1.
Go on. Ask me.
If you have been a reader of this blog since its inception, you will know how ecstatic I was when I met the Malaysian writer, Kam Raslan.
Why?
Why not?
This man, with his insightful writings, made me laugh. His book made me yelp, “Oh ya hor….that’s ME!”
Why would I not want to meet this man?
2.
I am guilty of hero worship. And there have been many heroes over the years.
3.
Go on. Ask me.
Why did I jump up and down when I was asked if I’d like to meet Singaporean Hian Goh and Briton Maria Brown, the founders of my favourite channel on Astro, the Asian Food Channel (AFC)?
Why?
Why not?
When Astro converted the system to a 3-digit numbering, the numbers 7-0-3 were the only numbers I bothered memorising. That’s how much I loved it. So when I was presented the opportunity to meet the people behind my favourite channel, it made perfect sense to say Yes, Yes, Yes!
Of course I stammered in their presence. With profiles that included the words investment banker, Chief Financial Officer, creative technology, venture capital, Oxford, television producer, BBC and Saddam Hussein, it’s a good thing I didn’t faint in their presence as carrying my limp body isn’t the easiest thing to do.
It takes balls to do what these guys did. Hian’s friendship with Maria began in New York, and four years later, they met up in Singapore. It was 2003. The television industry was in need of a new and innovative channel, and coincidentally, there was no food channel in Asia at that time, so it made perfect sense to set up one. It was akin to giving birth, and the AFC channel was their baby to nurture and grow.
Perhaps I envy them a little. How many of us have dreams, and how many of these dreams come to fruition? Why is it difficult to take that first step? Fear of the unknown? Fear of failure? Fear of one’s self?
The AFC is probably the only channel that is presented in multiple languages and reflects multiple cultures. From Japanese to Scandinavian and everything in between, it also helps that some of these chefs are visually delectable. Of course, there are the controversial ones. Mum refuses to watch The F Word because Gordon Ramsay uses…well…the F word. “He’s not a very nice man, is he?” she says. Mum prefers Hugh Fearnley and his pigs anytime. But it’s more than celebrity chefs. One learns how a kitchen is run, how restaurants are built and managed, an amazing variety of recipes taught in several languages and the odd profanity or two. 🙂
There is a familiar camaraderie between the two. Imagine communicating not only with words but with gestures and glances, all at the same time. But their friendship is more than just pranks and laughter. It is based on honesty and mutual respect. And of course, the occasional fight.
The conversation shifts easily from Hian’s stint as an apprentice in Emmanuel Stroobant’s kitchen (“yes, it is like going to war”) to the cookoff between Hian and Maria (with Maria’s hilarious depiction of a dying woman about to croak out the secret ingredient to her winning chicken dish) to favourite Malaysian foods (Hian: Nasi lemak and satay, Maria: Rendang) to Maria’s rubbing of shoulders with celebrities (Dolly Parton and Joan Collins, no less) to the Big Reveal….the introduction of a “revolutionary kitchen product” (with emphasis on revolutionary…dramatic rolling of the letter R for effect) within the next couple of months, where they would be the only people bringing it to Asia.
We dined at Li Yen at the Ritz Carlton, one of my favourite chinese restaurants in town – I rate their dim sum in the Top 3 category, while their avocado mousse is to die for. Perhaps the ultimate compliment I can pay these two is the fact that I was so caught up in conversation with them that I didn’t remember to take any photograph of the food other than the one here.
4.
Yes, I’ve always had heroes in my life. Someone once told me that I should take charge of the hero in my own life. It starts with that first step. And I’d like to think that blogging has enabled me to do that. Baby steps. But steps, nevertheless.
Eh, no more Channel 11??
Now that I’ve read your post more clearly, it struck me that this is not one of your usual posts.
I have a rather difficult decision to make.. we are at a fork at the moment. Sort of. How do we get out of our comfort zone?? When so many ppl depend on the decision we will make??
Let’s take this somewhere private ok? 😉
Who was it that said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a simple step? Blogging truly is an avenue for us to discover ourselves. Heh, after all what is life but a sum of ones experiences?
We all need someone to look up to, maybe that’s why I stalk your blog so often.
*hugs*
i think ur blog already serves as a hero for many..
exactly what do you want to be a heroine at? cooking? baking? kekeke..
Kat: Has it been that long since you left the country ar? 😛 As for the other thing, yes, will look out for you when you’re online.
Unkaleong: You couldn’t have said it better! (about the first part lar)…As for the second part, I’m so touched. *hugs*
Joe: That’s so sweet! (first part). (2nd part) – where’s my rolling pin?? 😛
yerrr, so mushy one…..
‘Someone once told me that I should take charge of the hero in my own life. ‘
COUGH COUGH COUGH…. sounds like the tail end of a multi level marketing seminar of a failing pyramid scheme.
Yah, as Joe said, what do you want to be a heroine at? Or maybe since you excel in so many areas….you can be a superheroine! Start planning for your costume :o)
fbb: mayday, mayday…you left your heart behind today wor….faster retrieve it before your maid makes sambal belacan out of it.
wmw: Errrr….costume?? LOL. That’s a scary thought.
Harlow! You met them ah! Wonderful. Congrats. 😉
Am glad you did luv.
tonight, forget work, forget worries, forget food.
it’s the beginning of an end.
millions of hopefuls auditioned for a chance to show what they’ve got.
and only one will survive, tonight.
This…is AMEEEERICAN IDOL!!!!!!
Archuleta, set ’em on fire tonight!
Lemongrass, keep up the good work!
shit, i forgot to change my name!
I’m amazed with how you get all the connection to meet these people! Errr .. did you manage to eat that piece of pancake?
Wow..!! impressive..!! I’m so inspired by what you wrote today.
wow meeting the founders of AFC must have been special….
heart? me?
wah, someone said you can be SUPERheroine sum more, dont play play. bow bow bow.
capes and tight leotards a bit out la hor, these days. very yesterday.
Nigel: I’m glad I got a chance to meet them too.
HairyBerry: The name suits you….don’t use Nic lah. As for AI….Cook Cook COok CoOk CooK!
Lianne: No connections…just interested people. 🙂 Yes, I ate most of my food. 😛
Crunchasaurus Rex: I’m glad you’re inspired by this post. 🙂
Bernsy: Yes, it was very special!
FBB: So what’s the current fad? Metal armour ar?
Wah….people behind AFC O.o
But I prefer to meet with those who actually did the shooting for all the food programs…should be heck of a job!
if i had the AFC here, i’d be cutting up chickens instead of humans 😉
Jian: Who knows, you may get to meet the ppl shooting those programs one day, eh? 😉
Jun: If I didn’t know what you did, that would have sounded really freaky. Heck…it sounds freaky anyway. Did you watch this movie called “Awake”?
Who’s next on the list?
Anthony Bourdain? Nobu? The Rubino Brothers? Ferran Adria? Chong Liew?
AFC is wonderful..must be a great feeling to meet them eh LL? 🙂 *envy, envy*
Henry: Tunggu rezeki. 😛
SC: It was a wonderful feeling to have met them! 🙂
LL, the new fad? aiya, didnt you watch THE INCREDIBLES? there’s this new polymer fabric, i dunno what its called. Go call Edna Mode, she’ll fit you up nicely.
Your deep and meaningful post made me search my soul, and think of who I could possibly call my hero…. I think it would have to be William Crapper…inventor of the flushing toilet.
fbb, you’re spending too much time in front of the idiotbox.
And isn’t it Thomas Crapper? But obviously, the people of Kuala Selangor (in Pea’s blog) haven’t had the pleasure of making his acquaintance.
my fav channel too ~
they make cooking seems so easy and fun !!
I just had a vision of your superheroine costume. Not that much different from Wonder Woman’s wor…. 😀
Imagine you in that… with a rolling pin… standing outlined against the bedroom door…
as someone laying spread-eagled on the bed squeals, “save me, save me..”
*chortles*
maybe given a little more time, somebody somewhere will be having sleepness appetiteless nights waiting for the day and hour he meets up with you as you are …them.
Hero worshipping is good for the soul I suppose
What a great meet up you had there! The channel is marvellous too!
somehow now bette midler comes to mind, in beaches. DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU’RE MA HEEEEEEEERO, YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY THINGS………
Wah..sista, cool!!!! You sure gonna be awarded as Celebrity Blogger this year again! Woohooo!!
Every morning I wake up, I will turn on 703 before going off to brush my teeth 🙂 I love AFC day and night! That’s so amazing you met the great people behind this channel
HEYYYYY, was one of my comments deleted? pouting…..
You’re a writer. Deep down you know it. Just find a suitable genre and go for it!
yeah, I love 703 as well, and it’s one of those channels that most of the time you can be assured of viewing a good show, or at least to gluttons, like us … =)
your blog inspired me, Ms Lemongrass. so, thanks.
ohhh, 703 is the channel isit? i thought it’s some new jeans from levi’s.
how about singapore, you ask?
Channel 69. 😉
*ignores fbb’s rendition (mostly cos i wish i got here first as i adore beaches, darndarndarn*
*sings mariah “boobsies” carey’s hero instead*
… So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you…
Of course, I’d rather you be my Wondah Wohman anyday rather than just a plain he-loh. Oh me oh my, just thinking about your womanly warmth… (Yes, I know, my dear, I have only one topic when I comment here, but you did crown me the Most Flirtatious Blogger last year, not the Most Original Blogger…)
On a more serious note, thanks for coming to my reading last Sat (I know you abhored the heat there; even I got light-headed)… it meant the world to have some of my fav people there in the audience. And also for organising dinner with Msiagirl when you are so VERY BUSY. It was nice just to chill with ya.
*hugs*
You oso taking advantage of school hols to disappear ah?? Haven’t seen a peep out of you for a while. And if you see that succinct fler, pls tell him I’m nudging him. He seems to have abandoned his hacienda as well. It’s his turn on scrabulous.
Waaa… that must be one of the unforgettable met up for you this year, dear. *envy envy*
AFC fans, raise your hands! *raise high high* 😀
Dim Sum top 3, hmm.. sounds like have to try the dim sum in rizt carlton already.
this post is a week old oridi….. hallo, milked enough oridi la, faiti faiti, NEXT… (as i’m sure your legion of fans will agree)….
but its sooooo heartwarming to see how you have inspired and aspired so many people to greater heights of …. hmm, is it eating, or blogging? like that j2kfm …. sungguh mengharukan….
aih…hope so ler…by the way if u happen to watch the mcD video I did…that wasn’t the real me :S
Wow~ Big shots u r meeting…
Good food u r eating…
Nice post u r writing…
and the LL Queen that im adoring…
oh boy.. that must have felt good! Nicely done lemongrass. We all have dreams to live for!
I am not a big fan of AFC; the only program I like in it is, The Opener. D is one hell of an awesome guy. I watched AFC’s next Celebrity chef series. I hate that baldy Bruce. Since then I stopped watching the opener too. Even before that, my favourite channel was/is always ‘Food Network Asia’.