You know all those gorgeous advertising images of the perfect 50′s housewife? She’s all smiles standing in the kitchen presenting a perfectly trussed roast to her smiling family, all whilst standing in her gleaming kitchen of perfect pastel hues. You probably think that’s me right? Honestly; it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I really wish sometimes that I was that woman (although I’d much prefer the cook she has hidden in the background), but I know that my passion for cooking has reached a diabolical low this year.
When I was in high school, I loved eating so much that my girlfriend and I would skip classes. Not to sneak out and smoke behind the bike shed like all the rest of the’ naughty’ kids, but to drive down the road to our favourite Thai restaurant and gorge ourselves on Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken. In fact, I was so enamoured by Asian food that I learnt to cook my Thai food from scratch. No pre-made pastes, but everything ground by hand, spices lovingly simmered to release their flavour. These days the only thing I seem to be simmering is that old standard spaghetti bolognese; and for someone who adores great food this is a sad indictment indeed.
The upshot of this lacklustre attitude has been that we are eating nasty take out more than ever before and I’m struggling to keep my waistline under control. But there is a light at the end of my uninspired tunnel.
Malaysian Kitchen Australia! I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am about this (but I’ll give it a red hot go). In a nutshell, I’ve been given the enviable opportunity to take myself and the Mr out on date nights to all kinds of Malaysian restaurants around Australia and experience the taste sensations! (Gaaah!!) This is perfect for my asian cuisine loving palate because Malaysian cuisine draws strong element from Chinese, Thai and Indian cooking – all in one.
Last Monday we set sail on our culinary adventure with a trip to Laska Me in Liverpool street, Melbourne; (This is actually a little laneway of Bourke street if you’re wondering) and it was a total revelation. Together with Miscellaneous Mum, Cest Christine, Hey Bambini, Carly Findley, Kylie Clark and Writing Loud, I shared the most extraordinary meal. Now, I’m no fabulous food blogger with a wonderfully descriptive gastronomic vocabulary; (I was once known to describe a wine to the winemaker as “sunshiney”), but I’ll do my best.
The entrees were a total surprise, and one dish in particular knocked my socks off! Presented in a shot glass was a single raw oyster immersed in the most incredible herbaceous sauce. Now this may seem a little greedy of me, but I would bring back every oyster loving person I know, and buy the restaurant out of these babies. They were transcendent! When your poor mouth has sadly gotten used to well below par offerings from your own kitchen, this was like a fireworks display for your senses.
As each dish was presented, the aroma of lemongrass, star anise, coconut and galangal was a heady perfume. It seemed wrong to just eat and talk, and I found myself solemnly choosing each bite with a conscious effort to capture the magic potion that had created it. I can’t really understand why food and I have made strangers of each other this past year, but that evening in Allan Woo’s restaurant, I realised that it was like my palate had been in mourning.
At the close of the meal over tea and sago pudding (why hello!), Allan shared his story with us, and brought to life the tale of Malaysian cuisine and its origins. I sat glued to his every word as he told the history of the country; tales of lust, drama and intrigue. Tales of a country born from many, born from camaraderie and fraternal interests. He told the tale of a young many from a Malaysian village who had come to study in Australia in 1988 and fallen in love with creating the magnificent.
Laska Me is no ordinary, serve it up, push them through, take the cash, kind of joint. It is a hidden gem in the heart of Melbourne, where the chef is a magician and the kitchen team, his apprentices. I didn’t just discover a dish or two I loved, but I rediscovered a passion from which my family will now benefit.
Restaurant – Laksa Me, Shop 1, 16 Liverpool street Melbourne.
Ambience – Simple, cafe style.
Average price for mains – $20.
Value for money – Excellent. Quality ingredients, beautifully presented (not what you’d expect from first look at the simple decor), diverse and delicious menu selection to keep everyone happy, not just standard fare.
My tummy says – 
*Super Kawaii Mama dined as a guest of The Malaysian Kitchen program. All reviews are conducted on a fully transparent, non-paid, no obligation basis. *
