So before I take off from Brisbane (only two more sleeps until I head back to London!) I managed to harass my mum into making another Malaysian nyonya kueh. Ok ok, it didn’t take much harassment, she loves making these and seeing as my dad isn’t a huge fan, she’s adored having me here because me? I’ll eat all of it. I love this stuff.

This one here is called seri muka and it’s basically steamed glutinous rice on the bottom, topped with a layer of pandan custard. Taste-wise it’s actually very similar to the pulut tatal, except the pandan kaya in that instance is made as a spread and this one is steamed so it’s more solid and actually part of the kueh.

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If you’re in Brisbane on a Saturday morning and the sun is a-shining, drive on down to West End Markets on Montague Road. It’s an eclectic mix of food, fashion and all kinds of odd things and definitely worth some wandering around. Last Saturday we did just that and not only did we pick up some cheap fruits and veg, I got me a jar of macadamia nut BUTTER.

OMG. I tasted some at the stall and died on the spot. I bought a jar but my dad says I can’t open it until I’m back in London. But WHY?! I want to rub it all over my face it’s so damn delicious.

*Sigh*

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I always say that I love you guys. And I do. Believe me, I do. But with age comes wisdom and through countless disappointments and heartbreaks, I’ve come to learn that actions, they speak a lot louder than words. Am I right or am I right? And because I would never dream to dent, let alone break any of your little hearts, I wanted to show you guys just how much I love y’all, so look what I’ve gone and done! I’ve pried away from my dad one of his prized crab recipes – mud crab noodles with ginger & shallots – and am sharing it here, right here for you.

Ok so actually cooking it for you guys would be the ultimate in love stories but hold yer horses there, I haven’t even cooked this for Panu yet!

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Note to visitors (well, not visitors to this blog – although, Hi! – but visitors to my little home town of Brisbane) – if you’re after Chinese food, do not – I repeat do not – go to Chinatown. Aside from a couple of tacky Chinese murals and obligatory statues of dragons and lions, there’s nudda much happening in Chinatown and the food is certainly Not Happening.

Instead, drive southbound to Sunnybank, Brisbane’s unadulterated, unashamed suburb filled with the Chinese folk of this city and it is here you’ll find all the best Asian food in Brisbane. I found myself a Little Singapore.

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There’s always that one dish that you request when you go home to see your parents. One favourite dish that you crave but can’t seem to recreate. For me it’s my mum’s fish curry with okra (and sometimes eggplant, but unfortunately not this time). This was tonight’s dinner!

I LOVE IT.

ps. I just noticed how grubby the plate is… heh, sorry, I guess I just wanted to snap and eat!

I confess that I am the worst Malaysian daughter in the history of everything. Aside from curry puffs, my repertoire of Malaysian cooking is about as enormous as an ant’s butt and though I love eating traditional food, I’m just too lazy to make any. So while I’m stuck at home with my parents, I’ve been nagging them to make all kinds of nyonya treats, starting with one of my favourites:

Pulut tatal: blue glutinous rice, served with pandan kaya. YUM!

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