Category Archives: Review

Mamak has FINALLY arrived in NZ!!

Posted by faithashw in Food, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

In Malaysia, the term “mamak” refers to the Tamil Muslims of Malaysian nationality.  Mamak stalls are popular among Malaysians as hang out spots, serving Malaysian street food and beverages. [taken from the menu at Mamak @ Chancery]

When I first heard that someone had finally been crazy smart brave enough to open up Auckland’s very first mamak, I was surprised (at first) but this was quickly replaced by elation and excitement.  About bloody time!

Simply named “Mamak“, this quaint little eatery is tucked away at a corner in the very chic Chancery courtyard just off High Street.  My first thought was that this was an interesting, slightly strange location to choose to open a mamak.  Definitely worlds away from where most, if not all, mamaks are located back home!

The pretty fairy lights, bright and inviting ambiance, along with the friendly beckoning staff all create a very welcoming atmosphere and definitely great first impression.  The writing on the walls which bear typical “mamak speak” (in Malay, with accompanying English translation) instantly makes any Malaysian feel at home, but at the same time give non-Malaysians a glimpse into Malaysian culture, or at least the mamak culture.

The excitement and expectations were definitely mounting and considering how many various Malaysian cafes/restaurants/eateries I have eaten in in the 8 years that I have been living here, I was really curious to see how this “newbie” will stack up, and stand out.

The hosts/staff were incredibly hospitable and warm – they greeted us immediately on arrival and they seemed genuinely happy to have us; it felt more like being welcomed at a friend’s house, which I liked.  Anyone who frequents Asian eating places knows that this does not happen often!

The menu boasts a good variety of tasty, well-known Malaysian delicacies – all mamak-influenced, of course.  What I thought was pretty cool was the menu was divided into two – Mamak tapas and Mains.  It’s interesting that tapas as we all know originates from Spain but these days every other cuisine has its own localized version of tapas.  I thought having the menu worded in this “Western-friendly” format was a good move for the non-Malaysian customers.

Back to the food – there was just so much to choose from!  There were the usual “goodies” on offer – nasi lemak, mee goreng, nasi goreng, beef rendang – but then there were also SEVEN types of roti available – all homemade – including roti pisang and roti tissue!!  Plus murtabak (onion omelette), which I’ve never seen served anywhere else.  And satay…yum!  After salivating for a bit, I finally decided on sticking to the basics and went for the nasi lemak.  And to wash it all down – teh tarik…again, YUM!  I have an unofficial rule of thumb when it comes to ordering for the first time at a new restaurant, specifically a Malaysian one; I believe that the mark of a good Malaysian restaurant (overseas) is if they can get the “classics” right.  Dad decided to try the original roti canai, and Mum picked mee goreng.  So we had a good variety to taste test!

While we waited for our food to arrive, the host entertained us with talk about what they had planned for the restaurant, namely what new dishes were going to be rolled out in the coming weeks.  Very ambitious and very optimistic considering it’s still early days but I say good on him!  As the chatter progressed to discussing ways to generate more business/traffic to his door and then unavoidably to which part of Malaysia we were from before we came to Auckland, the wonderful aroma of our dinner came wafting through the kitchen, dining area, and to where we were sitting (we were outside).  If the smells were anything to go by, this was gonna be one satisfying meal!

Food arrived in under 20 minutes which is pretty decent timing (not too long in that you’re getting impatient, and not too quick so much so that you suspect food is just being microwaved and not cooked fresh).

VERDICT: AMAZING!!!  My nasi lemak was excellent – chicken curry was cooked to perfection and the rice had just the right amount of coconut in it.  Sambal was a wee bit on the spicy side, but then I like spicy!  Roti canai could have been crispier but considering it’s homemade – hats off to the chef!  The accompanying fish curry and dahl to dip the roti in was delicious – very authentic!  Loved that they served it in those silver tin trays, just like at the real mamaks back home.  Mee goreng was also top notch – just the right amount of spice and ‘tomato-ey-ness’.  Mee goreng is one of my all-time favorite Malaysian dishes and so I order it the most often when dining at a Malaysian restaurant.  I have never had a bad mee goreng, all Malaysian restaurants seem to know how to get it right, but this one is definitely one of the better ones I’ve tasted.

All in all, it was a super tasty dinner and a great dining experience – I will definitely be returning!  If you are Malaysian, or if you are not a Malaysian but love Malaysian food, then Mamak at Chancery is a must visit!  They are located at Unit 21, Chancery Court –  just off High Street in the courtyard where Invito and Mecca Cafe are.  I truly hope this very unique Malaysian eatery – Auckland’s first mamak, no less – will have a long and prosperous life!

Whimsical Banana rates Mamak @ Chancery: 4/5 Bananas!

Excellent and authentic Malaysian mamak food, warm and efficient service, inviting and cozy ambiance.  It loses 1 banana for being slightly over-priced (most mains are about $12) but that’s understandable considering the location.  Another downside is there aren’t any desserts!  What can I say, I’m a sucker for something sweet at the end of a meal.  Bring on the cendol and ais kacang! *hint hint*

Review: My Wedding & Other Secrets

Posted by faithashw in Review and tagged with , , , , ,

From the first time I heard about this film, I knew I would enjoy it and I just couldn’t wait to see it.  For those of you who may not know, this film is based on the documentary Banana In A Nutshell, in which the same director, Roseanne Liang, directs and stars in.  It follows the life/love story of Liang herself.  I watched it a few years back and really enjoyed it.  Obviously this is a topic that is close to her heart as six years later, the film adaptation is born.

Liang paints a very candid picture of what it is like being an Asian living in a Western country and the struggles of balancing between feeling like you relate more to the “Western ways” and feeling that you need to stay true to your roots too.  Being a self-proclaimed banana, I can definitely relate.  People usually laugh or are pretty amused when they find out I’m a banana and I do feel it is one of my “quirks” that make me, me but in all seriousness sometimes it is a struggle – I always never quite know where I belong.

The two stars that play Liang and her now-husband Stephen are perfectly embodied by Michelle Ang and Matt Whelan.  The natural chemistry between them make their performance believable and certainly if you are in a relationship like theirs (very common in Auckland), no doubt you will relate to the cultural issues that they face!

Some bits really hit home for me and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Brought back some good memories too which is always nice!

I loved how Liang seamlessly translated her story from being told as a documentary to unfolding as a full feature film.  The story arc had good pacing and nice character development, especially with the family members.  Interesting use of camera angles and the music perfectly complemented the action on screen – these are two aspects of film-making I always look out for when I watch a film, that’s what you get for studying film for two years!

What makes the film brilliant is how strongly and accurately stemmed in reality it is – she does play with some known Asian stereotypes but she does it in a non-stereotypical way, if that makes any sense!!   For example, it is pretty common knowledge that Asians have an “unconventional” food palate, in that Asians will eat anything!  This is often cast in a negative light – “those crazy Asians, how could they eat monkey brain” – but in this film, the “crazy food” brings the family together for a meal, and is a sign of affection and “giving the best” to a loved one.

My favorite part was when the couple were making fun of each other’s choice of breakfasts – that is so spot on and I have to say that I have had that “discussion” before!

Sadly I feel this film will not do as well as it definitely deserves, most likely because many people will just fob it off as “just another boring cheap Kiwi film”.  My Wedding & Other Secrets couldn’t be furthest from that description!  Yes, it is a Kiwi film but it is one with a lot of heart, humor and bite.  It really looks very intimately into what I consider to be quite a common phenomenon here in NZ.  If you are Asian and going out with a “kwai lo” – or vice versa – then you definitely have to watch it because it will speak to you and give you a good laugh!  And if you are not, then still go see it anyway – at the very least it will be educational and hopefully insightful!

The Whimsical Banana rates My Wedding & Other Secrets: 4/5 Bananas