To appreciate the cuisine of Malaysia fully we must embrace the three ethnic divergences of the country: Malay, Chinese and Indian. The harmonious co-existence of these groups forms the foundation and weaves the social fabric of the country.
The thirteen episodes of Taste of Malaysia with Martin is a journey of cultural discovery. By presenting a wide variety of dishes of this tri-cultural culinary landscape, we present to our APT audience the diverse cultural and historical elements of this stunning gem in Southeast Asia.
To construct an accurate and authentic portrait we crisscrossed both the Malaysian peninsula and Borneo (East Malaysia). We scaled high mountain peaks and dove into the South China Sea. We explored historical Penang, the capital of street food in the world. We visited Malacca and the Cameron Highlands, and paid tribute to Malaysia’s earlier settlers: Portuguese, Dutch and British.
While natural beauty is in abundance, human kindness and hospitality are also found everywhere in Malaysia. From the modern capital of Kuala Lumpur to the smallest villages on the East Coast, we were welcomed into homes and gardens by everyday people and VIPs, all strangers to us. This gentle spirit is what holds the three layers of Malaysian society together, and we wish to share that with our viewers.
A taste of Malaysia is complex, it’s multi-layered, nuanced, and in the end, it’s most memorable. And so is our series, Taste of Malaysia with Martin Yan.
Chef Yan has remained an active international food ambassador throughout his career. He roams the world representing different commercial and social concerns to entertain and educate the public, sharing with them his unique humor and strong passion for Chinese cooking.