about this in public. My online videos, TV appearances and travel are not so much exercises in vanity as they were a conscious decision made 2 ½ years ago to recalibrate my brand away from physical food production and » Read More
How to Cook Ayam Pongteh
July 15, 2015 by
I’d never had Ayam Pongteh - a Nyonya dish that originated not in Penang but in Malaysia’s other Nyonya hub of Melaka. It was one of those recipes I’d come across many times over the years of learning my craft but frankly I think the reason I never attempted it was because it looked almost too easy to be worth trying. Golden Sands Resort by » Read More
Fish and Hunt Australia – How to Cook Chilli Crab in 15 minutes
July 14, 2015 by
Malaysia’s southern neighbour likes to lay claim to this dish’s origin, hence why it’s more widely known as “Singapore Chilli Crab” but we all know it’s actually Malaysian ;) I’m teasing (I love Singapore); anyhow this is my take on it - with belacan added for good measure to give it extra depth. I need to point out the use of belacan is not de » Read More
Fish & Hunt Australia – Quick & Easy Sambal Baked Fish
June 24, 2015 by
I love eating Ikan Bakar (Malay Grilled Fish) when I’m in Malaysia – we tend to use whole fish there - and they’re often wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a charcoal fire. One of the popular toppings used in ikan bakar is a sambal paste – and in this Fish and Hunt Australia segment, I used a Nasi Lemak Sambal by Dollee as a super quick » Read More
How to Make Mee Hailam
June 22, 2015 by
Recipe by Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur Most of us know and love Hainanese Chicken Rice but I’d bet good money not many people outside of Malaysia have heard of Hainanese Noodles - what we call Mee Hailam. What little I knew of the Hainanese dialect group growing up in Malaysia was that as migrants from China, many of them used to work as maids in » Read More