Friedchillies Forum

Cooks in the Soup

2011-12-05T16:19:59Z

Cooks in the soup
Posted on 5 December 2011 - 02:13pm
S. Indra Sathiabalan
lifestyle@thesundaily.com

IT IS amazing how cooking shows such as Iron Chef, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef Australia, Junior Masterchef, Masterchef USA and The Next Food Network Star have viewers glued to their seats watching people trying to cook the best dish or meal within the alloted time.

The sight of chefs creating culinary masterpieces is riveting and all of a sudden, you get this interesting education about ingredients, flavours and cooking techniques.

Thanks to these shows, cooking has become trendy and celebrity chefs are the new TV stars.

Two such productions, both set in Malaysia, however, are garnering attention for all the wrong reasons.

If you are a fan of the American or Australian Masterchef series, you may end up being sorely disappointed with our local version (shown over Astro Ria, Channel 104, on weekdays at 9pm) which has, of late, been plagued with controversy.

When one of the judges was found to have padded his resume with brilliant credentials (that were later proven to be untrue), you know that the show has hit some major skids on the road.

What irks me even more is having to watch the same guy week after week dispensing advice on cooking techniques and what-have-you to contestants who are obviously unaware of his unethical action.

To top it off, most of the contestants talk out of context. For example, in one episode which had the contestants taking part in a challenge at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, one of the contestants commented whether tourists who turn up to sample their food would know how to eat kuey teow or how to dip cucur ikan bilis into chilli sauce ...

To make matters worse, the so-called celebrity chefs introduced on the show are not all that famous either. In one episode, for instance, a cooking instructor from a local hospitality college was included as a ‘celebrity chef’.

This only goes to show that the producers have not done a good job scouring for the best of the best.

Who’s next? The makcik selling nasi lemak down the road? Come to think of it, she might add some colour to the show ...

The biggest insult was when instant noodles were used as the main ingredient in an elimination challenge!

The other show that piques my interest is AFC’s Next Celebrity Chef (on AFC, Astro Channel 703, Wednesdays at 10pm).

Renowned chefs and those aspiring to be celebrity chefs from several Asian countries are brought to Malaysia to take part in the search for the next celebrity chef from this region.

Other than the unnecessary dramas and irritating judges, most of the focus is on the main sponsor’s properties rather than the contestants.

Celebrity judge Bruce Lim comes across as a bizarre version of Gordon Ramsey while no one understands why Chef Wan was judging the Hongkong leg – celebrity chef Anna Olsen sweetly pointed out that he could not eat an omelette prepared by a contestant because it had ham in it.

Then, you have things like an angry contestant taking off his shirt after his salad was critiqued or a contestant having to leave because his boss wants him back at work or a promising contender who has an ailing son back home.

Unlike The Next Food Network Star, which tests the contestants’ ability to cook as well as how well they communicate with the audience, there is no clear indication as to what qualities the contestants of the Next Celebrity Chef need to have in order to become a celebrity chef.

The judges merely pass comments such as “this person is boring” or “that person helps another”, and so on.

One just wonders how this show is going to pick the right person to be Asia’s next celebrity chef.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/229193

The author may wonder but I sure as heck dont.

Mee Rebus Nyonya; mamak, chinese Mee Jawa

2006-10-16T11:17:04Z

Well, I actually mee rebus / Mee Jawa Fan...
I love this noodle very very much...
Just want to share some few place that i thing nice which i have try before since i come to Klang Valley almost 5 year.

1. Mee Rebus Nyoya.
Last time was at SS15 during i begin come to PJ for work. But since i move to Seksyen 17, PJ. I miss it alot. Since so long no back there 'makan' so last month i back to the store found it already no more.
Do any brother, sister here know where they moving already? Last time i remeber the store was operate by 1 chinese girl and 1 indo girl (partner).

2. Chinese Mee Rebus
emm..I got try at SS2, Wai Siek Kai.
The boss is abit fat and wearing a spec..
Nice also...

Hope to hear any brother, sister here to introduce me some other place nice Mee Rebus.

TimeOut KL Food Award 2011

2011-09-28T13:15:25Z

Just a plug here for you to vote for your fave makan place http://www.timeoutkl.com/foodawards/2011

This year's nomination seems to be quite an interesting mix of fine dining & kopitiam under the same category hehe. Go vote your heart out everyday!

Oh yeah, while you're at it, do vote for my choice of Al Amnah under Blogger's Choice :D

http://babeinthecitykl.blogspot.com/2011/09/time-out-kl-food-award-2011-bloggers.html

I just read Riz's comment on Al Amnah's Roti Banjir and it really takes someone who appreciate this kinda grub to fully understand why I so like Al Amnah albeit it's really a hole in the wall underneath Selangor Mansion. I never like my roti soaked in dhal but the Roti Special here is something else... roti banjir topped with 2 perfectly done half boiled eggs... aiyoh I'm salivating already even though I hardly ever eat roti canai, perhaps only 2 -3 times a year and if I want to eat, I will head here.

Also loved the not sickly sweet teh tarik which still hv tea flavour with a light creamy touch.

Poll : Penang Assam Laksa, Spore Chic Rice or Chili Crabs?

2011-07-26T08:16:44Z

This is cool. According to CNNGo, well, read it for yourselves here.

7. Penang assam laksa, Malaysia

Poached, flaked mackerel, tamarind, chili, mint, lemongrass, onion, pineapple … one of Malaysia’s most popular dishes is an addictive spicy-sour fish broth with noodles (especially great when fused with ginger), that’ll have your nose running before the spoon even hits your lips.

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-067535?page=0,1

What do you guys think? Here's what we think.

Adly

Yong Tow Foo Poser

2011-09-15T13:00:54Z

Star Metro ran a 1973 article on Tuesday (13 September 2011) about a very old yong tow foo stall run by the Pang Family. According to the Editor's note, "The pang family business has grown and the Ampang 'yong tow foo' is as popular as ever today." Unfortunately he didnt say which stall it was. From what I gather, Foong Foong only started in 1974 and the article said the shop was from 1967. Appreciate if anyone could shed some light on this.

Another clue is that the article says , the owner clained he had an elder brother in Singapore who is famous for his Yong Tow Foo. "Even the Prime Minister eats in his shop in Upper Thompson Road." This lead me to believe it may be related to this Singaporean Yong Tau Foo

http://ieatishootipost.sg/2011/08/928-ngee-fou-ampang-yong-tau-foo-older.html

"928 Ngee Fou Restaurant Ampang Yong Tau Hu
928, Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 787121
64521801
10am to 8pm
Opens daily"

"This stall has been dishing out Ampang style Yong Tau Foo for over forty years and is still pulling in the lunch crowd. "

"Anyway, it is interesting to note that this Ampang Yong Tau Foo can trace its lineage all the way to Ampang in KL to a time just after Ampang Yong Tau Foo became famous in the 70's. One of the stall owners in Ampang decided to expand his empire by setting up a stall in Singapore and chose this row of shop houses in Sembawang just outside of Nee Soon Camp. It was, at that time, quite a ulu (outback) place that reminded him of home. But after one year, he decided to balik kampung (return home) and bequeth the stall to his relative, Mdm Ng, who has since been running the stall."

Still no real leads on the Malaysian original. Appreciate anyone's help on this matter.

Interesting points about the Star article: In 1973, that man had a wife and EIGHT kids and was selling up to 7000 pieces of yong tow foo from 8am to 2pm at the price of SEVEN-AND-HALF CENTS A PIECE. He claimed it was comparable to pre-war prices. Dunno whether that is true or not but imagine raising 8 kids on that kind of income. Or selling that many yong tow pieces for that matter.

Good Salt Beef Sandwich?

2011-08-23T16:41:44Z

Ever since The Pink Sage @ Solaris Dutamas closed down I have been dying for a good Salt Beef / Corn Beef Sandwich... Aside from those served at La Bodega and Plan B would anyone know of other places worth mentioning? Really need my Salt Beef Sandwich FIX!!!

Mel

BEST YONG TOW FOO

2001-08-21T22:19:53Z

hi foodies,

Just wonder have anyone tried the best Yong Tow Foo in Sunway.Head on to Sunway and no regrets and its just opposite Sunway Pyramid in a small coffee shop where its a little hidden.And they also serve the best nyonya kuih and be early coz everything finished as early as 12 morning.The yam cake is fabulous so is the Curry Chee Cheong Fun.Sold by two auntie at the corner of a coffee shop facing houses b4 reaching Sunway Rizduan Condo.You'll see single storey shop on your left as your way in to Sunway Rizduan Condo and turn left and you'll see the corner coffee shop facing hse right there.

And the best thing is it's HALAL. [Posted By no regrets]

Sup Daging

2011-08-19T08:39:57Z

i suddenly have a craving for sup daging. tried trawling blogs without success. anyone have any stalls to recommend for great sup daging around kl/pj?

Adly, don’t you agree that this come too late???

2009-09-17T15:24:30Z

LOL I remember you told me this issue so many years ago, now only bring up!

Too late... yong tau foo, chicken rice, prawn mee, chili crabs, satay, char kuey teow... all kena hijacked liau

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/17/nation/4734354&sec=nation

Thursday September 17, 2009
Laksa and nasi lemak among our pride, says Yen Yen
By TEH ENG HOCK

KUALA LUMPUR: Laksa, nasi lemak and bak kut teh — these are some of the food Malaysia will lay claim to.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said there were many dishes synonymous with Malaysia’s identity but they had been “hijacked” by other countries.

“We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food. Chilli crab is Malaysian. Hainanese chicken rice is Malaysian. We have to lay claim to our food,” she told reporters after launching the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival yesterday.

The festival, which runs throughout October, is part of the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia campaign. Novem-ber’s part of the campaign will centre around shopping mall food, while street and heritage food will be the highlight in December.

“In the three months, we will identify certain key dishes (to declare as Malaysian). We have identified laksa ... all types of laksa, nasi lemak and bak kut teh,” she said.

When asked how the ministry would go about labelling the dishes Malaysian after identifying them, Dr Ng said she would reveal her strategy at a later stage.

“That is Part Two. We cannot reveal it yet, but we will let you know soon,” she said.

On another matter, Dr Ng said tourist arrivals in August increased by 10.4% to 2,030,337 compared to the corresponding period last year.

For the first eight months of the year, arrivals went up by 4.4% to 14,730,437 compared to the corresponding period last year.

Dr Ng said arrivals from China increased by 14.8% in August, while arrivals from Australia and Britain increased by 26.6% and 16.5% respectively.

Double-digit growth was also recorded for arrivals of tourists from more than 20 countries, including Poland (59.9%), Italy (49.7%) and Iran (40.4%).

To further boost tourism, Dr Ng said 500 guides were undergoing a three-month foreign language course.

“They are being trained in Russian, Arabic, South Korean, Japanese and French. It is a scholarship. Right now, we only have two Russian-speaking guides. That is not enough,” she said.

Suggestions please!!

2011-01-25T16:05:11Z

Hi everyone,

I'm taking a bunch of teenagers out for dinner this Sunday. There'll be 7 to 10 of us, and my budget is something like RM50-RM60 per head...I'm looking for somewhere a little special that's in the Bandar Utama/Damansara/Bangsar areas, any suggestions? Preferably Western food (with vegetarian options) as 70% of us don't eat meat! Please help!

Thanks in advance!

x