The Naked Nasi Lemak

Star Q

i.  Snowy Strawberry Cake

ii.  N.I.C.E. - Nouns And Adjectives

iii.  Selamat Tinggal Starbright1969

Image sourced from Google

I am sure almost everyone has read about the comments made by one of Malaysia's most celebrated chefs, Chef Wan, about the dismal and unappetising Nasi Lemak served to him on board our national carrier bound for Thailand.  

Being a celebrated chef and one who is very well versed in the culinary world, I can agree with his contention that a national breakfast food like Nasi Lemak should look like it is worthy of that stature.  It is therefore unforgivable when you serve Nasi Lemak without it's slices of cucumber and fried anchovies.  It is even worse when you serve Nasi Lemak to someone who has been eating it almost all his life; which means that he is well aware about what the rice and sambal taste like and the condiments that go along with the rice.

I mean, if it is going to be served on board our national carrier, why not present it in the best possible way; the way Malaysians have been eating it all the time.  I cannot possibly offer any kind of reason for omitting the two condiments, cucumber, peanuts and fried anchovies.  After all, they are not that expensive.  I'm sure the flight ticket paid more than makes up for a few slices of cucumber, two or three fried anchovies and some peanuts.  In fact compared to the fare, they're peanuts!

I guess, this was an isolated case and it just so happened that a celebrated chef was on board that flight and he was served Nasi Lemak, our national breakfast food that was far from the one that he (or any other typical Malaysian) has always known to be.  

To be fair, our national carrier has done quite well in promoting some of our national food.  I remember during a flight to London, many years ago, I was served a few skewers of satay (I was in business class)  Even though the portion was small according to my standard, but he presentation was typical of how it is normally served; complete with a few rice cakes, slices of cucumber and the satay sauce.  The only thing missing was the satay seller barbecuing rows of satay in the background, and the delicious aroma wafting past your nose!

A spokesperson of the national carrier was big enough to acknowledge the comments made by the chef and was even bigger in promising to improve the quality of food served on board in future.  Both have learned something useful.  Let's sit down and have a real Malaysian Nasi Lemak.  Now, where's my Nasi Lemak?