| |
 |
An Asian feast
|
Wang Ying
THE many forms of Asian cooking have become very popular throughout the world. It can be difficult to sample a wide range of mouth-watering dishes at one go. But luckily, Shenzhen's Century Plaza Hotel is offering a feast for the senses at its Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai Food Festival which is being held until May 5.
The food at this culinary event comes in many forms--soups, curries, relishes, salads, cakes and drinks, according to Lui Chau Hing, the hotel's executive sous chef.
“Generally speaking, Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai food have similar flavours: hot and spicy, though not for all dishes,”Lui said. “The difference is that the Singaporean food uses less curry than the other two genres and the cooking methods are varied too.”
Thai food, renowned for being hot and spicy, is also different from China's Sichuan cuisine, Lui said. Thai food is sour and spicy and has the aroma of coconut milk while the Sichuan food is plain old tongue-killer hot.
What makes Thai food both sour, hot and aromatic? It's the use of chillies, curry, lemon, coconut milk and spices.
There are several important spices. The more widely used include coriander, garlic, turmeric, ginger, lemon grass, cardamom, basil and pandanus.
A number of basic sauces accompany most meals. These include shrimp paste, fish sauce, and tamarind sauces, all of which can make the blandest food taste simply astonishing.
The tantalizing treats the festival will produce include such delicacies as Crab Curry, Fried Rice with Pineapple, Sliced Papaya (a cold dish), and fruit-based cakes.
Also included is Tom Yam Goong, one of the most popular Thai dishes around. It offers the sourness of lemon which distinguishes itself from other ordinary soups with only salty and hot flavours. Roasted chilli paste is an indispensable ingredient and gives a slight sweetness, an intense piquancy and mouth-watering colours.
To taste these grand Asian delicacies, you can either dine a la carte, take the table d'hote at the hotel's Seasons Restaurant, or enjoy a buffet at the Greenery.
|
|
|
|
