The Malaysian Insider :: Food
The Malaysian Insider :: Food |
| Posted: 14 Feb 2013 07:51 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — They say good things come in threes. While I've settled for Charlie's Angels and The Three Musketeers to be definitive examples of good things that come in a trio, I couldn't help but include this sandwich. It even has three names; Club Sandwich, Clubhouse Sandwich and Double-Decker Sandwich — they are all the same. Strips of perfectly browned bacon, golden fried eggs, crisp lettuce and just the right amount of cheddar cheese, all alternately sandwiched between three slices of crusty toasted bread, cut into quarters and held together by dainty cocktail sticks. This sandwich is a definite saver; you can easily prepare it with any leftover meat, such as bacon, chicken or turkey though I personally prefer bacon. I always use the bacon made from pork belly and this it is most tender, and it provides significant amounts of juicy flavours that perks up the sandwich. Through numerous trials and errors, I've discovered that the avocado is the best substitute for the thin layer of butter on the bread. This fatty, subtly-flavoured golden-yellow flesh of the fruit can be likened to a dollop of sunshine on the toast in all its buttery richness. The delicate, nutty flavour and creamy texture complements the slight crunchiness of the bread and the host of fillings sandwiched between them. This wonder fruit is said to be rich in antioxidants and fine quality protein, of which its composition is almost identical with that of milk. They are believed to be able to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke, and go on to protect your tissues and organs from damage over time. Besides that, they are said to be able to ease constipation and combat insomnia. Another distinct ingredient that boosts the flavours in this sandwich is the cheese; I like to use vintage cheddar cheese, sometimes known as extra tasty cheddar cheese. This variety of cheese has been aged longer compared to the usual cheddar cheese available in the supermarkets. They are aged for longer than 12 months, and their sharper, acidic taste is in perfect balance with the creamy, slightly alkaline flavours of the avocado.
Preparation time: 15 minutes 6 pieces of wholemeal bread, toasted (just before you assemble the sandwich) 1. Once ingredients are all ready, toast bread. |
| Japan women, not men, throng stores for Valentines Posted: 14 Feb 2013 05:50 PM PST  Valentines, Valentines: Women only at Takashimaya. — AFP pic The traffic in Japan is all one-way on February 14, with men free to sit back and wait for the boxes of goodies to pour in. A month from now, Japan celebrates White Day, when men are required to reciprocate with a white gift. Chocolate has been available in Japan since at least 1797, when it was given to prostitutes by Dutch traders — the only Europeans allowed a foothold in an otherwise closed country where travelling abroad was punishable by death. Today, more than anywhere else, Japan's US$11 billion (RM34 billion) chocolate business is driven by special days confected by the advertising industry to get cash tills ringing. Fully half that total is spent in February, according to retailers. "I'll buy some for my colleagues, but we all agreed not to buy fancy chocolates, or it would cost me a fortune," says Fumiko, a shopper who did not give her surname. "We all buy regular inexpensive chocolates." Even so, the 40-year-old said she expected to spend around ¥10,000 (RM330) on chocolates during her splurge at Takashimaya, a department store in Tokyo's upmarket Ginza district. Not all men are treated equally. The more expensive "honmei" (true love) chocolate is reserved for the husband or lover. Cheaper "giri" (obligation) chocolate goes to co-workers, from the guy who brings the mail to your desk all the way up to the boss of the company. Inventive chocolate marketers, looking to squeeze even more yen out of a shrinking population, have now started selling "tomo" chocolate — treats that women buy for their female friends. Takayuki Miyai, a sales manager at Takashimaya, says business was down last year in a market still depressed by the tsunami and nuclear disaster of March 2011, but this year looked a lot more promising. Japan is the largest market for chocolate in Asia and accounts for a hefty slice of the world's pie, which consultancy KPMG says was worth about US$100 billion in 2012. At Takashimaya, an entire floor has been dedicated to Valentine's Day chocolates. The exhibition, called "Amour du Chocolat", is teeming with women eager to try the latest creations from international chocolatiers. French brands cash in on their chic image, among them Pascal Caffet. On its stand, cork-shaped chocolates are the most popular offering. Filled with champagne and available in dark, milk, and raspberry-and-white flavours, a box of 12 comes in at ¥2,940. Valentine's Day appeared in Japan as a special occasion in the late 1950s, as the economy was picking up steam after the long, lean years following World War II. Western products gave an air of sophistication in a country bursting with energy and getting a taste for luxury and wealth after decades of bone-grinding austerity. It was into this aspirational mix that companies hit upon the idea of marketing Valentine's Day, when a firm called Mary Chocolate began advertising February 14 as "the only day of the year a woman professes her love through presenting chocolate". The rule was thus established and the underwear, jewellery or flowers given in other parts of the developed world were banished, leaving chocolate the sole currency of Valentine's romance. Two decades after Valentine's Day took hold, White Day — March 14th — was introduced as a way to sell gifts to men, who were told they must buy something white for the ladies in their lives. Initially, white marshmallows were de rigeur — on the back of some canny marketing by the marshmallow industry. Now, most things white are permitted. Lingerie tends to sell best. On Takashimaya's chocolate-filled floor, sales manager Miyai says he is expecting brisk business to continue through next month, and hopes that life in a department store, among all these women, will prove personally profitable. "Until now, I wasn't exactly surrounded by women so I haven't received that much chocolate," he said. "But this year, I hope I'll get a lot." — AFP/Relaxnews |
I've never failed to wow my guests with this dish despite its simplicity, whether its grown-ups who have had their share of gourmet cuisine or kids who love something they can hold with their fingers and nibble on. And all of this prepared in such a short period of time. Now that's what I call a quick dose of heaven on your plate.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Food To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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