Supper with Ping – Masterchef Winner not a Microwave!

I was invited to attend a SupperClub being held atFoodat52 and hosted by Malaysian Kitchen. Malaysian Kitchen is the portal or vehicle specifically designed to bring Malaysian cuisine to the UK. The SupperClub was superbly cooked and presented by Ping Coombes, Masterchef Winner 2014.

On arrival there was a soft drink bar with loads of different juices, citrus slices and mint leaves to mix our own special juice drink for the evening. I liked the way the glasses were tagged with our names to help us keep track of our drinks.

Ping then invited us downstairs to the cookery school to make the dumplings for the appetiser if we wanted.  I have never made those kind of dumplings and was really looking forward to it.  Ping said mine were looking good as we made the same filling but with two different outer pieces. 

 

Later on during the meal Ping said that my dumplings were in fact the best of the evening! Such accolade!!

We popped back upstairs to the reception and ate our dumplings whilst the crew set the table and Ping and fellow Masterchef contestant Mike prepared a Malaysian feast for us.

When we settled down at the table we were served a selection of Ping’s favourite Malaysian foods, many from her childhood.

Our starters were Glazed Teriyaki Chicken Hearts,

platters piled high with deep fried, soft shell crabs

and bowls of a sea spinach tempura(Kangkung)with little bowls of red jewelled sauce. 

When the sauce looks this intense red you know it is going to be fiery and it didn’t disappoint!

A little family story is that the anchovies that were served with the Sambal were gutted, filleted, skinned and every little bone removed before being sun-dried all by Ping’s mother and are part of her private supply, not available elsewhere; a true labour of love!

Plates were delivered with Grilled Crevette and Ping’s Special Sambal (this was really fiery but as soon as your mouth recovered you wanted to eat more!), char-grilled bokchoi, peanut and dried anchovy garnish and all but mine with an egg (NasiLemak) on the side. (I don’t do under done eggs!)

Big bowls of rice,

 

Beef Rendang

and Spiced Chicken were placed around the table and we all helped ourselves, family style.

The conversation was as lively as the food and Ping made a point of stopping to speak to each diner, really pleased that we had all liked her food!

A pudding of White Chocolate and Pandang Cheesecake, Passionfruit, Coconut, Ginger Crumb the perfect dessert to cool the palate and refresh us for the journey home.

I was not paid to attend this Supper Club - all opinions and photos are my own.

 

Malaysia Night in Trafalgar Square

When I woke up the other morning I knew very little about Malaysian food except my perception that it would blow your socks off!! I knew that it used a lot of lime, ginger, chilli and coconut milk but not much more

I love flavour and warmth in a dish but not too happy when my mouth is on fire!

I was invited to attend a master class cooking with Malaysian chef Norman Musa at the recent Malaysian Night festival in Trafalgar Square.

Norman Musa has a seccessful restaurant in Manchester and teaches people all over the world how to cook Malaysian food at home.  His book Malaysian Food is a collection of Norman's favourite recipes with easy to follow recipes.  Norman is a global ambassador for Malaysan cooking.



During our masterclass with him we cooked a recipe from his book

which was a Gulay Ayam - Malay Chicken Curry.  We began with all the ingredients laid out neatly in front of our cooking station as we watched Norman make the curry.

Then we began to make our own Gulay Ayam. Frying in vegetable oil the onion, garlic and ginger along with the cinnamon bark, star anise and a folded pandan leaf.

We added Norman's own spice blend mixed with tamarind water

Once we made the curry we proceeded to make a traditional bread called a Roti Canai, a delicious golden piece of bread to soak up the curry. To make this takes time and dedication and we made one in a couple of minutes! Perhaps not ready to open a Roti Canai restaurant just yet!

When we were finished we ate our creations.  I really enjoyed my lunch, not too hot and spicy but with a lovely warmth and depth.

After the masterclass I enjoyed the rest of the Malaysia Night festivities. Whilst I waited for Mr R to join me, I was able to meet Dhruv Baker, previous Masterchef 2011 winner and watch him make a couple of Malaysian dishes, and met Ping Coombes winner of Masterchef 2014.

 

We were treated to lovely Malaysian entertainment and a selection of food and drinks. 

  

It was a lovely London day starting in a quiet Trafalgar Squre but ending in a busy, bustling Trafalgar square - in the heart of this great city.

 

It was a lovely chance to have a date night with Mr R. He had an early finish at work and met me at Trafalgar Square.

 

We had our pictures taken,

 

and walked around the square tasting some of the different restaurants' offerings.  Mr R had a spicy beef wrap with salad and I tried a plate of Char Kuey Teow - a Malaysian spectacular of flat rice noodles stir fried with garlic, juicy prawns and beansprouts.

 

The evening was put on by Malaysian Kitchen who promote Malaysian food and drink in the UK and this was the 5th annual event when they take over Trafalgar Square in London. Malaysian Kitchen is on a mission to tell the UK all about the tastes of Malaysian food - it is your first step to discovering the wonders and variety of Malaysian food.

Thanks to Malaysian Kitchen for inviting me to experience this evening of Malaysian culture.

I was not paid to attend and as usual all opinions and photos are my own.