Ping Coombes, winner of MasterChef UK 2014, stopped by Starhill Culinary Studio last week to impart a few tips and tricks of the trade to eager learners. The Ipoh-born chef, won the MasterChef title with a three-course meal featuring nasi lemak as the main dish.
Ping’s cooking session was presented as part of British High Commission Kuala Lumpur’s GREAT campaign, which is designed to showcase the very best of what Britain has to offer. During the session at Starhill, she prepared Malaysian spiced roast chicken, lemon and cardamon Rice and mint and pea raita.
A relaxed Ping chatted casually, away from the high octane environment of the MasterChef kitchen. She let slip a few cooking tips that she found useful; such as always buying frozen peas as they are frozen right after they are picked as opposed to “fresh” ones; and adding a splash of wine to anything to make it taste different.
So what are Ping’s plans following her recent success? She spoke of a future collaboration with another chef to make some experimental dishes. These include deep-fried rendang which, according to Ping, will be soft on the inside, but crispy on the outside. Now that sounds dangerously delicious.
Audi bin Ali
