Nasi lemak is the unofficial ‘national dish’ of Malaysia, and a popular breakfast item that you’ll find wrapped in banana leaf at street-side stalls. A number of side dishes and condiments go into this dish and they vary slightly depending on where you are, but at my restaurant I always served Nasi Lemak with coconut rice, cucumber slices, dried » Read More
Chiang Mai Travel Diary – Part 5
October 10, 2015 by
Day 4 and I’m acutely aware that time is running out for us to visit this region’s famous attractions. It’s Sunday and temperatures are expected to soar (I’m told they hit 45°C yesterday). Baby Noah is back to his normal, happy self but the beautiful hotel pool beckons along with the prospect of travelling far distances in the searing heat. I » Read More
Chiang Mai Travel Diary – Part 4
October 9, 2015 by
Day Three and baby Noah is chirpier now that he’s getting a good supply of fresh mango juice, but he’s still a little lethargic. We’re in this remote part of Southeast Asia and the elephant sanctuary, the famous Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple up in the hills and the long necked mountain tribes are all on my wish list but they all involve day trips » Read More
How to Cook Burmese Mohinga
October 7, 2015 by
Technical difficulties have been the bane of my existence since I started Livestreaming my cooking 3 years ago (I was one of the global pioneers of using Hangouts-on-Air for food broadcasts, btw). Anyhow, after a prolonged absence due largely to internet-related issues, I did my first broadcast in 7 months yesterday, on what is arguably Burma’s » Read More
How to Cook Ayam Goreng
October 7, 2015 by
Ayam Goreng aka Malay Fried Chicken A popular item on my old restaurant menu, this recipe has a couple of tricks to overcome potential barriers to preparing fried chicken at home. Making sure the meat is simmered and just cooked through before flash-frying prevents overcooking the outside. This also means you can use a large heavy-based wok or » Read More
How to Make Thai Khao Kriab Pak Moh
October 2, 2015 by
Thai Khao Kriab Pak Moh aka Steamed Rice Skin Dumplings An elegant Thai royal delicacy made with rice flour batter and a chicken and prawn filling, Khao Kriab Pak Moh , taught by Chef Wassana at Shangri-La Chiang Mai. The folds in the dumpling are created by deftly lifting the steamed batter with a spatula and swirling it over the » Read More
How to Make Chee Cheong Fun
October 2, 2015 by
Awhile back, I ran a Google+ hangout and cooked this dish - the response was instant and many said they had no idea how easy the rolls are to make at home. That, combined with the simple pantry ingredients in the recipe, means overseas Malaysians can now satisfy their cravings for Chee Cheong Fun in a matter of minutes. I never knew about the » Read More
How to Cook Wantan Mee with Chicken Char Siew and Sui Gow
October 1, 2015 by
A typical Malaysian breakfast dish, stir-fried noodles are coated in a sticky sauce and served with steamed greens, a side of wontons (Wantans) and barbecued pork or chicken (Char Siew). Wantan Mee aka Wonton Noodles Ingredients: 500 g fresh, thin wonton noodles 2 bunches flowering Choy Sum, cut into 5 cm lengths For Wonton Mee » Read More
Chiang Mai Travel Diary – Part 3
September 29, 2015 by
We have a busy schedule on our first morning in Chiang Mai. Breakfast at the Shangri-La Club Lounge is exquisite, with red curry beef and cooked-to-order Thai omelette as the highlights. Noah, still refusing drinks, is more interested in looking out the window at the swimming pool downstairs. We need to shop for ingredients for the » Read More
How to Cook Penang Asam Laksa
September 24, 2015 by
Asam (aka Assam) Laksa Also known as Penang Laksa, this dish hails from its namesake island and has been listed among the 'Top 10 world’s most delicious foods' by CNN. I held off on attempting it for many years as one of the main ingredients in the paste, bunga kantan or torch ginger flower, is almost impossible to find in Australia. However, » Read More