Metro

Monday November 9, 2009

Outlet celebrates anniversary

By SALINA KHALID


SOM Tam may not be as popu­lar as kerabu mangga or tom yam among those who like Thai food, but the simple pa­pa­ya salad is a common dish throughout Thailand, a favourite sold at roadside stalls around the country.

There is something about the simple dish, which combines hot spicy, sour and sweet flavours with a touch of saltiness, that makes one’s mouth water just thinking about it.

May we tempt you?: (From left) Auntie Han from Ipoh Cuisine sharing her Ipoh Popiah, Ko Naing Naing from Mee Jawa with his Penang Rojak Buah and Saadiah with her Som Tam.

And, it is healthy, too, which, perhaps, is one of the secrets behind the svelte figure many Thai women have.

“The secret is in the pounding, which blends all the ingredients and the seasonings,” said Saadiah Md Din from Rama 9, a food stall in Food Republic in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

The ingredients – which include shredded young papaya, carrot, tomato, long beans, peanuts and chilli - are lightly pounded together with the seasonings in a mortar and pestle.

Saadiah said it was important that the vegetables not be pounded too hard as it would cause them to be mashed and lose their original flavour.

Members of the media had an opportunity to see how the dish was prepared during a cooking demonstration held at the Food Re­­public in conjunction with the outlet’s second anniversary recently.

They also watched how Penang Rojak Buah and Ipoh Popiah were prepared by chefs from the Mee Jawa and Ipoh Cuisine stalls of the Food Republic.

Food Republic was opened in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on Nov 5, 2007. Located on the first floor, it has 28 stalls selling local and international favourites.

To celebrate its second anniversary, customers at Food Republic will enjoy a 25% discount during happy hours, from 3pm to 6pm on weekdays, throughout this month.

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