Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ber-roman Di Bayan Indah Sempena Hari Valentine

Self proclaimed least romantic person in the world (although I myself am vying for that title), and celebrity chef Rohani Jelani emailed to ask me if I would like to join the couple's cooking class. I always shudder whenever an event is preceded by the word "Couple's". It's like Couple's Therapy, Couple's Bible Study, Couple's Counselling, Couple's Retreat....seriously, it MUST be a thing from the evil West. (that wonderful repository for which we blame all the world's social ills).

Well, however, this time, the word Couple didnt have that averse effect on me, the way peanuts might send some into anaphylactic shock, because, it was followed by the word "cooking class", but most of all, because it came from my idol herself, Rohani Jelani. Those of you unfamiliar with the name, (after spanking yourselves for being ignorami), she happens to be one of our foremost Msian celebrity chefs, and runs a GORGEOUS culinary centre called Bayan Indah. Bayan Indah is nestled in the greenery of Kg Penchala, a Malay reserve parcel of land, just next to Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Minutes away from Taman Tun, one feels one has entered a time warp and a different world, where P Ramlee might still be alive, and Malay ladies wore tight fitting kebayas with flowers in their hair. The illusion is shattered by the frantic searching of GOOGLE MAPS to find the place, which has since been given ROAD NAMES, which totally threw me off course, despite having been there twice before.

We, (we meaning the wife and me..you know, couple.... brrrr) were late, but not the latest, thanks to the fact that we tried every road from Bayan Indah 1 -6 ... but bypassing 4 ...being chink and all. Hailing a passer by didnt help, when I asked "Adik tahu Bayan Indah di mana?" and he gestures, "Ini seluruh kampung Bayan Indah"...

The cooking class, meant for couples, for Valentine's day (despite all the brouhaha in the media), was priced at RM450 per couple, but if you ask me, better value than sitting in a restaurant over candle light, with tables so cramped you can stroke the thigh of the person next to you... for RM450, we learnt how to make a Cold Watermelon Soup with Fruits and Herbs, Scotched Eggs With a Twist, Seafood Millefeuille, and A Chocolate Velvet Cheese Cake.

Photobucket

I just love the setting in Bayan Indah. I feel a sense of belonging....like I was always meant to be there. Rohani as usual pre-briefed us on what to expect, and what to do. I love her preambles. They inspire.

Photobucket
We start with the luscious chocolate cheesecake. She tells us that dessert should be made first, before we dirty the kitchen with the messier stuff. It makes sense. Well, I always make dessert the night before, if possible. One thing I love about Rohani's recipes, they are easy to follow, and 99% of the time, turn out the way it should. It's a hands on class, so it's quite enjoyable barking orders to the wife.... afterall, she is more in need of baking classes than I am. Ahem.

Rohani guides us along the way. She shows us how to marble the cake ever so subtly so that we dont lose our marbles.

Photobucket
We then proceed with the scotched eggs, which are wraped in a layer of freshly peeled crabmeat, breaded and deep fried and served with a lovely wasabe mayonnaise.

The eggs are handled with care, as they are quite fragile, even after being cooked. The wife gently coats the eggs with the crabmeat coating.

As we do not fry the eggs immediately, we are told to refrigerate our eggs for later use. Refrigerate ya, not freeze.

Photobucket
The seafood millefeuille is made up of layers of puff pastry sandwiching a seafood concoction in a lovely white bechamel sauce. Rohani demonstrates to us how to roll the pastry.

Photobucket
Oh, one of the participants in our group was Ruth Liew, famous columnist on bringing up children. Another one was Giselda, who has just moved back from Britain after many years there, with her English hubby, and she intends to start a catering business, so do check out her website here.

Photobucket
The completed Seafood Millefeuille, accompanied by a freshly tossed salad. Actually, its a very substantial dish, and for me, half the size would have been sufficient.

Photobucket
Cold Watermelon Soup. Unlike the gazpacho, which is thicker, this is a refreshing alternative, and has so many different flavours to titillate the palate.

Photobucket
The scotched quails eggs in crabmeat. They may look diminituive, but they're quite filling. I love this dish, but the thought of peeling crabmeat to coat my eggs is just too much work. And as Rohani pointed out, and I concur, frozen crabmeat sold here is quite vile. If anyone knows where I can decent crabmeat, all peeled, let me know. Would be most grateful.


Photobucket
The piece de resistance...The Chocolate Mocca Cheesecake. Divine. And so easy to make too. How? Sign up for one of Rohani's classes and learn how. Click here for the website.

Photobucket
Rohani say oni, she not romantic, but she still swirled a heart sign when marbling the cake. Chis, closet romantic.

Photobucket
Look at that texture. Cake like, mousse like, rich, melt in the mouth all at one time. If my culinary IQ was any lower, I might have had brain cramp.

Oh, and the wife enjoyed it too.

Well, for all the aspiring cooks out there, head on to Bayan Indah. You learn how to fly, when you have no wings...and it's possible, for as GFAD said, its like cooking with GPS.

Thanks Rohani, for another great session! Selamat Hari Valentine terlambat.

13 comments:

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

How lovely to be able to attend Rohani's session again! I shall have to sign up for one of the classes too and force Bald Eagle to participate since he hasn't cooked in the last 10 years....

J said...

Boo hoo hoo. I cannot attend couples class because I am missing a team member! :(
(lol. Hey so nice la. Looks like you an B had a wonderfully fun day out despite the slight hiccup looking for the place...)

gfad said...

'Ello, haven't you been there at least 2 times?? How could you get lost??

I think I want to stay there with the Mr. for a couple of days next time I am back. I find it very tranquil to sit at the veranda sipping kopi-o and having kuih while it's raining outside. Let's ask PS to organise another couples class in Aug! AWOL, you in with BE?

Ciki said...

Hahaha, Rohani Jelani say JUMP, you say how high hor, ahpa. Cute la you!


Funny.., mention the word "cooking class" and oh LOOK! ..it has the complete opposite effect on me. surprise surpriseeeeee :P

fatboybakes said...

ciki, yalar, with your perfectly manicured nails and all, where want to chop chilli one. yup, her wish is my command... (as in rohani).

fatboybakes said...

GFAD, aww how romantic, sipping coffee on the verandah overlooking a malay reserve kampung. awwwwwww....

i lost my way coz ironically, they put in road names which visually confused me.

fatboybakes said...

J, yup, B and I had a great time...aiya, doesnt have to be a lurve partner mah, for couples cooking class. couple by definition just means two. eg, a couple of clowns.

fatboybakes said...

thamby, like ciki, BE has manicured nails, etc... no need to subject him to kitchen work la. you on the other hand, are born for that.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

harlo 8 comments what..not bad.

so lovely for a non romantic like u to take bee for a valentine date like this..

gfad said...

I suddenly have visions of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in "Lost in Africa". I wonder if can mandi sarong at Bayan Indah or not.. ^_^

Pureglutton said...

So larvely & lomantic :-) Miss BI - must go back soon!

Kenny Mah said...

Closet romantic? Just like me. Ahem. *coughs, coughs*

BlogFront said...

Hi Fatboybakes,

BlogFront.org is committed to uphold the quality standards of blogging. We strive to maintain and promote only the most credible blogs in their respective fields.

Spam blogs or "splogs" has been a problem for some time now and people are getting confused about which blog to trust.

We would like to thank you for maintaining such a reputable blog. We know that it takes time, effort and commitment to keep such a blog and as such, we have added your blog as one of the top Baking Blogs.

You can see your blog listed here: http://blogfront.org/baking/6

You can also claim your BlogFront Top Blogs badge at http://blogfront.org/badges/baking

Thank you for keeping your blog credible. Let's keep the blog revolution alive!

Maria Blanchard
BlogFront.org
Blog Revolucion