Chef Aidy

When I was first introduced to Japanese cuisine in New York, I find it kinda boring, maybe because what i ordered was sushi and I don’t really care much about something that is not cooked or served cold. But later on I started to develop the liking to it when most of the girls I dated tend to choose Japanese restaurant when it comes to deciding on where to eat. Why? Because even then, the Japanese cuisine already has the reputation of being healthy, fresh and clean. Not to mention on how visually attractive there are on the plate. So it is no wonder that when I started my career as a cook in New York, the influence of Japanese cuisine can be seen all over the kitchen in the City, from the ingredients to the technique up to the knives.

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So, it came to no surprise when the Japanese capital was handed by Michelin; eight 3 star, twenty five 2 star and hundred and seventeen 1 star beating both Paris and London as the culinary Mecca of the world. Although there’s a lot of criticism on why they got too many stars, the truth is the Japanese like the French has always consider fine eating as a national obsession and the preparation of the perfect dish is seen as a natural extension of the national spirit of “monozukuri” – the “making of things”.

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The quality of the ingredients also plays an important role. Tokyo is home to the biggest fish market and the meat like Kobe beef, vegetables and fruits are some of the best in the world. Ok, there’re a bit expensive but it is totally worth it.

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So, to The Land Of The Rising Sun…CONGRATS!!

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from Reuters

from times on line

from Asia Sentinel

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.

Read the rest of this entry…

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