FUSION WEDDING, Bali. Indonesia

The last weekend of April was spent in beautiful Bali at a dear friend's wedding. This was a very unique wedding as they brought together 3 cultures and combined it into a 2day celebration! It was predominantly indian with a twist of chinese and a western flair...now that is truly define 'fusion'! It was deliciously beautiful amidst the Bali sunset at the Villa Arika near Seminyak.



There were cookies baked,...I think these were almond cookies from an aunt of the groom's. What a sweet thought, it spells out the bride and grooms names! There were also great snacks that kept everyone's tastebuds happy, finger foods like mini quiches, spring rolls, sushi...oh I have not mentioned it yet but for the first day the food was all vegetarian...and you know what you wouldnt even notice it there was so much variety! I only realised it much later in the night....





The dinner was buffet style, with tables and tables of rich aromatic indian cuisines....from my favourite below, Pho Bhaji - a spicy thick saucy dollup on top of a toasted bun! YUM!!! There was briani rice, also a childhood favourite, curries galore, there was also the Kulfi, an indian ice cream which they have modified and made it indonesion style with a drop of Rose water, and some jelly strings on top - yup sounds weird but it has a unique taste all it's own!



On the following night was the Reception Dinner, a beautifully laid out affair with a western 3 course meal with great treat at the end. A buffet of quirky asian deserts with an amazing centrepiece - A giant inverted Nangka fruit. It looks like a yellow ball with protruding sections that can be full off and eaten! Around it are local fruits, and a mix of fruit tarts, a berry pannacotta as well as trays of colourful asian deserts... The ones I recognise are: kuih lapis ( lapis = layer and kuih = hmmmn....is there a word of kuih in english that is a tricky one!! It is like a gelatin/glutinous textured, smooth stiff custard...that is the closest thing i can think off,....will give it more thought and get back to you on that!) Other things on the platter are coconut and pandan flavoured kuih, Mini pink 'Malay' cake and sweet glutinous rice cake....oh and last but not least the Wedding Cake!! Everyone was having such a fab time we all almost forgot about!!! ;-)




"....hmmn...where shall I start... (thinks Pui)..."


"....the centrepiece - Nangka ball - what a sight!"


"...berry pannacotta..."


"... the platter of local deserts...and yes it tastes as good as it look!...."


"...the wedding cake,...white frosting with a chocolate cake centre!...of course!...."

SKEWER'S DELIGHT, Beijing, China

Ahhh when we think skewers we often drool over some nicely roasted 'Satay' dipped in peanut sauce, or perhaps a 'Kebab' or even your humble skewered vegetables over the BBQ!


Well in China, particularly Beijing, the choicest snacks and morsels on a stick happen to be more 'inventive' shall we say! My favourite by far are the ultra sweet Toffee Cherry Apples or Toffee Strawberries! The are absolutely delicious, a sugar hit to rival cotton candy and they are expanding to other fruits like pineapple, kiwi, orange and can be found at the entrance of many a Beijing monument or tourist hotspot. A must try, approximately 5Yuan for 2 skewers!!!

Moving along, we come to the more, savoury end of the land of skewers. Also perhaps a more creepy crawly side of the food chain. Bug Skewers! Yup that's right,....from top to bottom, we have a selection of black scorpions, sting and all....



or you might go for the white scorpions, which looks slightly less harmful to the palate....



and if scorpions aint your thing, how about some crickets and ...hmmn i dont even know what that is!!!



ahhhh and one for the road, some hoppin' boppin' grasshoppers!



Yup it is right out of Fear Factor!!! But amazingly enough people have this for afternoon tea or while window shopping! I am not sure what the nutritional value of these are,...am not even sure which category in our food group they are,...protein?? But I had to give it a try,...so a couple of winters ago, during xmas in Beijing,....I had one of these lovely grasshoppers....

Believe it or not, they are not too bad,...a bit of salt,...and *chomp* .... *crunch*,....they are really super crunchie,...like chips! It is deep fried so it end up not juicy on the inside, ...but you gotto watch out for those legs!! they get stuck in your teeth!! I think perhaps they would be better with some sweet chilli sauce or maybe some wasabi and mayonaise? But that is that for my bug experience for now,....will have to try the scorpions another time,...

PASAR MALAM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Pasar Malam literally translated means Night(malam) Market(pasar). If you are a total snack-o-rama maniac like myself, you should go on a hunt for the nearest Pasar Malam near you. The local suburban night markets are definately more food orientated while the larger ones around the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman area, Jalan Petaling, Jalan Bandar area, and Jalan Bukit Bintang area are more commercialized with a much larger variety of food as well as racks of cheap, fake clothing, many a toy or knicnak, dried fruit and nuts, 'DVDs', luxury 'watches' and many a random curioso,....for me I am there for only one purpose, the amazing selection of the most sumptuous and flavoursome dishes and snacks you can imagine.

It is a 'trip' to savour. There are usually so many to choose from you really wouldnt know where to start! The smells, the atmosphere, the people indulging all around you, the tastes will stay with you a lifetime...I am having flashbacks as it is! I must admit it has been years since I have been back to KL for a fix! During my childhood days these places are literally down a side alley or street, you eat as you walk and sometimes there are little stools to perch on...I think these days the larger ones are now in a food complex of sorts,...claiming better hygiene, more comfort....I prefer the streets,....I claim better flavours!

My favourites are:
AYAM PERCIK
---- this is a grilled chicken leg in a really fragrant curry peanuty sauce, yum! These are cooked on the spot over a hot coal trough grill...

Grilled STINGRAY in banana leaf
---- its succulent!

ASAM LAKSA
---- hot and sour sardine/fish based soup noodles with these fat noodles that are just fun to eat! There is a version of this that is made with noodles that are called 'rats tail', a nickname, and of course named after it's appreance...

WHITE RABBIT COOKIES
---- there are nut and cookie stalls, with a variety to tempt you, my favourite are the white powdery cookies that are usually in the shape of bunnies. They collapse in your mouth and melts into a mushy sweet paste...oh so good! There are lots of other deepfried batter based cookies that will kepp you munching for hours, definate couch potato fodder!

TONG SUI
---- these are soupy desert stalls, with a buffet of ingredients (some of which actually have health benefits)

ICE KACANG
---- a favourite on a extra hot night, a mountain of shaved ice with a rainbow of toppings, condensed milk and rose syrup, as it melts you dig in!

Oh dear I can go on and on... but I will leave you with this teaser list as there are lots and lots more goodies where that came from, it is just the tip of the iceberg!!. A word of advise, 'just try it', the worst that can happen is that it tastes way too funky for your tastebuds, on the upside, you will have a tasting experience you will never forget!



Pasar Malam, also known as the night markets
In multiple locations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Usual on a particular night like a Thursday or Saturday

PETITE POMEROL, French, Hong Kong

Petite Pomerol is a place that is close to my heart. I have only been there thrice, the first time for a very special birthday dinner with my best friend Jenn and twice with my dearest Ro. Everytime I go there, I always look forward to the next time...

It is tucked away on an almost forgotten street in Hong Kong called Shelter Street. Even the taxi drivers have a hard time with this one. But we welcome the obscurity in location as everyone knows, in Hong Kong, peace and quiet is a rare indeed. As you step in to this restaurant, you can already sense you are in for treat! From the beautiful wrought iron chandeliers, elegant yet divinely minimalistic, generously oversized chairs and great moody melodies in the background. It is a place that doesnt care what the rest of the world cares or think,...it only cares about that moment and that night and how much you will enjoy your visit.

Every dish we have order has been a treat, from the entree of juicy escargot, amazing foie gras, to melt in your mouth wagyu beef cheek and the most amazing fish soup that your insides will thank you for. It is consistent everytime and it's presentation is immaculate. For me the food is everything but I have to give their wines a nod too. They have an extensive red wine list and although I am a little naive when it comes to wines,...I am sure with a restaurant named after a wine producing area in the Bordeaux region although only a small area it is known to be of an extremely high standard.

It is a wonder it is still a secret.


Petite Pomerol
G/F 5 Shelter Street
Causeway Bay Hong Kong

INVITO, Koh Chang, Thailand

Koh Chang is one of the larger islands of Thailand, not as commercial as Phuket but unfortunately it is well on it's way. Our first time there, we stayed away and hidout for an amazing Hanukkah/Xmas vacation at the Aiyapura Resort. A great location, we felt we were the only ones on the island,...at least for a day or two,...;-)

On the eve of Xmas we went in search for a place to have a lovely evening out, we didnt want to get stuck listening to christmas carols at the resort's pre-planned 'gala' event,....in the warm balmy evening on an exotic island,...well it just didnt work for us. So off we went in our 4 wheel drive down the main, not to mention only strip on the island! As you can guess we didnt have far to travel to literally jammed the pedal on the brakes as we spotted a little italian restaurant tucked away.

It was fully booked but the smells and atmosphere were great so we settled ourselves down at the bar, and decided to stay. I have to say it is one of the most enjoyable Italian restaurants I have been to in Thailand. They had delicious woodfire pizzas, and I had a super creamy mushroom and truffle risotto... It really was not just great food, it was pure fun and we were entertained by our bartender as well as the humour of the owner, downing multiple shots as he held his kitchen and staff together on their busiest week of the year, on a totally laid back island in the pacific.

That was our little miracle meal on Koh Chang.


Invito Italian Restaurant
On the main strip, Koh Chang Island

DANK STREET DEPOT, Waterloo, Sydney Australia

Although named after the Street it is on, an industrial street smack bang in the middle of no where, or so it seems, 'Dank Street Depot' is a complete contrast to it's surroundings. The atmosphere in the interior is cool and clean, stripping everything down to the bare essentials and focusing your attentions to the plate in front of you. And I have to say this jewel in the rough brings satisfaction from tips of your tastebuds, right down to the very depths of your belly! Starting with a pork belly roast as a matter of fact! Every bite was savoured, not to mention family style eating with my family, we were picking off each others plates too... amazing leg of rabbit covered in procuitto,....delicious duck in a grape sauce... my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

The cuisine is Modern European/Australian, cooked to absolute perfection. The deserts were absolutely amazing, I dont want to give too much away, there should be some surprises you will need to discover for yourselves. I have to thank Rich & Lils for this amazingly yummy adventure!

Dank Street Depot
1/2-6 Danks St Waterloo 2017