Category Archives: Far East

Batu Ferringhi steamed fish


  Batu Ferringhi is a beach resort northwest of George Town on Malaysia’s Penang Island. It is known for water sports and seafood restaurants.  We ate steamed fish in a seafood restaurant offering a choice of live seafood from its aquariums. After choosing a live fish from a tank, we waited for it to be cooked, knowing that it could not be fresher. After dinner, we visited the night market.This steamed fish dish is commonly known in Malaysia as “Ikan Siakap Tiga Rasa.” “Ikan” means fish, “Siakap” refers to the type of fish (often snapper or sea bass), and “Tiga […]

Chengdu Kung Pao Chicken


  Chengdu Kung Pao chicken, also transcribed Gong Bao or Kung Po, is a spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish made with cubes of chicken, garlic, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. The classic dish in Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province of southwestern China and includes Sichuan peppercorns. The first time I enjoyed this dish in Chengdu was in 1987; it consisted of cubes of chicken, whole garlic cloves, peanuts, and red chillis stir-fried together in more or less equal quantities. I had arrived in Chengdu after a 63-hour train journey from Guangzhou. After having to eat the good but plain food served on the train, this was an assault on my senses. After […]

chengdu kung pao

Saigon summer roll


Saigon summer rolls (Nem cuốn) often contain a combination of fresh vegetables, herbs, and sometimes protein, all wrapped in rice paper. Different variations may include the use of different herbs, vegetables, or protein choices based on individual tastes and regional preferences.When Vietnam, opened up in the 1990’s, I was in Hong Kong, so my colleague and I went to Saigon for the weekend. With the help of a photocopy of a hand-drawn map bought in a side alley, we tracked down the address of a building used by my father (then a British army intelligence officer) as his HQ in […]

Saigon summer roll

Thai chilli crab


Taking the train from Bangkok in 1987, my good friend Nitza and I travelled down to Penang, in Malaysia. The journey took us through a verdant landscape dotted with small villages surrounded by paddy fields. One of the most memorable aspects of the journey was the Thai Blue Swimmer crab curry served in the buffet car – spicy, delicious and a million miles away from the ubiquitous stale British Rail cheese sandwich. Cooked in a huge wok in the tiny galley next to the buffet car, this was a symphony of flavours in every bite, with the sweet, spicy, and […]

thai chilli crab

Asuparabēkon


  Kushiyaki is a Japanese technique that includes various skewered and grilled meat, seafood, or even vegetables and tofu. The ingredients are placed on bamboo skewers and are typically seasoned with either salt (shio) or a reduced and sweetened version of soy sauce that is known as tare.Kushiyaki should always be freshly prepared and served immediately after grilling, while the typical accompaniments usually include edamame, salads, or pickled vegetables.Here is a Japanese asparagus dish using belly pork bacon, based on a meal I had in Hong Kong in 1987, where this was one of the side dishes served with yakitori chicken. […]

Penang steamed fish


  Penang steamed fish is a delightful dish that is not only healthy but also bursting with flavors. Penang is a state in northwest Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is comprised of two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city of George Town is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” Penang is famous for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene, and beautiful landscapes.The state is renowned for its diverse and flavorful cuisine, which reflects a fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences. Some of […]

Penang steamed fish

Beef bulgogi


  Beef bulgogi is a popular Korean dish known for its sweet and savory flavors. Here’s a simple recipe to make beef bulgogi at home:

Som Tam


  This Som tam recipe is the Thai version of the Laotian dish tam mak hoong and is similar to the Cambodian dish bok l’hong. Pronounced [sôm tam]) and also known as tam mak hoong (Isan: ตำบักหุ่ง, pronounced [tam bàk hùŋ]) is a spicy salad of Lao origin, the standard form of which is made from shredded unripened papaya.It is also known as green papaya salad and is made from shredded unripe papaya. The other key ingredients typically include tomatoes, string beans, peanuts, dried shrimp, garlic, chilies, lime, fish sauce, and palm sugar. All these ingredients are pounded together in […]

Asam Laksa


  “Asam” means sour in Malay, and as you may have guessed by now – the broth for this Laksa is slightly sour from the use of Tamarind and savoury from flaked Mackerel.This recipe is my version of this classic dish.