You know you want to master the art of Malaysian cuisine.

Well now’s your chance with this fantastic cooking class offered through the Auckland Malaysian Society.

Cook Zaida Ahmad is hosting a class with her auntie, Celebrity Chef Liza in her own Auckland home in November.

 Zaida focuses on home-style Malaysian dishes that you wouldn’t normally find in restaurants, so you’re sure to be in for a treat!

You’ll be greeted by Zaida with a fabulous array of Malaysian ingredients to get you inspired.

Then you’ll get to cook and sample the best of home-style Malaysian fare.

The next class on November the 3rd is not to be missed – Zaida and Chef Liza will prepare a fabulous Malaysian banquet consisting of four dishes, including Malaysias famous Otak-otak

The class is $60 for AMS members and $65 for non-members.

Email Zaida at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to secure a place.

Get in quick this is sure to be a sell-out!

Malaysian is back in town

From Christchurch there have been some amazing stories of resilience in the face of extreme hardship as the devastated Garden City seeks to get back on its feet.

Peter Foo and his Malaysia Delights restaurant are a case in point.

Peter says his is the only Malaysian restaurant in Christchurch that has managed to keep its doors open through the toughest of times brought on by two earthquakes and three moves.

Originally opened in Manchester Street in 2008, Malaysia Delights established a great network of regular customers and became the go-to hub for Malaysian cuisine in Christchurch.

Following the first earthquake in September 2010, Peter and his team had to relocate. They moved to Colombo Street but the newly renovated restaurant sadly lasted only until the deadly February tremor.

Peter says the trauma of events have been softened by the loyalty of his customers who he has stayed in touch with via the restaurant website and email.

"The word must have spread because since we reopened in Papanui a year ago we have attracted a lot of fresh new diners who also have been keen to support the restaurant," says Mr Foo

Malaysia Delights has some great cheap eats such as the popular Nasi Lemak and Curry Laksa costing between $13 and $18. It seats up to 40 people, catering for small and large groups as well as private parties.

Takeaways are also available and menus can be tailored to suit group requirements on request.

Malaysia Delight and Peter Foo want to thank their loyal customers who continue to support the restaurant.

"Come on in – everyone’s welcome to try the only authentic Malaysian cuisine in Christchurch," he says.

479 Papanui Road
Christchurch

Phone: (03) 352 4607

http://www.malaysiadelights.co.nz/

Rick Stein to share his Malaysian plate with New Zealand

31 August 2024 - Rick Stein has a passion for Malaysian cuisine and is bringing this passion to our shores as an ambassador for the Malaysia Kitchen Programme at the Taste of New Zealand Festival.

The popular UK chef and food entrepreneur will demonstrate at Taste in October to share with festival guests his way of adding the flavours of Malaysian cooking to great New Zealand produce.

Following on from the success of his TV Series, Far Eastern Odyssey, during which he discovered the joys of Malaysian cuisine, Stein's support for Malaysia Kitchen was an easy decision.

“Malaysian food is one of the world’s most fascinating and varied cuisines and I am very keen to share my enthusiasm for Malaysian cooking in all its diversity. I will help Malaysia Kitchen spread the word about the wonderfully varied flavours of Malaysian cuisine to New Zealanders,” Stein says.

Malaysian cuisine is already a big part of the New Zealand food and drink culture with more than 50 Malaysian restaurants operating around the country. The Programme supports local Malaysian restaurants and chefs and encourages Kiwis to try Malaysian cuisine at home and in restaurants.

At Taste, visitors can join Rick Stein as he demonstrates the cuisine he loves and together taste the diverse and sublime flavours of Malaysia enhanced by fresh local produce.

Malaysia is in South-East Asia and the cuisine is a fascinating blend of Malay, Chinese, and Indian food traditions, with Thai, Portuguese, Javanese and Middle Eastern influences – the original fusion food. Many cultures have influenced the country’s cuisine due to its position at a key transit point in the ancient spice route.

Taste of New Zealand runs from Wednesday 19 October to Saturday 22 October at Victoria Park in Auckland. Tickets start at $25 and Early Bird Premium Tickets are available until 31 August. Visit www.tasteofnewzealand.co.nz for details.

For some recipe inspiration from Rick, see our Food & Recipes page!

Jesse Mulligan on Adam Liaw’s Two Asian Kitchens

Adam Liaw's Two Asian Kitchens should be a staple in the cookbook collection of anyone interested in demystifying Asian food.

The Malaysian recipes are particularly fascinating: formerly mysterious concoctions like laksa, rendang and sambal suddenly seem achievable. Well, they've always been achievable if you have access to a car and the takeaway menu for Sri Mahkota in Eden Terrace, but you know what I mean.

The thing I like about Two Asian Kitchens is that the recipes are both exotic and manageable. I have a twofold test for cookbook recipes: Would it impress my friends at a dinner party? and would it kill me trying to put it together?

The answers on just about every page of this book are 'yes', and 'no'.

That's good news - I have plenty of 'yes, yes' books already, a fair few 'no, no' books and, inexplicably, even a couple of 'no, yes' books. I'm talking to you, Julia Child.

Jesse Mulligan, Metro magazine restaurant critic and food blogger