A day with Chef Bruce Lim at KDU University College!

 Dato' Teo Chiang Quan (Executive Chairman, KDU University College) with Chef Bruce Lim.

“Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.” 

-Craig Claiborne-

A KDU Experience for SMK Bukit Bandaraya students

Written by: Ann Teoh

As part of our outreach programme to secondary schools, KDU College extended a warm welcome to students from SMK Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. 39 bright,happy cheerful faces greeted us. Accompanied by their teachers, Puan Sharia Liza Shaari, Encik Aminudin bin Leman and Cik Norhasnisa bt. Abdul Samat, the students who are doing a module on Catering & Serving at their school had the chance to make apple strudel with Chef Yahaya.

Puan Sharia Liza Shaari from SMK Bukit Bandaraya.

Cik Norhasnisa bt Abdul Samat and Encik Aminudin bin Leman (teachers)

KDU Chef Lecturer did Malaysia Proud!

Written by: Ann Teoh


A thrilling 3-day Emirates Salon Culinaire competition saw Chef Lecturer Hamirudin Nazir clinched two Silver Medals and an Award of Merit for KDU College and Malaysia. KDU College was the only Malaysian representative at the International Emirates Salon Culinaire, Dubai 2010, held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, in conjunction with the Gulfood and Equipment Exhibition.from 21st – 24th February 2010.

An elated Hamirudin said, “I wanted to win some of the events for KDU College and for Malaysia as I was the only Malaysian. I’m proud to bring back the medals and say to all Malaysians, ‘Malaysia Boleh!’ To all future competitors, just prepare yourself well, get accurate information about the competition, know what you’re doing, and be confident. Experience gave me an edge as I have been competing since 1994. Compete in as many competitions as you can so that you learn to be level-headed and not nervous.”

Find out what Chef Hamiruddin did to win those medals at www.kdu.edu.my

Degustation

Chef Lecturer Kenneth Kam and his culinary competition team - Independent, recently organized a dinner event for their preparation for 2 different culinary competitions; HOFEX2009 (Culinary Competition in Hong Kong in May 2009) and MIHAS2009 (Culinary Competition in KL also in May 2009). The dinner took place at Café 87, a casual-dining restaurant at KDU College. A different menu every week for 4 weeks is prepared until the end of April 2009. Last week featured 12-course Asian themed dinners, whereas this week's 11-course dinner with more Western themed.

Week 1 Menu

Week 2 Menu

Guests were treated to a whopping 12-course dinner menu. I must admit that at first i thought it would be easy for someone like me to conquer 12 different dishes. I was almost full by the 8th dish and wanted to 'tapau' the remaining dishes but managed to push myself further to reach the finishing line...the Dessert. Nevertheless, it was a great experience for me to try out all 24 different dishes over the span of 2 weeks.

I have included the pictures taken during my dining on the 8th April. Tune in every week for more sumptuous images of the culinary creations by these competition bound students and chef lecturers. For more exciting programmes offered by SHTCA, please visit their website at http://htca.kdu.edu.my/ or KDU College at http://www.kdu.edu.my/

The Critics; Me (in red shirt) and colleagues

An Asian Trio
'Yee Sang', Miso Cod & Chilled Scallop

Mee Suah Soup
in superior consomme

Tandoori Quail
with cucumber Mint Yoghurt and Naan bread

Seafood Tomyam
Tomyam Soup with Mixed Seafood

Mango Kerabu and Chilled Soba with Yabbies
A duo of mango kerabu & chilled soba with Australian red claw Yabbies

Duck Kut Teh
Herbal Duck Soup

Roti Jala Wrapped Chicken Roulade
with Japanese curry & long beans

Roast Duck Wonton Noodles
5 spiced Roast Duck, Bok Choy and a Chinese Mushroom

Assam Red Snapper
served with saffron and date rice & 'Acar'

Pan seared Salmon and Cod with Saffron Mash
a duo of salmon and cod served with saffron mash

Chocolate Brownie and Raspberry Millefeuille
with vanilla ice cream and passion fruit coulis

Orange Pancake Gateau
accompanied by a poached pear and lemon sabayon sauce

Molecular Cooking with Chef Heiko Antoniewics @ KDU College

Master Chef Heiko Antoniewics from Germany recently visited Kuala Lumpur and made an exclusive appearance at KDU College PJ Campus. Chef Heiko, as he is popularly known, spent time in demonstrating molecular cooking to a group of KDU College students.

This Molecular Cooking class is unique and will be offered as part of the current two Culinary Diploma programmes at KDU College. This Molecular Cooking module is the first of its kind in the world being offered at the Diploma level.

The event was organized by the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts (SHTCA). For more exciting programmes offered by SHTCA, please visit their website at http://htca.kdu.edu.my or KDU College at http://www.kdu.edu.my

Top Chef's Tom Colicchio

Q&A with Kate Pickert

Tom Colicchio is a highly successful New York-based chef and cookbook author, but to fans of Bravo's cooking reality show Top Chef, he's the head judge. His piercing blue eyes, bald head and bottom-line honesty have helped make the competition show, which airs it's fifth season's finale Feb. 24, a dream opportunity for aspiring top chefs across the country. Colicchio talked to TIME about the love affair between two contestants, fellow judge Toby Young and saving a life the night before Barack Obama's inauguration.

You've talked about how you get your teenage son to eat healthy food. What does he think about your on-air personality?
He does watch the show. But I'm Dad. My on-air personality is not very different than my normal personality.

My son, before he went to school, he'd eat pretty much everything. Then as soon as he went to school, he got some peer pressure and other kids would say, 'Oh, you're gonna eat that. That's horrible. That's disgusting.'

What did your son eat before he started going to school?
Green vegetables. He has a problem with green things. I don't know why. If we have pizza and there's basil on it, he'll pick the basil out. But he likes peas for some reason.

Who have been the best characters in Top Chef's history?
First off, I need to say that we don't vote characters. All the personalities that come out in the reality part of the show — we're not privy to that. We had no idea Hosea and Leah were making out. We don't know, nor do we care.

But putting that aside — Stephen and his battle first season. He was a good cook, he had that tie on all the time, he was a real character. I think Hung had a big personality and I think he'll always been known for how fast he was in the kitchen, teetering on the edge of being dangerous. This season, obviously Fabio obviously is a big personality and a great guy. But I think also the villains stand out, like the Stefans and like the Tiffanis.

You said your on-air personality is not that different than your regular personality. Is [host] Padma [Lakshmi] different off the air?
No comment on that. (Laughs)

Is [Season 5 judge] Toby Young going to be back again?
I have no idea. A lot of people were like 'Oh, I can tell Tom hates Toby.' I actually got along with him really well. To get some fresh blood is nice. He's actually quite charming and funny and witty and I enjoyed having him around, so I don't know why people think that I hate him.

How often do you have big disagreements among the judges about who should win or lose the challenge?
From time to time, we'll have disagreements.

Who prevails?
If it's a tie, I do. We don't deliberate off camera at all. Often, when a guest judge is in, we have to tell them 'Keep your comments for the camera.' We don't want to have to recreate that conversation because we're not actors and it would sound sort of trite. I want to have a nice lively debate. What bugs me is if you get a judge on who thinks that their role is just to be witty and funny and clever and look at me. The show isn't about the judges. The show is about the contestants.

How much involvement do you have in what the challenges are?
The producers come up with the challenges.

Have there ever been challenges where you thought, 'This is so weird'?
I remember in the first season going 'This is retarded. I can't believe they're making chefs do this.' But then it actually does show off certain skills. And at the end of the day, this is entertainment and this stuff is very entertaining. Is a lot of it ridiculous? Of course it is. But that's what makes it interesting.

I heard you saved cookbook author Joan Nathan's life with the Heimlich maneuver at an inauguration party this year. Is that true?
It's true. It all happened so quickly. I was literally three feet from her. I was having a conversation with somebody else. She came in and I looked to my right and I saw her holding throat and two people next to her patting her back. And I walked over, put my arms around her and said, 'Can you talk?' She said 'No.' I hit her once. I asked her again. She said no. I did it again, chicken came out and that was it. It happened so fast.

Was the Heimlich maneuver part of your formal chef training?
I had some training — I was a lifeguard when I was 17 years old.

I know you can't divulge the winner, but can you tell us anything about what we'll see in the season finale?
People come up to me all the time and ask who won. It's like, if you watch the show, do you really want to know? I don't tell anybody. I think my wife may know. My son doesn't know. I love it when people say, 'You can tell me. I won't tell anybody.' Oh right, the contract that I signed that says I can go to jail for telling, you're excluded, right? No!

Read About Tom Colicchio Cooking a Meal for Under $10