Sam Tan's Kitchen

TO ORDER: Malaysian Goodies/Catering

2012-01-24T02:04:00.007Z

For Malaysians craving the taste of home, or non-Malaysians curious to explore some of our classic dishes :)

Drop me a line at bakecookeat@gmail.com with any enquiries- even if something is not listed below, I always try to accommodate special requests. Selamat makan!

SNACKS, SAUCES AND STUFF

Spiral Curry Puffs (Epok-Epok/Karipap Pusing)- $2 each, $50 for a batch of 30

Spicy curried potatoes encased in a flaky homemade spiral pastry, then

deep-fried until golden and crunchy. Extremely addictive.

Malaysian Pandan Chiffon Cake- $15 per cake (8 1/2")

A top Malaysian favourite! A fluffy and light yet moist sponge, delicately fragranced with pandan and coconut cream

Homemade Kaya (Malaysian Coconut Egg Jam)- $10 per 16oz tub

A rich and luxurious blend of coconut cream, eggs, and sugar fragranced with the aroma of pandan, slowcooked until glossy. Perfect on toast with butter, or on waffles, crackers, pancakes, breadsticks, a spoon, your fingers...

Homemade Sambal Ikan Bilis- $10 per 16 oz tub

The classic must-have sweet and spicy accompaniment to nasi lemak, home-ground from fresh spices and ingredients. Also great for stir frying your favourite meat or vegetables.

Kuih Ketayap/Dadar/Gulung (Malaysian Pandan Crepes with Coconut)- $9 for 6

Sticky caramelised coconut filling, bundled up in soft pale green pandan pancakes

Kuih Kodok/Jemput-Jemput Pisang- $5 per 10 pcs

Malaysian mashed banana fritters. Soft and moist on the inside with a crisp golden brown exterior

CHINESE NEW YEAR SELECTION

Kuih Nastar (Rolled Pineapple Jam Tarts)- $18 per tub of 25 pcs

Homemade jam slow-cooked from fresh whole pineapples and aromatic spices, encased

in a hand-shaped all butter crumbly pastry

Fah Sang Peng (Peanut Cookies)- $18 per tub of 30 pcs

Extremely addictive, be warned! Fragrant, crumbly and deliciously nutty, made the

proper way with ground whole peanuts (none of this peanut butter business)

Kuih Bangkit (Tapioca Coconut Cookies)- $18 per tub of 40 pcs

Handmade traditionally shaped little cookies with a crisp bite and powdery melt-in-the-mouth texture. Aromatic and tasty with the definitive flavours of tapioca, pandan and coconut.

Open-Faced Pineapple Jam Tarts- $25 per tub of 36 pcs

Made with the same blobs of scrumptious homemade jam as the Kuih Nastar,

only sunny side up with a patterned pastry base

Almond London - $25 per tub of 34 pcs

One for the chocoholics- a whole roasted almond encased in a butter cookie, topped

with melted dark chocolate and chopped nuts

Crispy Beehive Cookies (Kuih Ros/ Kuih Loyang)- $12 per tub of 15 pcs

Large and pretty honeycomb/rosette shaped crunchies, deep-fried until satisfyingly crisp

from a batter of

coconut milk and rice flour. Fragrant, lightly sweet, very addictive.

Buttery Coconut Cornflake Crunchies- $12 per tub of 25 pcs
A version of the family favourite Mum taught me growing up! :) A crunchy and
fragrant blend of dessicated coconut and crushed cornflakes
with the added bite of sweet raisins

Mini Honey Cornflake Cups- $12 per tub of 30 pcs

Delectable little bitesize bundles of cornflakes coated in a buttery honey caramel, then baked

until crunchy. Exceedingly moreish- expect to eat a whole box in one sitting.

Bakkwa/Rougan (Chinese Dried Pork Jerky)- sold by weight, $39/lb

Free of the colouring and preservatives usually present in mass-produced versions,
this delicious favourite of Malaysians (a
lso known in Cantonese as "yoke gon" or
"long yoke")
is home-marinated and grilled until the perfect
sticky-
sweet-salty
flavour and texture is achieved. A Chinese New Year staple!

DISHES AVAILABLE FOR CATERING

For events and private parties, or when you just crave a whole lot of Malaysian food for no particular reason. Please email me at bakecookeat@gmail.com to discuss :)

Nasi Lemak

Generally considered our most beloved national dish! Fragrant coconut rice complete with trimmings: crispy ikan bilis (anchovies), roasted nuts, sambal paste, cucumber slices and hard boiled eggs. Perfect with any of the three meats listed below.

Beef Rendang

A rich and flavourful dry coconut stew with melt-in-the-mouth chunks of beef, slowcooked for hours in coconut cream and a blend of lemongrass, tamarind, galangal and other fresh spices until tender

Kari Ayam

A robust Malaysian chicken curry with potatoes, cooked in a rich coconut cream gravy. Especially perfect with roti jala below, or with nasi lemak.

Ayam Goreng Berempah

Crunchy and aromatic crispy fried chicken, marinated in a homemade paste of 12 spices

Hainanese Chicken Rice

My absolute favourite dish of all time! Succulent chicken delicately infused with ginger and spring onion, drizzled with soy and sesame oil then served with a richly fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth. Complete with ginger and garlic chilli sauce.

Char Kuay Teow

Another hawker favourite, with proper "wok hei". Smoky and punchy wok-fried flat rice noodles with shrimp, beansprouts, fishcake and egg.

Mee Siam

Tangy and flavourful fried vermicelli with shrimp, beansprouts, tofu and egg. A Nyonya classic that is simultaneously sweet, sour, salty and spicy.

Wat Tan Hor/Kong Foo Chow

Cantonese style fried flat noodles with a warming egg gravy, topped with shrimp, fishcake, sliced meat and vegetables. Comfort food at its best!

Fresh Popiah

One of my mother's top foods from her hometown in Ipoh- delicious and healthy soft vegetable spring rolls, bursting with a huge mix of flavours from julienned vegetables to crispy shallots

Siew Yoke/Siobak

Crispy Chinese roast pork belly- the biggest hit in my household when I perfected the recipe! Moist and juicy with a golden crunchy crackling

Choy Sum (Chinese Flowering Cabbage) with Garlic Oil and Oyster Sauce

Simple, tasty and nutritious. Also available with pak choi or kailan

Roti Jala

Malaysian lacey coconut and turmeric crepes. Soft and savoury, perfect for mopping up a good curry gravy

Thosai/ Dosa

South Indian rice and lentil crepes

Sago Gula Melaka

Tapioca pearl pudding with palm sugar and coconut milk. A rich yet refreshing dessert, like a cold tropical fusion between sticky rice pudding, creme caramel and a bouncy jelly.

TO ORDER: Celebration Cakes and Other Baked Goods

2012-01-24T01:37:00.012Z

To order bespoke cakes for birthdays, special occasions, or just because you feel like stuffing your face, please email me at bakecookeat@gmail.com or drop me a comment here in case it goes to Spam.

In general 2 days notice is enough- delivery/collection in NYC can be arranged anywhere within the MTA subway system. All cakes come on a proper gold cake board in a white box, and anything else e.g. candles/ writing in icing etc can also be arranged.

Fresh Fruit Cream Cake- $45 per 8" cake (fruit can be customised)

Dark Chocolate Cake with White Buttercream Roses- $45 per cake (8")

Perfect as a romantic gift for Valentine's Day or simple wedding parties. Cake and frosting flavour options available.

Nutella Mousse Gateau- $45 per cake (8")

Whopper Malt Ball Gateau- $45 per cake (8")

Moist Carrot Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
$35 per cake (8")

Blueberry Cheesecake- $35 per cake (7")

Ultra Rich Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake- $28 per cake (7")

Chilled Oreo Cheesecake- $28 per cake (7")

English Victoria Sponge with Fresh Strawberries- $25 per cake

Baked New York Cheesecake- $25 per cake (7")

Orange Cheesecake - $25 per cake (7")

Golden Lemon Cheesecake- $25 per cake (7")

Malaysian Orange Chiffon Cake- $15 per cake (8 1/2")

Malaysian Pandan Chiffon Cake- $15 per cake (8 1/2")

Soft Chocolate Cream Cupcakes- $2.50 each, $25 per batch (12 cupcakes)

Crunchy Crumb Banana Muffins- $2.50 each, $25 per batch (12 muffins)

Savoury Cheddar & Herb Muffins- $2.50 each, $25 per batch (12 muffins)

Chunky Chocolate Brownies- THE single most in-demand item among friends! :)
$2.50 per slice (2" x 3"), $35 per batch (15 slices), $20 per gift box of bitesize pieces

Cheesecake Brownies

$2.50 per slice (2" x 3"), $35 per batch (15 slices), $20 per gift box of bitesize pieces

Handmade Oreo Chunk Cheese Truffles- $15 per silver gift box of 36
(Choice of white, milk, dark or mixed selection)

Mini Chocolate Meringues- $7.50 per silver gift box of 20 pieces

Mini Coconut Meringues- $7.50 per silver gift box of 20 pieces

American Chocolate Chunk Cookies- $2.50 per cookie, $45 per batch (20 cookies)

TO ORDER: Chinese New Year- Coming to You From NYC This Year!

2012-01-18T12:57:00.006Z

After a successful two years in London, this Chinese New Year my little bakery comes to you from New York City and I am once more taking orders from any homesick individual with a CNY cookie craving anywhere in the world! :)

As it's only 5 days away (cutting it a little close I know!), please get your orders in ASAP. Every part of every single cookie is painstakingly handmade on request, so please allow at least 3 days notice.

Some nitty-gritty: for New Yorkers, cash upon receipt is the easiest method of payment and delivery/collection can be arranged anywhere within the MTA subway system. For everyone else, shipping is possible and bank transfers/alternative payment methods e.g. via Paypal can be arranged- please drop me a line at bakecookeat@gmail.com for details.

All cookies come in clear plastic deli-style tubs, either small or large depending on the type of cookie. Unfortunately I cannot find those pretty red jars we get in Malaysia anywhere in New York despite hunting high and low, so for now these will have to do (it's the contents that matter anyway).

Happy eating this year of the ~~Tiger~~ oops, DRAGON of course, and Gong Hei Fatt Choy! :)

Kuih Nastar (Rolled Pineapple Jam Tarts)- $18 per tub of 25 pcs

Homemade jam slow-cooked from fresh whole pineapples and aromatic spices, encased

in a hand-shaped all butter crumbly pastry

Fah Sang Peng (Peanut Cookies)- $18 per tub of 30 pcs

Extremely addictive, be warned! Fragrant, crumbly and deliciously nutty, made the

proper way with ground whole peanuts (none of this peanut butter business)

Kuih Bangkit (Tapioca Coconut Cookies)- $18 per tub of 40 pcs

Handmade traditionally shaped little cookies with a crisp bite and powdery melt-in-the-mouth texture. Aromatic and tasty with the definitive flavours of tapioca, pandan and coconut.

Open-Faced Pineapple Jam Tarts- $25 per tub of 36 pcs

Made with the same blobs of scrumptious homemade jam as the Kuih Nastar,

only sunny side up with a patterned pastry base

Almond London - $25 per tub of 34 pcs

One for the chocoholics- a whole roasted almond encased in a butter cookie, topped

with melted dark chocolate and chopped nuts

Mini Honey Cornflake Cups- $12 per tub of 30 pcs

Delectable little bitesize bundles of cornflakes coated in a buttery honey caramel, then baked

until crunchy. Exceedingly moreish- expect to eat a whole box in one sitting.

Bakkwa/Rougan (Chinese Dried Pork Jerky)- sold by weight, $39/lb

Spiced Chocolate Chip Shortbread

2011-12-10T18:07:00.009Z

HELLO AGAIN after two months dear foodies- yes, I am alive and eating still!

Firstly my sincerest apologies for my long absence- this course at the Actors Studio Drama School is as intense and all-consuming as its notorious reputation, leaving me no time to sleep let alone cook, photograph the results and blog as often as I would like. In fact, what I should be doing right now instead of writing this is study for our final Theatre History exam taking place in 3 days, but given the infectious Christmas air in New York, the deliciousness of these buttery morsels and my desire to end the neglect of this space ASAP, the sharing of this recipe has pushed its way to the top of my priority list.

The following is not an original creation but my twist on many other recipes I compared online- as a huge fan of shortbread I have to admit the results are everything shortbread should be: fragrant, crunchy yet melt-in-the-mouth, indulgent yet moreish, sweet yet salty and studded generously throughout with rich hits of dark chocolate. I have added 2 tsp of mixed spice and cut them into pretty shapes to inject some holiday spirit into it all, but if you prefer you can always omit the spice and slice into traditional bars.

Be sure to leave enough time for the butter to soften in advance and the dough to chill for 2 hours before baking.

Happy holidays!

Spiced Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Makes about 30 chunky pieces (my cookie cutters were about 2 1/2 inches long)

Whisk on medium speed with an electric mixer (or blend in a food processor) until smooth:

225g/2 sticks butter, at room temperature* (do NOT substitute with margarine)

85g (2/3 cup) icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

*Tip- getting the butter soft first is essential if you're using a handheld whisk. If you forgot to take it out of the fridge early, stick to a food processor as the blades easily cut through hard butter anyway.

Fold in using a spatula (or pulse gently in a food processor) until a pliable dough is formed:

300g (2 cups) plain flour (or more if your dough is still sticky)

1 tsp mixed spice

Fold in roughly 125g (3/4 cup) dark chocolate chips.

Press the whole lot of dough into a large bowl, cover the surface completely with cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

To bake:

1) Find a clean hard surface to roll your dough on (I place a sheet of cling film-usually the one that was covering the dough in the fridge-on my kitchen countertop). If you're lucky enough to have a marble table or worktop that is already clean, you can of course skip the plastic wrap.

2) Lightly dust the surface with some flour.

3) Using a spatula or a big metal spoon, scoop out a large mound of dough onto the floured surface. If you have the luxury of a spacious counter top, you can of course roll the entire amount of dough out at once- my kitchen is tiny so I find small sections at a time more manageable.

4) Pat the dough down firmly with your hands (a rolling pin is not needed but use one if you like) until it forms an even disk about 1/2 inch thick, dusting with a bit more flour if necessary. Cut into shapes using a knife or a cutter and arrange onto a cookie tray.

5) Gather all the leftover bits of dough into a ball, add another mound of dough and repeat step 4 until all the batter is used up.

Bake for 20 mins at 160 C/ 325F until pale golden, rotating the trays halfway so they brown evenly.

If desired, dust with icing sugar whilst the cookies are still warm for a snowy effect. Let cool.

Delight your friends with these homemade gifts, or proceed to stuff your face!:)

La Table Exquise- Bed Stuy's Best Kept Secret

2011-10-10T01:23:00.012+01:00

La Table Exquise's Weekend Special French Toast: so good it should be illegal.

$5 per portion, or unlimited amounts (yes!) with the $19 Sunday brunch buffet

All-you-can-eat slider burgers served hot on homemade brioche, as many omelettes as you want cooked to your liking, a huge spread of salads and grilled wings and cereal and quiche and rolls and pastries AND juice and coffee and tea and to top it all off, endless heaps of buttery, caramelised, so-good-I-could-die French toast... all for $19, at a shop two minutes walk from where I've ended up living.

Holy wow. What a welcome to New York City, bless you foodie guardian angel!

I apologise dear readers that it has taken me a month to post any updates- since my arrival life in this new city has proven intense, exciting, exhausting and inspiring all at once, with my course at the Actors Studio Drama School living up to its notorious reputation of being tough and challenging (hence the lack of time for blogging). I assure you though that I have been doing my duty to eat as much as possible (ha!), and although I should be doing my homework I simply HAVE to share this little gem with all New Yorkers out there.

La Table Exquise- 370 Tompkins Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Tel: 347-663-6066

"Do or Die Bed-Stuy" is the last place you'd expect to find French baking at its best, but I am not kidding when I say this little nondescript joint is home to the flakiest croissants and pain au chocolat as well as the most sublime desserts (5-layer chocolate cake anyone?) that you can get your hands on. The 11am-4pm all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch also redefines the meaning of "buffet"- far from being a way for restaurants to use up the week's leftovers, mega-talented Chef Sebastien whips up hot omelettes, slider burgers on cute little baby brioche buns and that unbelievable French toast using his own homemade baguettes at your demand.

The menu varies from time to time, but if you love good grub La Table Exquise is a must-try. Go go go, before the crowds find out.

My brunch buffet plate- serving number one :)

Chef Sebastien's alluring dessert cabinet- selection varies daily.

Prices range from $1 (for chocolate mousse cups) to $4

The sublime 5-layer chocolate cake- $4

Profiterole with hazelnut cream (chocolate eclair and pistachio pear tart in the background)

Croissants and pain au chocolat, piping hot from the oven- $2.75 each

La Table Exquise- 370 Tompkins Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216

(Nearest station: Nostrand Avenue, Kingston-Throop Aves)

Tel: 347-663-6066