Today is the publication day of A-Z of Chinese food (recipes not included) written by no one less than the mighty peach aka Jenny Lau. A really really good friend, an over all amazing human being and I thank the skies for dropping her in my life 5ish years ago. So much has changed since then and I am 99% sure my life trajectory would have been completely different if she didn’t come along.
This Monday was the book launch and Jenny had rallied the ESEACC food community in the most Jenny way, to cater with canapes laid out on banana leaves. An old tradition in south east asia where many of us have roots, but which also holds new value for us who have met through the potlucks Jenny have been organising where the peak holiday is the annual banana leaf feast that is being held in close proximity to Lunar new year.
For this special night a total of around 1200 canapes was laid out over several tables and it was a proper feast for fellow gluttons.
Photo by Ming Tang-Evans
I created a canape and I named it Jenny (on the night it was K for Kinilaw). Why? First of all I am always going to be a bit too amused by the fact that a grilled croaker smeared in pepper sauce is called a Monica in Nigeria (very very tasty) and I felt a strong urge to name my own fish dish after the same manner. Imagine your memory to live on for ever like that (if the dish sticks), iconic.
Second of all my canape is created with Jenny in mind. This is how she’s built:
The base is a puffed rice cup. Jenny is a true crispy rice fan, so much that she even made a t-shirt expressing the global appreciation showing how it expands over cultures. As someone who is constantly encouraging people to connect outside your own community it’s Jenny in a nut shell.
The next layer is a circle of betel leaf. Symbolising how Jenny is the type of person who appreciate spending time on making your food look beautiful. Her knife cutting skills and appreciation for veg and fruit cutting is the testament. The herby leaf is there for the aroma and medicinal benefit helping with indigestion (also with flatulence because every sane person appreciates a really good fart).
Layer number 3 is purple sweet potatoes. When I think about Jenny she is bright colours, pink, purple and blue 🩷💜💙
The main charachter is the next layer, diced seabass flavoured with ginger, shallots and chilli cooked with acid. Jenny is a pescatarian and the fish also symbolises abundance which is what I wish for her. Abundance in book sales, abundance of love and abundance of everything she wants in life.
Layer number 4 is small but mighty. Little dots of kewpie because fattness in life is a luxury. Yes we can technically live and breath without Jennys book, but it being written will definitely make us richer!
Crowning the Jenny is some cut fruit (also between 3 & 4) and we all know what the act of cutting fruit means (I love you 🥰).
You can get An A-Z of chinese food here !
Photo by Ming Tang-Evans