Two Vietnamese foods that I learned to love on my first trip to Vietnam were Beef Pho and Spring Rolls (gỏi cuốn). That was about it for my culinary expertise. But for years I exclaimed, “I love Vietnamese food!” Seriously, right? As if I even had a clue beyond those two dishes I had eaten. […]
Top Picks of Malaysian Fruit for First Time Visitors
Fruit is a big deal in Malaysia. Local Malaysian fruit is especially popular. It’s an abundant and generally affordable, local snack you simply shouldn’t pass up. But no one wants to carry around a bunch of weird-looking fruit that you may or may not actually eat, right? Trust me, attempting to buy a handful of […]
Best Cultural Cooking Class in Singapore? Food Playground!
Those who know me, know that I’m not really a kitchen kind of gal. It’s just not my ‘thing’. So, imagine my surprise to leave a cooking class pumped to cook an exotic sounding dish like Char Kway Teow!? Who could pull such a magical transformation on a die-hard, kitchen avoider? Food Playground; one of […]
13 Must-Try Traditional Malaysian Desserts
They say eat like a local, and boy howdy, can I do that. Especially when it comes to traditional Malaysian desserts in Langkawi, Malaysia. However, I didn’t become a Langkawi dessert connoisseur overnight. It took time. From abandoning the desperate, expatriate search for my beloved Fig Newtons and Moon Pies to accepting my fate of […]
Langkawi Wet Markets For First Timers
Have you heard about Langkawi wet markets? Unless you’re a cruising sailor and well versed in Southeast Asian produce or have some previous island life experience; shopping for food on some islands can often be challenging. Learning about local produce and their uses is a cultural experience you simply don’t get from a book, so […]
Cook with Shuk: Langkawi’s Culinary Icon
As I slowly discover the cultural side of Malaysian foods, the idea of taking a Malaysian cooking class has come to mind several times. But good things can eventually come to those who procrastinate, and my timing was perfect to snag a last minute spot in an exclusive Cook with Shuk cooking class in Langkawi, […]
Roadside Barbecue Chicken Langkawi Style
You will find chicken served up in just about every restaurant in Langkawi from simple Nasi Ayam (chicken rice) to stick to your ribs Chicken Curries. But one of the more difficult food selections to find is an excellent barbecue chicken. You know the hot-off-the-grill, slow roasted over glowing charcoal until it’s full of flavor, […]