Chef Aidy

When I was working in a lot of the restaurants in New York, I have never even think of using MSG or other flavor enhancer in our dishes because it’s just something that is against all the principal of cooking. We always proud ourselves of doing things from scratch and only use the best ingredients possible. Are there any difference if we use a real chicken stock or just using a couple of chicken cube? Of coz it’s cheaper by using those cubes but what about the taste? I personally think that the chicken stock using real chicken is way better compared to the “maggie” like taste of the cubes. So why are some chefs, especially the Asians still insist on using MSG in their cooking? Is it part of the Asian cooking culture? Or is it an easy way out for some chefs. But first let us look at what Monosodium Glutamate really is.

MSG is the sodium salt of the amino acid glutamic acid and a form of glutamate. It is sold as a fine white crystal substance, similar in appearance to salt or sugar. It does not have a distinct taste of its own, and how it adds flavor to other foods is not fully understood. Many scientists believe that MSG stimulates glutamate receptors in the tongue to augment meat-like flavors. Asians originally used a seaweed broth to obtain the flavor- enhancing effects of MSG, but today MSG is made by a fermenting process using starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses.

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Glutamate itself is in many living things: It is found naturally in our bodies and in protein-containing foods, such as cheese, milk, meat, peas, and mushrooms.

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Some glutamate is in foods in a “free” form. It is only in this free form that glutamate can enhance a food’s flavor. Part of the flavor-enhancing effect of tomatoes, certain cheeses, and fermented or hydrolyzed protein products (such as soy sauce) is due to the presence of free glutamate

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FASEB (Federation of American Society for Experimenting Biology) has completed a final report on MSG, over 350 pages long, and delivered it to FDA on July 31, 1995. While not a new study, the report offers a new safety assessment based on the most comprehensive existing evaluation to date of glutamate safety.

Among the report’s key findings:

-An unknown percentage of the population may react to MSG and develop MSG symptom complex, a condition characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms
-facial pressure or tightness
-chest pain
-headache
-nausea
-rapid heartbeat
-bronchospasm (difficulty breathing) in MSG-intolerant people with asthma
-drowsiness
-weakness.
-In otherwise healthy MSG-intolerant people, the MSG symptom complex tends to occur within one hour after eating 3 grams or more of MSG on an empty stomach or without other food. A typical serving of glutamate-treated food contains less than 0.5 grams of MSG. A reaction is most likely if the MSG is eaten in a large quantity or in a liquid, such as a clear soup.
-Severe, poorly controlled asthma may be a predisposing medical condition for MSG symptom complex.
-No evidence exists to suggest that dietary MSG or glutamate contributes to Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, AIDS dementia complex, or any other long-term or chronic diseases.
-No evidence exists to suggest that dietary MSG causes brain lesions or damages nerve cells in humans.
-The level of vitamin B6 in a person’s body plays a role in glutamate metabolism, and the possible impact of marginal B6 intake should be considered in future research.
-There is no scientific evidence that the levels of glutamate in hydrolyzed proteins causes adverse effects or that other manufactured glutamate has effects different from glutamate normally found in foods.

Food and Drug Administration Report

So far so good. I’m quite surprised..I mean there is no real threat except if it’s taken like A LOT! I’ve also did some checking on other websites and found out that most of them didn’t have anything bad to say about MSG. Is it because all the big food industries uses them and they are trying to make it sound harmless? But then again how could millions of Chinese who have been using MSG for decades never really had any complain of headache? Imagine millions of them queuing at the clinics after lunch. It’ll be nuts! Anyway, I found a really cool article written by Alex Renton from The Observer discussing just about that.

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Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin says the detention of five leaders of the illegal Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is “what the people want”. “It is also the government’s determination to safeguard public order and national security. That’s what the people demand,” he added.

Memorandum by Damai Malaysia – an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organisations – handed over to Badawi  a memorandum criticising the illegal street rallies. Who are dis NGOs? We have no idea but what we know are that there are all related to political parties and thus shouldnt be called NGOs. The news called dem the “silent majority” that has spoken. I just call dem BARISAN NATIONAL. More on dis.

Zainuddin said: “We are aware the government’s action would be criticized by western groups through their media. We are ready to counter whatever negative reports about Malaysia. “All divisions in my ministry have been told to explain the government’s use of the ISA to both local and foreign media. We have the facts and we will disseminate them.

Oh rite..the US got da patriot act. And wht facts are you cookin up now? Regarding “explaining the government’s use of ISA to foreign media” I would suggest that u wouldn’t do it coz u know what will happen when u start to lose control during those interviews.

“I challenge the western media to practice real democracy by publishing both sides of the story and not twist them to suit their own agenda.

In US they have debates between Candidates before the election and there are also talk shows like “Meet The Press” where different parties get together and debate about stuff. I’ll be suprised if we are ever to have one coz the leaders are afraid of one on one debate. They are only good at putting out their message when there are cutting ribbons somewhere.

Since achieving Independence (Merdeka), the western media has never supported us. Whatever policies, such as the New Economic Policy, have been portrayed negatively in their reports. But still, we are so successful today (economically),” he added.

I think the world supported Pak Lah whn he was elected PM. It’s just da stupid stuff tht they don’t support. And yes, the country is more successful economically now but not everyone are pleased by the way the government is handling their job.

Zainuddin said the government rejected the concept of democracy promoted by the West, with street demonstrations being part of the democratic process.

“We will never accept this. Have the countries with frequent street demonstrations managed to achieve the prosperity and stability that we enjoy? Most of these countries are mired in conflicts or chaos,” he stressed.

US, UK and Europe doesnt have the prosperity and stability that M’sian enjoy? Hehe..you’re a riot man!! And wht concept of democracy are we are we promoting? The kind where people are guilty until proven innocent? The kind where media is controlled? Not to mention the other mess. In US, there’s a lot of demonstrations when the US decided to attack Iraq. The important thing is that the government still let the people voiced out their opinions and if the government is solid they should not fear of being criticized.

“Today’s society is more educated and will not easily accept explanations without facts. Whether we are effective in disseminating information fast will determine how fast we can build a first-class mentality society,” he said.

Your’re right man, todays society are smarter and do not take ur BS at all. Where’s ur guts man? U are smart enuff to know what is right from wrong. Ur our minister that represent us to the world. And u think that u have a first class mentality? Just google ISA and see what the intelligent and educated people think about ISA and maybe, just maybe ur conscious will tell u tht it is NOT the right thing to do.

With all due respect Datuk Seri I have to disagree wit u!

Finally Big Brother has decided to show it’s claw by arresting five of the top Hindraf guys under the ISA . A sad day for Malaysia coz after 50 years of independence the govrnmt still has to use dis unfair treatment to the people just to shut dem up. Guess dis is wht we call democracy in M’sia. Guilty until proven innocent.

“Our generation as heir to the great estate of human rights must learn to wipe every tear from every eye and raise every human to his or her full person hood. Our common humanity transcends the oceans and all national boundaries. It binds us together in a common cause against tyranny, to act together in defense of our humanity faith and religion. Let it never we ask of anyone of us what did we do when we knew that another was oppressed.”

Mohandas K Gandhi

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more on dis at Asia Sentinel

an article by Kim Quek @ Malaysian Today

Malik Imtiaz

Uthaya’s ISA message to Hindraf supporters

It’s gettin a bit busy now at Shook since everybody are preparing for ” Journey thru time” happening at Starhill. There are so many functions happening at the same time and its kinda suck coz most of them will be organize by shook. Since they are a lot of tenants thats gonna be participating on this event, the problem of getting them to confirm their cocktail menu is the biggest challenge. Not to mention the functions that we have to organize ourself. Most of the decisions came in on the last minute and no thots were given to the kitchen side at all where the real work are to be done. I think they thot that its like McD where you just have to unwrap, cook and serve. But no fear, coz we are so used to this BS already and i’m sure its gonna be smooth like butter.
Lots of bigshot in da watch dept will be there including people from Forbes who i’m sure have a nice and expensive watch demself. Anyway dis must be a big deal for TS Francis fer sure. Things HAS to be perfect and that is definitely what we’re gonna strive for. Some of da dishes by our “Asian Fusion” Chef Kevin Cape looks promising too and i hope we can make it work.

Wassup wit all these expensive watches anyway? I just don’t get it, but then again i don’t really make millions and definitely cant afford such luxury. Hey, it is a free country rite? What u wanna do wit your money is totally none of me bzness. I just think that there’s a lot of other ways to spend it.

Dr Francis on JTT 

Da rakyat did it again and dis time it was the hindraf- hindus right action force tht demonstrated in KL. Wht u think of that hey Mr BADawi? Two major demonstration in two weeks..pretty good huh for ur resume? And of coz this time da FRUs and da policia are gonna go all out with their tear gasses and chemical laced water guns. Why? Because the’re hindus and do u think tht the mostly malay Policia and FRUs gonna give a shit. No way man! This is different fr the other demonstration where there’s malays, chinese and indians were involved.

And where is Sami da highwayman Vellu? Can’t wait to hear wht he’s gonna say bout all dis. I mean come on..the indian has been in da shiet for too long now and it seems like nobody really listen. There must be a reason for them demonstrating their ass out there and Mr. Vellu..ur time is out man. U’ve been up there for so long and nuttin being done to ur own race. WTF rite?

So the govrnmt decided to arrest the three leaders of hindraf before da big day under a sedition act. So predictable..and they don’t even have the original copy of the speech tht they deem seditious. Another WTF but dis is a normal thing. Big Brother showing his claws.

Me fren just called said 4 died after being hacked by the FRUs. WTF!!! Dis is gonna get  BIG! (ok..it was not true…see, people can start out lots of rumors like dis)

Watch the video fr Al Jazeera
Read bout da real deal from Jeff Ooi

and Malik Imtiaz

Mr Lawyer (buruk) Nasri is a true Mat Rempit. The way he acted in the parliament is enuff to show tht he is not cut to be a minister. But thn again this is the BADawi’s govrmnt, so of coz we gonna have a lot of people like him (check out da list below). The guy cant even speak English properly and probably doesn’t even kno wht da law is. Seems like he likes to make his OWN law sumtimes. Wht a d***head dis guy is. To him democracy only means tht the majority rules and thts it. To hell wit da opposition coz they r ALWAYS wrong and the ruling gorvnmt is always right. Is dis the type of people tht is supposed to be a leader for our country. A total embarrassment! At least be a gentleman..you don’t have to shout like an idiot to prove a point. I think there should be show in tv like “Meet the Press” in States where the different parties will get together over an issue and have a real debate for the people to see. Maybe thn da people got to see wht a f***up govrmnt they have.
List of 11 s-hold under BADawi

The big shot Mr BADahwi seems to get a little jitters on saturday when thousands of the rakyat get to the streets to protest against the way the election is being handle in dis country. Tho they were protesting in peace it seems like the policia and da FRUs are a bit gatal tangan with the water and tear guns. Hey what do u expect fr a democratic country like Msia rite? Obviously u cannot get a permit to do a peaceful demonstration especially when u are goin against the rule of da big brother. But big kudos to the people tht really understand as to what is goin on here, to be brave and do what a good citizen should do, which is to scream and let the so called democratic government know that they r farkin up.

The real government should b da people and da people have the right to protest and giving the memorandum to the King. Even da King is not making any fuss about the protest. Why is Big brother got all gelisah?

We r now entering the internet era and u know u cant hide anything. The gomen controlled media is s**t! You cant see nuttin about the protest on the first page for sure. This is done purposely to blind the rakyat so that all they see is how well the country is doin (at least for some people). But not for long. We da people r not tht f***** stupid.

Lamb rack is one of the dish that you can always find in most fine dining or upscale type of restaurants. It is a pretty expensive cut because the loin is so tender and the fat around it is a must for fat lovers like me. Here my Senior CDP Ayob demonstrate on how to prep the lamb. At shook I served the rack o lamb crusted with pinenuts and it goes with a mushroom ragout, polenta cake and raisin balsamic syrup.

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The boys are pretty excited and also nervous to be at the Food & Hotel Malaysia this year happening at KLCC Convention Center. It is a huge event where there’s competitions in cooking and also a trade show where you’ll see all things related to the restaurant and hotel industries.

Representing nBs Gastronomique (nBs stands for no bullshit) is the Sous Chef Amir, Senior CDP Faizal Yan aka Ayob and Commis 2 Rocco. All has been preparing for the competition a month earlier and of coz we’ve been trying lots of different recipes that we think will kick some ass. But unfortunately we only managed to bring home a silver medal thru our man Amir san. Not bad, but i still think that we deserved better. Ayob was doing a seared tuna and was told by the judge that the fish wasnt fully cooked. I mean whadifak!! Da fish was supposed to be medium rare. Talk about stupid frekin judge!! They surely do not no jack shit! Anyway Ayob ended up with nuttin and this is the first time he didnt bring home a medal. What can you do rite?
Other than that the show was definitely an eye opener for me. There’s a lot of new ingredients that can be experimented into my style of cooking. Not to mention stuff like all different kinda plates, weird machines that will make your cooking easier, chemicals that will make you the next Ferran Adria and lots more.