Saturday 23 July 2011

Variety, being the spice of life. And cooking.

.

Going across numerous food barriers tonight (we have a three course candle-lit dinner every Saturday. Numbers vary depending on who is home, who is visiting, who is in town. If you are in town, drop in.).

Starter: Chickpea pancakes with spicy cauliflower, lamb and yoghurt.

Main: Curry laska.

Dessert: Lime curd puddings with apricot puree and vanilla ice cream.

Something to please everyone.

I have made a laksa from scratch a couple of times before but, today, opted to use a commercial laksa paste. I wandered into an Asian grocer and and a lady asked what I was looking for.

"If you were making a Laksa, which of these pastes would you use?" I asked. (probably she would make her own but I asked anyway.)

"Well" she replied "Caucasians usually prefer this one..."

Now, that wasn't what I asked her. If I wanted the Caucasian preferred laksa paste I could buy it from Woolworths. I wasn't sure if that was racism or not.

I eventually opted for one from Singapore - laksas are from Malaysia so they should know something about them. The other products, Caucasian preferred to boot, were from Thailand.

...

3 comments:

  1. The menu for your candle-lit dinner sounds delicious and the laksa in your picture looks wonderful ... the presentation and the colours of the food, white crockery and the soft colours of the napery are important, as the visual effect is a pleasant part of the whole dining experience.
    Since you have offered an open invitation you might find more guests than you had anticipated. :)
    xoxoxo ♡

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  2. If you ask Malaysians that question, chances are you'll get more answers than you need. Malaysia has 13 states and almost every states has its own different way of cooking laksa. I've never heard of laksa paste since I see my mom making everything herself..poor thing is I never learned from her! Now your post make me feel embarrased! But I will sure remind myself to only visit you in Melbourne on Saturday night..if my luck comes in one day..

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  3. Oh she was being polite. You're lucky she didn't say "white devils prefer this one.." ;-)

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