I’ve been to Penang a number of times over the last couple of years but on this particular trip I had the rare opportunity to check out the island’s famous hawker fare with not only a Penang native but food writer and radio host Fay Khoo herself. We wanted to do side-by-side comparisons of some…
Every time the topic of Penang’s most famous dish comes up, I get a whole host of conjectures about what makes a good CKT – charcoal fire, wok breath, indispensable ingredients like pork fat, pork crisps, Chinese sausage – the list goes on. Awhile back I posted a video of a chef IN Penang cooking…
Recipes for Nasi Tumpang, Betel Leaf Bites and Traditional Herb Drink We were served a huge banquet by Kak Yah at Min House Camp, but we also had the opportunity to learn 3 Kelantan dishes at the retreat – 1. Nasi Tumpang (Rice in Banana Leaf Cones) This is a banana leaf cone filled with…
Sakoo Sai Moo a.k.a. Savoury Tapioca Balls Sakoo Sai Moo is a snack traditionally served on special occasions to the Thai monarch. This was one of three royal Thai dishes I had the privilege to learn during my stay at Shangri-La Chiang Mai. INGREDIENTS: 200 g Small sago 100 g Fresh coconut milk 100 g…
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…
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…
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…
We land at Chiang Mai and the isolation of this city, 700 kms north of Bangkok, is immediately palpable as we take in the high mountains and vast green fields that surround the airport. Heading to our hotel, I manage to communicate with ease with Shangri-La Chiang Mai’s limousine driver, and my concerns about language…