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Post by Don Cuevas on Feb 5, 2011 20:28:54 GMT
I've suddenly been struck with a strong desire for Malaysian Cooking. I've only had it at the Penang Malasian Restaurant, of East Hanover, NJ. I can't imagine what brought on this wild craving.  rasamalaysia.com/ |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 5, 2011 22:49:06 GMT
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Post by Don Cuevas on Feb 6, 2011 0:24:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2011 6:11:12 GMT
I had totally forgotten the existence of pot stickers.
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Post by hwinpp on Feb 7, 2011 7:26:58 GMT
I think eating out in Malaysia gives you the biggest choice of cuisines (next to maybe places like New York, Paris and London).
I've come accross Rasa Malaysia a couple of times, she looks good. But it should stick with stuff from Malaysia, Vietnamese and Cambodian food doesn't seem to be her strong point.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2011 10:38:30 GMT
Hw, what would be the most common ingredient or technique that distinguishes Malaysian cuisine from the surrounding countries? The first word that comes to my mind is "satay" but since Malaysia isn't the only country to do it.... I just don't know.
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Post by hwinpp on Feb 8, 2011 6:47:13 GMT
Well, I'd first say there is no one Malaysian cuisine.
Off the cuff I'd say there are at least 3 or 4 Chinese cuisines (Cantonese, Sichuanese, Fujianese, Hakka), 3 or 4 Indian cuisines (Indian Muslim, Southern and Northern Indian, vegetarian Indian) and Malay and in the north what some might consider Southern Thai or Northern Malay (green curry for example).
The most famous Malay dishes should be satay and rendang. These are also claimed by Sumatrans, probably rightly so as the Malays that now populate peninsular Malaysia immigrated there from Sumatra.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2011 2:21:57 GMT
Most of the Malaysian food I've ever had was either a curry or coconut based dish. I did however,in NY ,have a wonderful,splendid fish dish called Acar Ikan,(vinegared fish) and it was done with a tuna steak,which I would never,eat this well cooked as I prefer tuna seared at best. This,was the one exception to that cardinal rule of tuna. The flavor was exquisite,I also happen to love vinegar. I recall ginger,garlic,onion,candlenuts,and some type of chile peppers,all fried lightly in a peanut oil,served with rice and sambals.
Divine.
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Post by hwinpp on Feb 9, 2011 10:13:02 GMT
That would be quite typical food, Casi.
Forgot an important one that seems to have recently been 'discovered', tho' it's been around forever, Nonya food.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 27, 2011 10:54:38 GMT
Saw this report today:
.....Singapore sour over M'sia's assam laksa
By News Desk in Kuala Lumpur/The Star | ANN – Tue, Jul 26, 2011
....tweet15EmailPrint......Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - The rise of assam laksa, a delicacy of Malaysian state of Penang, to the CNN top 10 ranking of most delicious food in the world has rankled foodies in the neighbouring country down south.
The Straits Times reported that food consultant Violet Oon, 62, expressed surprise that its chilli crab was only ranked 35th instead.
"One reason could be that we don't have many Singapore restaurants abroad, so not many people have tasted it," said the Singaporean.
A CNN International food survey recently said the assam laksa was the seventh out of the its 50 most delicious food in the world.
At number 35 was Singapore's famed chilli crab, while its chicken rice was at 45th spot.
Thailand's massaman curry topped the list and was described as "king of all foods."
Another commenter on the English daily website, known as Stomper crabby, questioned the ranking.
"My foodie friends disagree with the list, and how can our famous chilli crab only come in at No. 35?" he questioned.
A person who tweeted by the name of Mr Brown has also criticised CNN for badly reviewing Singapore's chilli crab.
"Any site that does a World's 50 most delicious foods & puts Singapore Chili Crab at 35th has no right to review food," he posted in his twitter account.
However, local chefs tipped their hat proudly to the heritage dish.
Chef Florence Tan who praised the assam laksa's quality and texture, said it was "very good for those who want to lose weight" due to its rich use of fish stock, fish meat and asam gelugor (dried tamarind skin).
However, she said she had never tasted any chicken rice that "blew her hat off" in Singapore.
Celebrity Chef Ismail Ahmad said he was "very, very proud" Malaysian food was recognised and commended Thailand on taking first place.
"However, I would say chili crabs and chicken rice are 100% Malaysian," he said, explaining that it was brought over when Malaysia and Singapore split in 1963.
Penang food columnist Helen Ong said its famous char kuey teow was "just as good and unique".
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 28, 2011 10:22:03 GMT
Now that rankles me a bit.
What proof do the Singaporeans have, that they 'discovered' chilli crab? I've had it in Malaysia much more often than in Singapore and seeing Singapore was only founded in 1965, I think, it's highly unlikely it wasn't eaten in Malaysia long before that. Surely they can't seriously claim it's a Singaporean dish.
The second one is chicken rice. What dolts. What they call chicken rice, sometimes even adding Singaporean ~~, is actually Hainanese chicken rice. Singaporean my foot. Or Malaysian. Total bullshit.
As for Massaman curry on 1st, it's actually a Malaysian Indian curry. The Thais know it and say so themselves.
Rant over. Terrible, when people forget their history.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 28, 2011 10:27:33 GMT
WoW, that rant was a hot as any Thai food I've ever eaten ;D Point taken and noted - you are absolutely right of course which means these so called food critics know shit!
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 28, 2011 10:52:52 GMT
The thing is that Singapore was part of Malaysia, Malaya, The federated Malay States and The Straits Settlement all the time before 1965. I don't understand where they get the chuzpa to make such outrageous claims. But much worse than chilli crab is the claim to chicken rice. Every Chinese knows it's from Hainan, in every overseas Chinese community, whether it's in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia or Indonesia the Chinese know where it's from. Just the Singaporeans, they don't get it. And in the article above, obviously the Malaysians don't either. Actually the food is pretty good in Singapore. Just as good as in Malaysia. But to claim that 46 years (since independence) are enough to produce some kind of national cuisine is complete bollocks. Completely in line with the Singaporean government's policy of promoting some kind of Singaporean identity by pushing Mandarin as a co- national language. All those Chinese there are Hokkien and Tae Chew hillbillies and gangsters who didn't know diddly squat about Mandarin. English alone would have united the whole lot. Now they have Mandarin for 5 or 6 different Chinese peoples, Tamil for 4 or 5 different Indian peoples, Malay for the Malay minority and English. Tod2, don't let me put you off going though. It's a good place. Thought here are better...  |
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Post by tod2 on Jul 28, 2011 10:59:31 GMT
Hw - I know Singapore from a few trips and we have friends there so I am definitely not put off.LOL! Which reminds me - their son had to study manadarin chinese at school and if I may be excused for making a mistake, it was to get him into University, I THINK. They were very adamant that any child not going on to UNI was virtually doomed.
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 29, 2011 4:16:24 GMT
It's possible.
And now, a day later, I feel much less agitated ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2011 4:58:32 GMT
Actually, my Singaporean friends are Peranakans.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 29, 2011 7:56:55 GMT
I had to go and look that up Kerouac as I have only been to Peranakan Place - buildings on the corner of Orchard and Emerald Hill roads, with fretted woodwork, ornate wall-tiles, and swing "fence" doors (pintu pagar).
I see my guide book says that Peranakans are also known as Straights-born Chinese, Baba, or Nonya.
Our friends on the other hand are a blend of religions. She is converted to Roman Catholicism and he is a Buddhist. What their background culture is I haven't a clue.
The tolerance of another persons beliefs and race in Singapore is almost unbelievable.
Walk into their apartment and on one side you are greeted by an enormous statue of the Virgin Mary with an alter of candles etc.
On the opposite wall, a large Buddha with candles etc.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2011 8:11:59 GMT
Yes, they tend to change religion like they change their underwear, but the go into it 1000% when they do. The parents of my friends were converted Catholics and they traveled halfway around the world to visit one place -- Lourdes.
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