Often I choose books that focus on a single cuisine but in the case of Bowlful by Norman Musa, I was drawn in by the promise of fresh and vibrant dishes from across Southeast Asia. Born in Penang, Malaysia, experienced chef and author Musa has spent much of his life exploring the cultures and cuisines ... Read more »
Nonya Chicken Curry Kapitan is considered the king of Malaysian chicken curries, and on making and tasting it, we immediately understand why. The combination of spice paste ingredients (including ginger, onion, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass, chillies and shrimp paste) with those added during cooking (coconut milk, tamarind paste, dark brown sugar, makrut lime leaves and cinnamon) ... Read more »
Egg tofu is a special kind of tofu made from soy milk and eggs – the eggs giving it the most wonderful wobbly texture. Think of a just-set savoury custard that’s meltingly ethereal light and silky smooth. Now imagine fat slices of egg tofu combined with pork mince braised in a rich, soy-based sauce. Comfort ... Read more »
I’ve been anticipating the publication of Mandy Yin’s Sambal Shiok cookbook for many months, and now the book’s in my hands, it doesn’t disappoint! As Yin explains, Malaysian food reflects the diversity of the Malaysian people and encompasses a glorious range of ingredients, flavours and techniques from the Malay, Chinese, Peranakan, South Indian and indigenous ... Read more »
Bang Bang Oriental is a shiny, bold South East Asian food court in Colindale, North West London a successor to Oriental City, which closed down almost a decade before. With over 20 vendors to choose from, it can be hard to make a choice so we’re here to help with our top twelve dishes, and more. ... Read more »
2020 is definitely not the year of international travel. That passtime has pretty much ground to a halt, as many of us around the world hunker down at home in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel lovers like me, who would usually be booking the next trip, focus instead on dreams of past travels, ... Read more »
Food is a huge part of travel, whether you’re an avid foodie or not. Malaysian food is a game-changer and definitely one of my favourite cuisines in the world. The combination of Malay and Indochinese cuisine, as well as the passion Malaysians have for cooking, results in the creation of most delectable dishes. When travelling ... Read more »
“If you like coconut, you will probably like kaya. Kaya is one of those foods that makes you close your eyes, feel content and be thankful that life is very beautiful.” Kaya is a sweet, thick coconut spread that is popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Thickened with egg, velvety smooth and brown, Kaya has something ... Read more »
This is a really happy day. I’m so thrilled that I’m actually sitting here grinning like a loon as I write this, having just this second got home from Bang Bang Oriental. It opened this weekend and I was there like a shot. Bang Bang Oriental, you see, is the replacement for Oriental City which ... Read more »
‘Burma has some glorious noodle dishes’, says MiMi Aye, explaining her enduring obsession with this ubiquitous but underappreciated ingredient. As a child, MiMi learned to cook Shan and Burmese food from her mother who she describes as ‘a brilliant cook’, and enjoyed many holidays spent visiting family in Burma (also known as Myanmar), learning even ... Read more »
The Place of Onions, in old Lille. After last night’s rainstorm the intense sticky heat has broken and today is cool, breezy, fresh… I love it! A drop of… [more]
We went to Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire at The Void this morning, an amazing VR experience where we got to be Rebel Alliance members going undercover as… [more]