Hainanese Chicken Rice   Whether it’s fried chicken with rice, steamed chicken with rice or roasted chicken with rice, they’re still called the same thing-Chicken rice. I daresay this is one dish everyone would be familiar with, right from its fragrant rice, it’s eye-catching arrangement of chicken meat, the thin slices of cool cucumber, the accompanying red chilli sauce and the dash of thick caramelized dark soy sauce. Just like how caviar is considered royalty among all things made from fish egg, I would say Read More

Steamed Fish with crunchy fried garlic Fish is a definite must-have during Chinese New Year dinners.”Yu”, as it is known among the Chinese, sounds like the word for ‘wish’ and ‘abundance’, and hence serving fish at the end of the New Year’s Eve meal symbolizes a wish for abundance in the coming year. The fish is normally served with its head and tail still intact as this is symbolic of a good beginning as well as a great ending for the next year. What I love most Read More

Sauces for Chicken Rice     There are dishes that can be enjoyed without the help of additional sauces or dips, and then there are those which should never, ever be consumed without the presence of other concoctions. Chicken rice is one example of a dish you should never have without the presence of its signature gingery-garlicky-spicy-magic in your mouth. If you have ever wondered how it is possible for a dish to be handicapped, then go ahead and have you plate of chicken rice without Read More

Roasted Duck Sang Choy Bow   I recently had the pleasure of indulging in some very tasty Roasted Duck in Perth. There was one problem though- my family and I didn’t manage to finish it, and now I’ve got leftovers. Taking the saying ‘waste not, want not’ truly to heart, I decided to make this dish. Sang Choy Bow with Roasted Duck? Leftovers have never tasted this good! The filling for this dish can be made with practically anything you have in hand. Along with some onions, Read More

Salted Vegetable Soup   Salted vegetables are definitely an acquired taste. Popular among the Chinese, salted vegetables can liven up any bland meal. In China, the vegetables are always pickled if they are available in excess so that they will be able to grace dinner tables when needed. Usually, Chinese cabbage or Chinese mustard is used for the pickling. They are typically pickled with salt and brine, before being allowed to ferment with the help of Lactic acid bacteria. Sometimes, chillies are added to Read More

Nyonya Pickled Vegetables (Acar)   Acar has always been a family favourite! This pickled vegetable dish is seen in abundance especially during Chinese New Year. It also makes a great last minute dish, especially when we have unexpected guest over and we do not know what to serve them - out comes a tin of Keropok and a  bowl of Acar to serve with. My family eats Acar with everything you can think it can go with, fried rice, plain rice, keropok etc. Acar is Read More

Stewed Beef Brisket in Claypot   A mere whiff of the enticing aroma of this dish is enough to transport me to Hong Kong, the birthplace of this Cantonese dish. ‘Ngau Lam’ has never disappeared from my priority list of ‘must-have-foods’ when in Hong Kong, and if I happen to have this dish anywhere else, my mind is instantly flooded with taste bud-tingling memories of savouring its rich flavours by the busy streets of Hong Kong.  This dish is an example of how cheap ingredients can be Read More

Braised Fish in Sour Plum Sauce Food has the tendency of bringing me down memory lane, and that’s exactly what this dish does. I’m reminded of trips back to my hometown, Kuching, during the holidays where I would look forward to dinner on top of the wet market. If you’re scrunching your nose in distaste, do trust me when I say it’s not as horrid as it sounds. While the venue may sound uninviting, the divine, home-cooked food provides a healthy dose of satisfaction. I’m saying Read More

Long Life Noodles (Mee Sua) With Chinese New Year around the corner, the Chinese are ready prepping their house to usher in the new year. Boxes of goodies such as biscuits, cakes and prawn crackers (keropok) are sure to be piling up in the pantry area, ready to serve visitors during this festive season. We are definitely preparing to welcome the year of the Snake with open arms...hisss! What I remember of Chinese New Year is an abundance of the colour red which symbolizes good fortune Read More