Comments on: In Search of Authenticity http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/ Easy Asian Recipes Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:55:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tibetan http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-11714 Tibetan Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:56:20 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-11714 don’t know the difference between what is authentic and what’s not, so they just go for the usual suspects and what they are familiar with. That’s the reason why it’s so important that we travel to new countries, soak up local cultures, hang out with local people, try out local cuisines and immerse yourself in their lifestyles. don’t know the difference between what is authentic and what’s not, so they just go for the usual suspects and what they are familiar with. That’s the reason why it’s so important that we travel to new countries, soak up local cultures, hang out with local people, try out local cuisines and immerse yourself in their lifestyles.

]]> By: Robyn http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-271 Robyn Mon, 16 Oct 2006 02:33:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-271 Bee, Well put. There's just one problem -- what's authentically 'Chinese'? Eg. many Malaysian Chinese can't take mainland-style Chinese food because of the amount of oil - which is very 'authentic'. Still - I really appreciate your frustration with the neither here/nor there 'fusion' thing! Bee, Well put. There’s just one problem — what’s authentically ‘Chinese’? Eg. many Malaysian Chinese can’t take mainland-style Chinese food because of the amount of oil – which is very ‘authentic’. Still – I really appreciate your frustration with the neither here/nor there ‘fusion’ thing!

]]> By: Rasa Malaysia http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-263 Rasa Malaysia Sun, 15 Oct 2006 03:24:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-263 Shirley / Tikus, <br/><br/>Sure, let's exchange cookbooks soon. Will have to schedule a time to meet up. Shirley / Tikus,

Sure, let’s exchange cookbooks soon. Will have to schedule a time to meet up.

]]> By: Karen http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-261 Karen Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:06:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-261 Thanks so much on your food recommendations and recipe books. I will try to source them out... Thanks so much on your food recommendations and recipe books. I will try to source them out…

]]> By: Anonymous http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-256 Anonymous Sat, 14 Oct 2006 06:13:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-256 Bee Yin, all your suggestions on read sounds great !! :)<br/>Gotta go disturb you & exchange cookbook readings one of these days. Btw, I've got here Easy 100 Pork Cookery by Amy Wong & James Wan, Hawker's Fair Sauces by Alan Kok, another Hawker's Fair Simplyfied, & Makanan Gerai Mamak by Margaret Cheng.<br/>sincerely,<br/>tikus Bee Yin, all your suggestions on read sounds great !! :)
Gotta go disturb you & exchange cookbook readings one of these days. Btw, I’ve got here Easy 100 Pork Cookery by Amy Wong & James Wan, Hawker’s Fair Sauces by Alan Kok, another Hawker’s Fair Simplyfied, & Makanan Gerai Mamak by Margaret Cheng.
sincerely,
tikus

]]> By: Rasa Malaysia http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-254 Rasa Malaysia Sat, 14 Oct 2006 03:01:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-254 Annapurna, <br/><br/>I hear you. Unfortunately, the majority would still go for teriyaki chicken, egg rolls and pad thai. The truth is they probably don't know the difference between what is authentic and what's not, so they just go for the usual suspects and what they are familiar with. That's the reason why it's so important that we travel to new countries, soak up local cultures, hang out with local people, try out local cuisines and immerse yourself in their lifestyles. Annapurna,

I hear you. Unfortunately, the majority would still go for teriyaki chicken, egg rolls and pad thai. The truth is they probably don’t know the difference between what is authentic and what’s not, so they just go for the usual suspects and what they are familiar with. That’s the reason why it’s so important that we travel to new countries, soak up local cultures, hang out with local people, try out local cuisines and immerse yourself in their lifestyles.

]]> By: Rasa Malaysia http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-253 Rasa Malaysia Sat, 14 Oct 2006 02:09:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-253 Dear James, <br/><br/>I can't believe my own eyes when I saw your two comments here. I still can't believe it as I am typing this...thanks so much for visiting Rasa Malaysia. It's truly an honor, what I am feeling now is simply beyond words (actually I feel like jumping up and down my couch ala Tom Cruise style)!!<br/><br/>Your writings, cookbook, and work inspire me. <br/><br/>Thank you. Dear James,

I can’t believe my own eyes when I saw your two comments here. I still can’t believe it as I am typing this…thanks so much for visiting Rasa Malaysia. It’s truly an honor, what I am feeling now is simply beyond words (actually I feel like jumping up and down my couch ala Tom Cruise style)!!

Your writings, cookbook, and work inspire me.

Thank you.

]]> By: James Oseland http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-252 James Oseland Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:34:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-252 Oops--make that New YORK City. Oops–make that New YORK City.

]]> By: James Oseland http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-251 James Oseland Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:33:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-251 Hi, it's James, author of "Cradle of Flavor." Thanks for your words! (And all the Penang listings bring tears to my eyes on this chilly New Yor City night....) Hi, it’s James, author of “Cradle of Flavor.” Thanks for your words! (And all the Penang listings bring tears to my eyes on this chilly New Yor City night….)

]]> By: Annapurna http://rasamalaysia.com/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-249 Annapurna Fri, 13 Oct 2006 10:37:00 +0000 http://www.rasamalaysia.com/wordpress/in-search-of-authenticity/#comment-249 I am afraid I disagree somewhat. I am sure there is a market for people who would like to discover "authentic" Asian food. Our ability to taste varieties of flavors and savors is being numbed by the globalization of food. When my friends come to dinner, they are more than happy to sample new flavors. In fact, they look forward to it. I don't think they are particularly exceptional. So I don't think a thai restaurant needs to serve pad thai in order to stay afloat. I think this is a niche that is only going to become more important and it's word of mouth that ultimately makes or breaks a restaurant. If it's good, the curious will come...and spread the word.<br/><br/>PS I live in Paris, and am a restaurant-goer. I know many people who will go out of their way to go to restaurants that serve dishes you don't find everywhere else. I am afraid I disagree somewhat. I am sure there is a market for people who would like to discover “authentic” Asian food. Our ability to taste varieties of flavors and savors is being numbed by the globalization of food. When my friends come to dinner, they are more than happy to sample new flavors. In fact, they look forward to it. I don’t think they are particularly exceptional. So I don’t think a thai restaurant needs to serve pad thai in order to stay afloat. I think this is a niche that is only going to become more important and it’s word of mouth that ultimately makes or breaks a restaurant. If it’s good, the curious will come…and spread the word.

PS I live in Paris, and am a restaurant-goer. I know many people who will go out of their way to go to restaurants that serve dishes you don’t find everywhere else.

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