Lee Kum Kee Vouches for Aspriring Chefs in Malaysia on Its 130th Anniversary

If not for Lee Kum Sheung's forgetfulness 130 years ago, Chinese cooking would not be what it is today. Lee, a tea seller who happened to also sell oysters, accidentally left his pot of oysters unattended until he smelled a strong aroma. By a stroke of luck, he returned at the right time to find that the supposedly clear soup has turned into delicious thick brownish sauce. [1] And that is how oyster sauce is discovered!

I have consumed oyster sauce my whole life

It is hard to not find a Lee Kum Kee product in Malaysian households. May it be its flagship oyster sauce or soy sauce, Lee Kum Kee has been flavouring dishes for generations! As far as I remember, I have had Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce in my fridge all my life! Whether it is to enhance a serious festive dish or to just make plain rice instantly appetizing, oyster sauce is always reliable, don't you agree?

The  range of Lee Kum Kee products

Lee Kum Kee's flagship products, the oyster sauce and soy sauce

In furthering its efforts to promote and celebrate Chinese culinary culture in South East Asia, Lee Kum Kee introduced its inaugural Hope as Chef Programme in Malaysia. Through the scholarship programme, the brand hopes to hatch new generation of young professional chefs to augment the Chinese cooking scene to professional levels worldwide.

Dishes created by students of KUSU students

The Hope as Chef Programme will help seal a partnership with the Malaysia Selangor and Federal Territory Ku Su Shin Choong Hung Restaurant Association (KUSU), a reputable professional Chinese cuisine chef training center in Malaysia.

Chinese cuisine has needs art and skill

KUSU chef students

Partnership between Lee Kum Kee and KUSU

Lee Kum Kee will be awarding over RM250,000 to 13 outstanding students of KUSU Chef Training Programme, supporting their 8-month culinary training leading to the completion of their diplomas.

Aspiring chefs receiving scholarships

Cooking class by KUSU's master chef

Learning how to make Chinese dumplings

Dexterity is important

A student chef showing me how it is done

Tadaa! Looks like the ones sold in dimsum shop?

Even prouder when I get to savour it

Scrumptious spread by students of KUSU

Salted egg fish skin! My favourite

For more information, visit https://malaysia.lkk.com/my/en/kitchen/ and http://www.kusu.com.my

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_sauce

Fun Filled Cooking Class and High Tea @ Dorsett Putrajaya

Who else to better play masak-masak with than your childhood bestie! That weekend, Stefanie and I decided to just go for high tea to catch up. Somehow, we stumbled upon Dorsett's cooking class and high tea package and decided to give it a try. And we are so glad we did!

Cooking class with bestie

It is because of this class I understand why people sign up for cooking classes. To me, it is not so much about learning the recipe (with internet omnipresent, it is quite unbelievable that people go for cooking classes just for the recipe) Other than learning techniques which are not elaborated in words, cooking class offers the fun that the childhood masak-masak brings! Also for these reasons:

• All equipments are prepared for you
• All ingredients are shopped and measured for you 
• You get to wear a professional chef hat and apron with make up so that you can take lots of selfies with your friend
• There is a chef for you to chat with and ask questions (no need to jab the keyboard to Google if you are stuck)
• Nice classy environment that does not look like a regular kitchen (lake view)
• You can forget about washing (you will know what I mean if you have no maid)
• High tea ensues after your 'hardwork'

Getting ready to be the chef of the day

All equipment and ingredients needed are prepared 

That day, we were making Mexican Baked Apple Empanadas. My bestie Stefanie and I were a team. The class was led by Chef Shahril who has almost two decades of experience in the industry under his belt. Chef Shahril was extremely friendly which made the class more relaxed and interactive.

Cooking class commences

Chef Shahril demonstrating to us first before we go back to our tables to do our own

Another factor that made the afternoon enjoyable was of course the company of my bestie Stefanie. With the camera, there was no stopping to taking photos. We have been to each other's kitchens umpteen times but never did we whip out our phones. I must say only such cooking class environment can induce this. But of course, you do not need to have a partner for this class. This is the perfect activity if you need to spend an afternoon by yourself.

1. First peel the apples

2. Then dice them. The smaller the better

Stefanie helping me to the dice the apples while I prepare the slurry (thickener)

3. Prepare the filling which consists of sugar, water and cinnamon

4. Put in the diced apples and slurry

5. Cook till it thickens and apples are semi-soft

Apples will be softer when baked

Cooking does not have to a serious activity

The roll of pastry looks like a baton

6. Roll out the pre-prepared pastry which smells extremely fragrant!

7. Cut them into the size and shapes that you like

8. Put in the filling onto the pastry. This is why the apples have to be small in size

Do not throw away the rest of the pastry

9. Seal the pastry and use the remains of the pastry to make decorations on the empanadas
The longer we were left with the pastries, the more shapes we did. It made us reminisce the time we played plasticine together

10. Brush the empanadas with eggwash before baking. We made leaves on our puffs with the remains of the pastry

11. Our empanadas in rectangles, half circles and heart!

Time for the fun garnishing part

12. We chose our plates and made our own garnishing with ample of ingredients

My garnishing on the plate

Our empanadas are ready!

My plate of apple empanadas

Our end results in different shapes and decorations

Great team work buddy!

Chef Shahril sprinkled some excitement by giving away a token for the best presented empanada. After looking at each plate, he picked up Stefanie's! My dear friend was delighted of course that the star and heart puffs she made for her son and husband respectively were appreciated by the chef.

Chef Shahril to pick the best presented apple empanadas

Chef picked up Stefanie's plate! She won because of the heart and star shaped puffs which were different from the rest 

Stefanie's token for winning the little competition

Stefanie and I finished our masak-masak session

After our apple empanadas were made, we had our time to sit down and catch up over afternoon tea accompanied by the view of the beautiful Putrajaya lake. Dorsett Putrajaya hosted a very memorable moment for us. We are so glad we went for it. All the fun and priceless experience at only RM30 nett! 

Now time to take a break and enjoy high tea 

If this cooking class can appeal to adventure lovers like me, it certainly is NOT only for ladies who lunch. This is an activity that I recommend to rekindle your relationship with your daughter, mother, husband or even with yourself (me time). Cooking outside your home kitchen makes a difference. Try it! You are welcome...hehe

Chatting and catching up over high tea

The beautiful lake view while savouring our high tea

Citra Rasa Cafe

Dorsett Putrajaya lobby

The next cooking class will be on 19th October 2016 at Dorsett Cafe

Time: 3:30pm

Venue: Citra Rasa, Level 3

Only RM30 nett inclusive of Mexicana Tea Time Platter

Advanced reservation is required to secure a place

Only 20 participants on a first-come-first-serve basis

To reserve a place, please contact

emiriane.alias@dorsetthotels.com

fnb.putrajaya@dorsetthotels.com

03-8892 8388

Dorsett Putrajaya

Precint 3, 62000 Putrajaya

www.dorsetthotels.com