Wednesday, March 04, 2009

A Lunch That Was Just Heavenly

A few weeks ago, famed master bakers, Nigel and Allan of Just Heavenly Pleasures, sent out an invite for a home cooked brunch, from 11am to 11pm..... gosh, parties are getting longer these days, to a select eclectic group of very blessed and honored people.

The celebrities had been approached by FLAVOURS magazine to feature FOOD FROM OUR MOTHERS, (not your usual colostrum and breastmilk ice cream kinda thing....food as in COOKED FOOD), and we were the privileged few to get a sampling of the foods these celebrities grew up with.

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Ta dah......

Well, you always know a great party from the post mortem photographs. When everyone seems to be laughing, and basking in the genuine warmth of friendship and fellowship, when people dare to strip their masks and be themselves, and letting the shutterbugs capture their every expression without fear or favour, when people leave, and come back for more, ( I myself came twice, and was tempted to come a third time, were it not for the rain and late hour)...So yeah, this was such a party.


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Anyway, as the Flavours photographer, Nicholas, proceeded to do his job, together with Goddess of Food Blogging, Boolicious of Masak Masak, we laughed, cackled, made inappropriate remarks, ....while some of the more beautiful ones amongst us were approached to be hand models, eating models, and what other models have you. Orcs such as myself are politely told to look away....

The model table of the non-orcs...

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Watching the master chef fry chicken for inchi kabin kinda reminded me of my grandmother, (not him la), because of the selamba-ness and dexterity in which he executed the entire thing. To me, deep frying is about as scary as bungee jumping....I always admire people who can nonchalantly drop entire chunks of chicken into a hot wok without squawking....

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Inchi Kabin with a divinely tangy sauce infused with kaffir lime juice and zest.....As this was the first dish to be served, it was polished with the speed of lions consuming a dead zebra on the Kalahari...

You know how it is when you eat with food bloggers right, you have to wait your turn, drool at the food and wait patiently till all the foodarazzi have finished with their photography...well, since this was a feature for FLAVOURS, you can imagine, the food is under scrutiny like a catwalk model, with backdrops in place, etc etc, while we gaze longingly, almost lustfully, at the mouth watering Mother Dishes.... some more we skipped breakfast!


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This satay chicken (that's what its called, though its not satay per se), is ABSOLUTELY divine, and is my favourite. It was screaming to be eaten with rice, and mmmmm, so flavourful, and so complex and palate tingling. Kudos to the mother who made this.

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Then there was the Devil Curry, which sadly for Splashie Boy, was not halal, and it had lovely sticks of porkie frankfurters, mixed with chicken ...almost like a curry. You know la, these fancy eurasian/peranakan dishes. Mere mortals like me dont have the culinacabulary (culinary vocabulary) to aptly and adequately describe them.

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Shepherd's Pie with a tinge of spiciness. A great staple food, a perennial favourite.

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Check out the cross section of the shepherd's pie against the scarlet backdrop. Any guesses what that backdrop is? One free scone for whoever can guess.

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The famous FooChow Red Wine Chicken, with mee sua imported all the way from Kg Koh, Sitiawan. The meat was fall of the bone, and the soup, perfect. I am neither a fan of this dish, nor mee sua, but I found this one VERY palatable. Food DOES taste better when you're with great company!

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Mee tomato, made by Ann, the other business partner in JHP. Also yummy, and full of goodies. By this time though, we were kinda like bursting at the seams on all that food!

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Such a dazzling kaleidescope of colors for a dish of vegetables. Makes me feel as though its Christmas all over again.

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Otak otak. Hmm, master chefs unsure if it was threadfin or grouper, but either way, it tasted great. The individually wrapped ones are for photography, while the large serving in the tray was for the scavengers.

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And finally desserts. There were four pieces of kueh kaya, that delectable nyonya (I think) thingie. but since there were 4 of them, and like 20 of us, we only got a small morsel to sample.

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Chinese donuts....I wondered what they were. Did they have slitty holes, instead of round ones? Or were they yellow? Anyway, mystery solved..... heck, they're delicious!

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Basically chinese donuts are deep fried choux pastry... embellished with chicken lard....tossed in castor sugar....not loving them is like not loving a newborn puppy....

And to kill us all, VODKA JELLY!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOH, absolutely divine. There went my vows of temperance, as I sank my teeth into these bits of gelatinized alcohol..... it somehow doesn't seem as evil when its in jelly form.

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Finally, a tribute to the master chef..... who never ceases to AMAZE me with his countless and priceless facial expressions...

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THANKS SO MUCH, NIGEL, ALLAN AND ANN FOR A FABULOUS SPREAD, and a lovely way to spend Sunday (I still wished it were SATURDAY) afternoon......

Hugs.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

*sniffs, sniffs*

O why O why did I have to be in Kuching during this fabulous soirée? O woe is me!

*ponders*

Got 2nd round or sequel or not? :P

Julian Si said...

Woe is me too, sorry we missed it!

ps . MASAK2 was there!? Grovel grovel ...

Yin said...

ooOOOh, aaaah! now i know why meena says she gets her inspiration from YOUR blog :)

but eh fbb, u donch like me issit? donch have piccie of me wan?

sorry, cldn't resist saying that ;)

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

aiyoh i m amazed how u manage to snap like 9 pics of nigel with TOTALLY different expressions..

yeah..i was tempted to go there the 2nd round..blame the rain..

Anonymous said...

Dat red background must be HairyBerry's shirt la (coz got hints of bulu on the top left corner). Your description of chinese doughnuts got me laughing out loud. You are gonna be lynched some day, I tell ya! And Yin's right...you're an inspiration to me alright...:-D

J2Kfm said...

you came 2nd time, and nearly went for your 3rd? geez ... didnt the food get cold? LOL>

i can imagine myself surrounded by foodbloggods/goddesses ... star-struck alright.

UnkaLeong said...

Another fun filled Sunday afternoon. Thanks again for having us Nigel and Allan ;)

Tummythoz said...

.. the scarlet backdrop.. Orc the Teddybear's? Save the scone. Lemme at the inche kabin or the sate chick or the jelly! Or anything else on that table!

Babe_KL said...

FBB, this is so well written as always ;-)

Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy said...

aiyo...you ah...shy lah!!!! Oh well what the heck! ;-)

It was amazing having you and family there. The kids are soooo adorable lah...a tribute to you and Bee.

But a note of temperance in your overexuberant phrase of the host...

Without warm and loving guests a great host is but a trolly dolly! ;-)

hahahahaha Thanks so much for coming. It was such fun. Sorry you had to wait so long for the food though.

Love and hugs.

And I'm with Joe...how the HELL did you take me with so many facial expressions????

Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy said...

Oh YA! And NO ONE called you an orc and asked you to stay away except yourself! BLARDY HELL. I only have gorgeous friends! That includes you!

Anonymous said...

Hahahahha.. nigel like baby liddat, with his many animated expressions!!

Vodka jelly is unadulterated vodka set in gelatin?? Fuyoh.. look so innocent summore!! :D

Interestingly enuf, I just read a local magazine (March issue) with a similar topic - it featured some of Dubai's top chefs who share a fave dish of their mum's.

Anonymous said...

Forgot to mention, that stove looks lethal! Imagine, on full blast.. for hokkien mee!! Wheeeee.. better move away before them eyebrows get singed!!

And what is this kueh kaya? Never seen before. Looks interesting. A sponge cake base with what on top?

thule a.k.a leo said...

Looking at the pictures made me ransacking my drawer for food...
the price of togetherness?? Priceless...

fatboybakes said...

thule, yeah man, looking at the pics is making me hungry again!!!

gfad, i knowww, i lurve that kitchen, with the huge ring stove etc...so practical and utilitarian. not like those modern fandangled western kitchens that are only good for sauteeing.. heat man, we need heat. whats with those induction cooker nonsense...roll eyes. i want my kitchen to be able to host a bonfire...

nigel, guffaw, did i say people CALLED me an orc? i just said orcs such myself...

babe_kl, aww, how sweet of you to say so. i was just asking thamby why she never say nice things like you.

Rebecca Saw said...

hhmmm..nigel was wearign a red shirt..so is that little boy who is prob ur son?ur wearing a red shirt too! arrhghh..how to get a free scone like tat..
ehh...didnt know food of yesterdays' incl Vodka jellies...

fatboybakes said...

yin yin, aiyo, there there, rectified oridi...got whole collage dedicated just for you...

juliansi, yup, masak masak AND awhiffoflemongrass...and just heavenly..its like the holy trinity of the malaysian culinary world..

LFB, yes we are all hoping for a sequel. argh, i want chinese donuts now.

Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy said...

FBB ah, make la ;-) Email you now ;-)

Yin said...

FBB - awwww...chankyew chankyew dahling!

*mwah mwah smoochie smoochie*

:D

qwazymonkey said...

i may be late in reply. Office cannot access blog lah. Not like I was in the office much either.

But I wanna claim a free scone. Scarlet background is HairyBerry's shirt! Same answer with my BFF.

Ok lah maybe I share the scone with her.

Ciki said...

love it.. hits the spot.. everytime;P

Ciki said...

nigel .. u sexy beast.. :P

Anonymous said...

qwazymonkey: You mean "I" will share my scones with "YOU". Hahaha. (But of course, I will, dahling, coz you're my BFF!)

fatboybakes said...

thamby, its singular lalink...sconE.

ciki, he ISSSS isnt he...sooo sexay...
what hits the spot ah? which spot? GEE?

yin, (wiping off them smooches, in case wife see), happy now?

masterbaker, thankyew. now, to render some animal fat.

Ciki said...

oh right.. it is morning now, and i can leave a more coherent comment ..haha , here goes

fbb love the shots.. u always make ppl look so good la.. must be ur eye for detail (ahem :P:P)

and Allan can not only be a mag model, but also a hair model la.. swinging those sexy locks of his!

Yin looks so pretty.. now that I can see both sides of her face .. lucky u rectified ur digital faux pas asap.. hehe :P and yes, nigel is a (bearish) beast .. oo-er!

GHEE spot? is that like an OIL stain or something..

Anonymous said...

wow...!!!! so so so so nice food! love the fried chicken and the red wine chicken *drool drooooooooooool*

HairyBerry said...

oh yes, i was so glad i came twice because there were wine jellies at round 2. i wish i could come for the third time in a day (so crazy hor) but got other obligations. sigh...

hey, fbb, GREAT write-up! your jokes were great that day and i'm recalling each of 'em as i read this post...

and the food, oh, the food...aptly put: Just Heavenly.

Ciki said...

nic, you came twice not enough ah. U actually looked like no energy to come a third time la..

fatboybakes said...

ciki, i came twice too, and it def wasnt enough. if it wasnt for the rain, and lateness, i'd have come again.

hairy, my jokes??? what jokes? i was almost stone cold sober...i am very shy when sober, and very quiet. ciki even text me in the karaoke asking why i so quiet...

xin, we are such lucky people hor...

ciki, i am SURE the deaf one and thamby will BEG to differ that i "make ppl look so good"...buwahahahahahaha....

Anonymous said...

"i was almost stone cold sober"...now I remember what Tim told me when he bumped into you in the gym. He said, "Why dat Tangechi like so uncomfortable and want to run away ony ar? First time I seeing him without alcohol, yooknow."

And CIKI dahlink, I do BEG to differ. Tangechi has a soft spot for you; as for my pikcher, remind me to show you a pikcher that will make you INSTANTLY change your mind!!!!! (He still owes me some molten chocolate penance)

Anonymous said...

I think there are too many pictures of me smiling right? Still, I am honored at least to be placed in the collage when there isn't any of me in facebook.. =)

Anonymous said...

zenboy, i have rectified the situation on facebook...as a temporary measure...

tambi, when i bumped into bald eagle, i was certainly stone cold sober, sweating in every thinkable orifice after a 45 minute lovemaking...well, workout, on the treadmill...probably smelt like a chinese vinegar factory, and had sweat in mah eyes and ass... can he blame me for wanting to run away? u would too... esp if i had a camera handy.

Ciki said...

LL .. ya la... but we ALL know, that it's just plain hero-worship.. hahahahaha.. plonk

hero worship manifests itself in various forms! with you, it's every angle, shape and form ! Ohhh... he luvs u , he luvs u.. :P:P

Also LL, pls give bald eagle camera! That vinegary, sweat factory i have GOT to see! hahaha

Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy said...

hahahahaha ;-) haiyo ;-)ciki you definitely the sexy thang ;-)

and everything else so farny!

Anonymous said...

And tonight my sweet dreams came back.. =)

qwazymonkey said...

I'm still hungry from the pictures. LL hurry share the singular scone with me.

The Duo Dishes said...

We'll take donuts, fried chicken, satay and shepard's pie. In that order please!

Anonymous said...

duodishes, you must visit malaysia some day ya.

qwazymonkey, yup, even i salivate when i remember the cooking....problem is you cant even go eat it in a shop... dang!

zenboy, i hope they're dry...

nigel, she is isnt she!!! that hawt thang...

ciki, i'll try to remember to mms you a pic of a drenched in sweat me after a workout...you want to see which part? the wet head, the flowing 6 pack...oops, i mean barrel, the puddles in armpits, or the rivers of babylon?

Anonymous said...

oops, i meant the rivers of boobylon..

Anonymous said...

Hi FBB,

Have you seen this article: breast-milk cupcakes? Could be the next lactate thing! :P

http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/03/got-breast-milk.html

Regards,
Jasmine

CJL studio said...

FFB... .when u wanna drop by to say Hi to me?? hehehe.. waiting u in Godiva wor... hahaha

Food Promotions said...

Hey, this is my first time dropping by ur blog. :) nice blog.

Do visit me at foodpromotions.blogspot.com

Rarebeet said...

Great photos FBB! It was such a lovely Sunday afternoon. I feel so blessed to know people who love to feed people :-) (you lah and Nigel and Allan)

Jo said...

Everything looks so delicious. How I wish I was back in Msia!

Just Heavenly said...

Paprika ;-) We'll feed you both again! ;-) Just say when ;-) And congrats again babes both! ;-)

FBB ;-) waiting for next sesh ;-)

fatboybakes said...

just heavenly, aiyo, u raised the bar so high la, fossbury flop oso cannot reach now...

jo, so where ARE you now?

paps, congrats!!! the feeling is mutual.

FP, thanks. will def pop over.

jaredc, yes yes, will drag myself over there soon.

jasmine, ack, gag....what a thought!

Jason said...

Shucks... :(
Miss the whole lunch thingy *sniffs*

Just Heavenly said...

FBB ah...no bar lah... puhlease! You want me to pujuk you is it??? Pleeeze pretty pleeze with bing cherries on top? ;-)

fatboybakes said...

nige, no la, where got want u to pujuk. genuinely la, u raised the bar soooo high...

jason, see, next time, cancel everything for a JHP function la boy.

Faye fly said...

come from nic blog ^^ ur blog juz like watchin a food tv show ! great blog ^^