Nasi lemak Ipoh (bukan Penang) menang MasterChef UK

Acong · Post time 17-5-2014 06:16 PM

Updated: Saturday May 17, 2014 MYT 5:50:51 PM
Ipoh-born wins MasterChef UK with nasi lemak, wanton soup
BY J. KUGAN

Proud of her Malaysian culinary heritage, Catherine Chin Wang Ping Coombes poses with her MasterChef UK 2014 trophy.

Full-time mother and self-professed ‘feeder’ Catherine Chin Wan Ping Coombes does her motherland proud by winning MasterChef UK 2014 with wanton soup and nasi lemak.

Although based in the UK, Ipoh-born Catherine Chin Wan Ping Coombes, who formerly worked as an assistant hotel manager of a private hospital, is still deeply proud of the taste of home. Now she’s made us all proud by winning the British version of the popular MasterChef reality show with decidedly classier versions of Malaysian favourites.

Surprising judges with a three-course meal that could’ve come from a Malaysian neighbourhood eatery, the 33-year-old wowed their expectations with her starter of wanton soup, main course of nasi lemak, and dessert of vanilla and coconut pannacotta with charred pineapple, freeze-dried mango and ‘pineapple and lime air’.

Winning dishes: Coombes' three-course meal for the final challenge was truly Malaysian-inspired, albeit with a dash of plating magic. Seen in the top pic is her spread of three dishes comprising (clockwise from top) wanton soup, nasi lemak and vanilla and coconut panacotta. Coombes' creative touches came to the fore in the presentation of her wanton soup (middle pic) and nasi lemak (bottom pic).

Coombes’ Malaysian-inspired spread earned superlative comments from judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. According to online reports of Coombes’ victory, Torode is quoted as saying of her starter: “It’s truly delicious. I don’t know how you made it. I wouldn’t be able to replicate it. It’s absolutely stunning.”

The Australian chef Torode added: “For me Ping is a cook’s cook, she gets her head down and she works really, really hard to make sure she reaches her goal. She is pretty amazing.” Meanwhile, veteran host Wallace quipped: “She inspires me, she excites me. And she cares so much. Rarely have I seen someone whose repertoire can span whole continents.”

Of her victory, Coombes compared its magnitude to when she gave birth to her daughter now-17-month-old Alexa: “The last time I felt such emotion was when my daughter was born. Something that you don’t get to experience a lot. Pure joy and pure bliss that feels incredible. Epic.”

Coombes, who credits her mum as her main inspiration, compares winning the MasterChef UK trophy to giving birth to her daughter: "Epic."

Despite winning, Coombes was less optimistic about her chances being allowed to cook in her mother’s kitchen. “My mother will be really proud I’m sure. I say this a lot but she still won’t let me in her kitchen.” Coombes, who attributes her cooking skills to her mother and grandmother, stated that she first started cooking while studying in Oxford, and learnt to recreate her mother's dishes to satisfy her cravings.

On her plans after winning, Coombes said that she would like to learn more about East Asian cuisine and perhaps venture into the restaurant business or open a cookery school.

Working it: Coombes seen in action during one of the show's many cooking challenges.

Coombes won the final challenge of the tenth series of the annual reality cooking show, which aired on BBC One in the UK on the night of May 16, over her co-finalists Jack Lucas and Luke Owen. According to British bookies, Coombes was the clear favourite going into the finals after eight weeks of competition which saw her and her co-contestants cooking with surprise ingredients, feeding armies of hungry people, facing harsh criticisms and dreaded weekly eliminations.

This is not the first time a Malaysian-born has appeared in MasterChef shows in other countries. In 2009, KL-born Poh Ling Yeow became runner-up of the first season of MasterChef Australia. In 2011, Penang-born Adam Liaw ended up winning the second season of MasterChef Australia, while KL-born co-contestant Alvin Quah made it to the first round of the final six. Meanwhile, Malaysian-born Natasha Shan is currently competing in the sixth season of MasterChef Australia.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifest ... -lemak-wanton-soup/

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:18 PM

Walau apa pun nasi lemak village park adalah yang terbaik.

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:19 PM

Telur rebus stail apa mcm kat atas tu,.. Mcm tak cukup rebus jer

Orange1 · Post time 17-5-2014 06:22 PM

Aku tetap berbangga dgn kemenangan ini, Ipoh sebahagian dr diri aku.

xdielzx · Post time 17-5-2014 06:22 PM

zainuddinmaidin posted on 17-5-2014 06:18 PM
Walau apa pun nasi lemak village park adalah yang terbaik.

agreed

nasi lemak akak ni macam tak best je..

prettyuglybabe · Post time 17-5-2014 06:22 PM

plating cam tak menarik

tepisket.. · Post time 17-5-2014 06:22 PM

Biasala, maybe kejar buat nasi dgn sambal,so telur tlmbat buat, tu y x cukup masak

munchkin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:29 PM

Mat saleh ni kan kalau hard boiled egg tu kureng makan. So depa makan partially hard boiled egg. Kuning tu selalu derang nak runny. Kalau tak cam overcooked kekdahnya. Sexy bak kata gordon bila yellow tu runny.

Tahniah kakak!!! We are so proud of you!!!

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:30 PM

Timun Mana! Timun!!

Acong · Post time 17-5-2014 06:32 PM

Orange1 posted on 17-5-2014 06:22 PM
Aku tetap berbangga dgn kemenangan ini, Ipoh sebahagian dr diri aku.

ko ipoh mana?

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:32 PM

nampak cam tak sedap jer.

Orange1 · Post time 17-5-2014 06:41 PM

Acong posted on 17-5-2014 06:32 PM
ko ipoh mana?

Aku bukan asal sana tapi ada kaitan le, aku semua negeri aku join, 1Malaysia gitu.

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:45 PM

kalo kome dr manjoi, habo ler kat teman.

rospinki · Post time 17-5-2014 06:47 PM

zainuddinmaidin posted on 17-5-2014 06:18 PM
Walau apa pun nasi lemak village park adalah yang terbaik.

Kt mana village park tu brader?

Btw..nasik lemak secipot je tu..ke tekak omputih mananya tau authentication yg sebenarnya..tp bangga la jugak nyonya ipoh jugak yg bagus..org malay kita bila lagi.

chazey · Post time 17-5-2014 06:49 PM

Fuiyoo

Ini betul2 fine dining punya nasik lemak.

Kalau betul2 sedap harga RM 50 sepinggan pun aku sanggup beli.

Btw,

Sampai sekarang aku fail buat telur gituh. Dia guna quail egg ka? Nampak kecik.

zainuddinmaidin · Post time 17-5-2014 06:50 PM

rospinki posted on 17-5-2014 06:47 PM
Kt mana village park tu brader?

Btw..nasik lemak secipot je tu..ke tekak omputih mananya tau a ...

di damansara uptown:

http://www.harrycath.com/2013/10/village-park-restaurant_6.htm

[url]https://ms-my.facebook.com/pages/Village-Park-Nasi-Lemak/141233139266518l[/url]

Staratila · Post time 17-5-2014 06:54 PM

Sure org malaysia menang dalam bab memasak kat luar negeri sbb mat saleh malas masak.

rospinki · Post time 17-5-2014 06:56 PM

zainuddinmaidin posted on 17-5-2014 06:50 PM
di damansara uptown:

http://www.harrycath.com/2013/10/village-park-restaurant_6.htm

Ooo I see. Nampak seeeedaappp. Tapi aku pun pakar masak2 ni..takat nasik lemak sambal sotong ayam goreng berempah diorg ni aku grade 7/10 je..pakal la aku tkdak modal kalau tak diorg ni semua bungkusss..hahah ckp besar.