|
WHEN a food editor friend from an esteemed magazine in New York asked if I could help feed his visiting pal Nathan Myhrvold in Makansutra style, I complied.
|
| THE KING OF THE NIGHT: We're referring to the durian of course, which Nathan enjoyed the most. |
I wondered, who's Nathan Myhrvold? Next, I get a gentle e-mail from Nathan, detailing his schedule and his wishes to be taken on a feisty gastronomic ride, local style. Curiosity dictates that I Google him and lo and behold, this guy is a premier league entrepreneur who, among others, has worked with Stephen Hawking on cosmology and quantum field theory. If that's not impressive, how about 'former CTO (chief technology officer of Microsoft), for 13 years' or 'CEO of Intellectual Ventures, a patent portfolio developer and broker', which has raised about US$15 billion ($21b) with partners like Microsoft, Sony, Apple and Google on board. What impressed me was that he is also a reputed photographer (published in National Geographic Traveller, Time and Fortune) and an accomplished French cuisine chef (he works part time in a French restaurant in Seattle, his hometown). But one of his definitive titles, not found on the Internet and one which I can truly associate with is chief gastronomic officer of Zagat food guides, which he partly owns (one of the publications that inspired Makansutra). The revered New Yorker magazine calls him 'nerdy on an epic scale', and kaypoh netizens believe he is worth half a billion bucks. Here's the eight-course street makan ride I subjected him to: 328 Laksa 216 East Coast Road, 9am-9pm daily This is the all too popular, version 1.1 laksa all curry noodle virgins should attempt. It is still thick and smoothened with two types of milk, coconut and evaporated. Nathan found it appealing yet 'complex'. Geylang Lor 29 Fried Hokkien Mee 1 Lor J (opp Joo Chiat Place); Stall 12, Hostel Food Court, 11am-9.15pm. Closed Mondays They moved out from their previous premises at East Coast Road and settled here three weeks ago. Nathan liked the fact that the sotong rings were soft. But what made his first 'wow' of the night was their fried carrot cake. It came eggy pancake style and gently crispy with soft cakes inside. The sambal, more savoury then spicy, went well with Nathan, who said: 'I've never had anything like this before.' Wang Wang Curry Puff #01-26 Old Airport Road Food Centre, 9am-9pm daily This hot, crispy yet fluffy layered pastry and the moist curried potatoes with chicken agreed so well with Nathan that he downed it in four chomps declaring, 'a fantastic snack and only plain water can go with this'. Mattar Road Seafood Barbeque (white pepper crabs and chilli crabs) #01-63 Old Airport Food Centre, 3pm-11pm. Closed Tues and Wed This Makansutra Hawker Legend of 2005 flipped Nathan over with his chilli and white pepper crabs. He used a smallish Sri Lanka crustacean filled with meat and roe. I suggested that etiquette can hinder enjoyment of this dish, so he tore right in with his hands like everyone else. Outram Park Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh 539 Havelock Road, 6pm-2am. Closed Monday This is the nocturnal sibling that runs this famous bak kut teh stall (the other is at Keppel Road). Not much reaction from Nathan and he was not keen on extra servings of soup but artfully placed soy sauced red cut chillis on the soft ribs as he devoured. Durians at Sims Ave Opposite Lor 13 He was gushing over the D24 which came bitter sweet. He likes durian in general but the creaminess and taste of this floored him. Words like 'sensational', 'nothing I've ever had', 'fantastic', 'the best' came gushing out. Makansutra, founded by KF Seetoh, is a company that celebrates Asian food culture and lifestyle. It publishes food guides in and around the region, produces a food television series, develops interactive mobile content and services, operates food courts and eateries, organises food tours and events, and consults on culinary concepts. 
 Back to Columnists
|
