Malaysia is a hot bed of cultural diversity with influences from Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indigenous as well as English colonial heritage. Malaysian cuisine is unique in the following ways:
· The flavours are a blend of the different cultures, resulting in a complex and truly unique taste.
· The flavours are bold with combinations of sweet, sour, salty and spicy elements and all of these can be present in one dish.
· Signature ingredients such as coconut milk, shrimp paste (belacan), pandan leaves and lemongrass can be found in many of the dishes.
· Malaysia has a vibrant street food scene with hawker stalls selling the most delectable and iconic dishes such as nasi lemak, curry mee, kuehs and satays.
· The cooking methods are diverse from stir frying to grilling, steaming and slow cooking, often using charcoal as their main source of heat.
For visitors coming to Kuala Lumpur, whether as tourists or for business meetings, a Malaysian food tour to the local bustling wet markets followed by a hands on group cooking class would be an unforgettable immersive experience.
At Palate Sensations, we often conduct food tours and cooking classes for visitors. Here is what you can expect:
Market Tour
In the morning at 9am, we will first meet at TTDI Market, a typical and authentic wet market known for its fresh produce and Malaysian vibe. A tour of the market will include meeting the local vendors, absorbing the pungent smells and sounds, and exploring the meat stores, fresh herbs and spices along the corridors. See how coconut milk is extracted and listen to the spice aunty explain how she mixes her spices.
We will proceed upstairs and sample a typical local breakfast such as roti canai (Indian flatbread with curry) and drink a teh tarik (pulled tea).
Hands on Cooking Class
After the tour, we will proceed back to the culinary studio to begin cooking a typical Malaysian meal. The chefs will brief the participants on the dishes they will prepare before an interactive experience follows where they put on their aprons to start grinding spices and wrapping banana leaves. Popular dishes can include kampung fried rice, Hainanese chicken rice, satay with peanut sauce and ondeh ondeh. Afterwards, enjoy the fruits of they labour with a sumptuous lunch.
A Malaysian market tour and cooking class, whether it is for tourists or business colleagues is an exciting and fun experience that provides a deeper appreciation into the cultures and traditions behind Malaysian cuisine.
Contact us to let us organise this experience for you.
