Monday August 24, 2009

When the mayor cooks up a storm

By BAVANI M

KL mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail getting mee rebus

KUALA LUMPUR mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail is known for his no-nonsense approach and strict work ethics. Since he became the federal capital’s ninth mayor, he has advocated a clean and transparent governance and rules the city with an iron fist.

So it felt a little surreal, to see the 56-year-old mayor donning an apron and chopping onions in the kitchen of his official residence in Bukit Tunku last Saturday, which was the first day of the fasting month.

The mayor may be playing the part of a cook that day but he was as organised and precise as he was in the office.

Fuad started as early as 2pm, having sent out his wife Datin Norkhayati Hashim, 55, and his eldest daughter Adriatie Syaminnissa, 31, to do the marketing in the morning, and his son Syahril Izham, 29, was sent out to buy kuih (Malay cakes) at the Ramadan bazaar in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

His wife and children were excited because it was the first time he was cooking since assuming office as Datuk Bandar last Dec 14.

The mayor prepared several main dishes for the breaking of fast, including the family favourite Mee Rebus, Assam Pedas Sotong, Ayam Kicap, Sambal Udang, Ikan Masak Tempoyak, Beef Masala and one vegetable dish — long beans fried in sambal sauce.

The vegetables were picked fresh from his farm the day before, and there were also fresh fruits like watermelon, jackfruit and durian for dessert.

Fuad prefers to work alone when in the kitchen. “If I am the cooking, then it’s just me. If my wife is cooking, I will respect her and stay out of her way,’’ he said.

When asked if he was willing to share his recipes, he said he never wrote down any of his recipes as it was something that came to him naturally.

Fuad first prepared the Beef Masala which he said was an old family recipe created by his mother.

“The meat is cooked for seven hours until it is tender – that’s how my mother would do it. She would use the traditional method. But I’m using the pressure cooker because of time constraints,” he said.

He used plenty of herbs and spices to flavour the dish.

While that was cooking, the mayor started peeling the prawns for the Sambal Udang. He worked very fast, multi-tasking all the way.

When asked why he did not have a maid to help with the cutting and peeling, he simply said he did not believe in having a maid.

Mayor’s own recipe: Ayam Masak Kicap.

Next was the Ikan Masak Tempoyak – a new creation. Fuad said he wanted to try it with fish this time.

An avid cook, Fuad enjoys trying out new recipes and whipping up new dishes. His extensive cookbook collection is a testament to this interest.

The mayor’s philosophy in life is simple, he believes in living life to the fullest and trying our new things in life. But above all else, he believes in putting family first especially when it comes to special occasions like the first day of Ramadan when the family gets together.

Fuad’s foray into the kitchen started early in life, through his mother Puan Halimah who operated a restaurant in Nibong Tebal.

But he only started cooking seriously at age 43, when his wife Norkhayati had to go to Wales in Britain to pursue her Masters in IT.

“She took the three youngest children, Syahrir Reza, Izzati Syahirah and Anith Athirah with her and I was left at home to take care of my two elder kids, Adriatie and Syahril. It was then, that I started cooking,’’ he said.

Traditional delights: Long Beans cooked sambal style and Ikan Masak Tempoyak dishes prepared by Fuad.

Fuad picked up cooking skills from TV shows like Wok With Yan. He also read, and experimented a lot and soon discovered that he possessed an innate talent for cooking.

However, due to his hectic work schedule, he only cooks on special events in order to spend quality time with his wife and children.

“During Ramadan, it has become a tradition for us to savour home-cooked meals by breaking fast at home. But it is a luxury that I cannot afford these days,’’ Fuad said.

The mayor recalled a time when he was the Subang Jaya Municipal Council president when he broke an all-time record by breaking fast at home with his family for the entire fasting month.

It was also then that he used to have time to cook for friends and colleagues.

He recalled an incident when his friend’s caterer had cancelled at the last minute and he volunteered to cook for more than 80 people during Hari Raya.

Fuad realises that as the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, he is duty-bound to attend many official functions during the fasting month.

But for the first day of Ramadan, at least, he was glad to be able to spend it with his loved ones cooking their favourite dishes.