Latest news with #Siti
Eater
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Siti in East Austin Takes Asian Street Food and Makes It a Modern Marvel
A specific hunger pang made chef Laila Bazahm take the menu at Siti, her second Austin restaurant, in the direction of Singaporean dishes. 'It is a modern Southeast Asian restaurant based on dishes I craved from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines,' she says of Siti, set in the Frances Modern Inn, a small hotel that's tucked away off East 11th Street, near Nickel City. Bazham began her culinary career in Singapore, at the now-closed Joël Robuchon, and would go to the Singaporean hawkers market to eat regularly. 'I love laksa, and I would regularly go to 328 Katong Laksa. They had the best laksa in Singapore; you could get a big bowl for like $3,' she says. When she couldn't find a similar noodle soup — typically made of coconut milk broth with dried prawns, fish cakes, and bean sprouts — paired with an inability to find a similar dish in Austin, Bazahm perfected a recipe just for herself. But that made her start to think: Should I open a restaurant that serves laksa? What would that look like, and what else would it serve? Her interpretation at Siti involves scallops, which she notes that hawker stalls would never serve in the dish, and Gulf shrimp in a broth that takes six to eight hours to prepare. Laksa the Siti way. Mackenzie Smith Bazahm was born and raised in the Philippines, which is another important influence on Siti. 'We pay homage to the women in Southeast Asia. The grandmothers — especially mine — my mom, my aunts,' she says of Siti, the Malaysian word for 'lady.' 'I grew up cooking with all of them and it is where I developed my love for it.' Siti strives to recreate their cooking techniques with a modern, elevated style. Bazahm laughingly recalls going into the kitchen with her mother after attending culinary school and working at Joël Robuchon, and finding herself correcting how her mother cooked. 'She just looked at me and then said, 'I don't want to do this with you because you're not fun anymore,'' Bazahm recalls. 'That's when it hit me. She's been doing this for years, and she is the best cook ever. I got caught up in the Western techniques that I'd just learned.' With Siti, the techniques and preferences of the aunties and the hawker stalls are at the forefront of Bazahm's mind. Hiramasa crudo with tom kha broth. Mackenzie Smith The menu's hiramasa (yellowtail amberjack) dish, served with tom kha broth, is one of Bazahm's favorites on the menu. 'I love tom kha, and every time I go to a Thai restaurant, I order it,' she says. 'I was thinking, 'How can I present that differently?'' The crudo dish gets served in the broth with lime, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and galangal (a spice in the ginger family) that she describes as 'earth-forward and refreshing.' Bazahm serves tom kha ice cream with calamansi (a lime from the Philippines) and sudachi (a small Japanese citrus fruit) and yuzu curd, that is finished with peanuts and candied ginger, developed by chef Greg Maze from Merry Monarch Creamery. There is also Singapore chili crab, which Bazahm is presenting as a lobster dish, using a whole lobster and mantou buns (a Chinese steamed bun). And there are satays made with chicken, beef short rib, and local mushrooms and eggplant, all cooked in her Mibrasa oven from Spain. All of Bazahm's spices, including the chile in that lobster dish, are made in-house, from scratch. 'Even my Srirarcha, I make in-house. It's all cooked here, made here, and prepped with a lot of care,' she says. Chef Laila Bazahm Mackenzie Smith Bazahm was initially looking at another location, before the owner of the Frances Modern reached out after hearing about what she wanted to do. Siti takes up the entire lower floor of the 15-room Inn, like taking a trip to Bali, she says. It has a lanai (that will include AC once a permit comes through) overlooking a backyard garden. Bazahm describes the decor as Asian colonial style, evoking the Singaporean shop houses, which typically feature ground-floor shops and homes on the second floor. The team installed wooden shutters, which are ubiquitous in Singapore, and artwork and decorative details that touch on Asian themes. Siti is open now at 1123 East 11th Street, inside the Frances Modern Inn. Reservations are recommended and can be made on OpenTable.
New Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Siti on nephew's talent: Ahmad is a good singer, but studies come first
KUALA LUMPUR: Biduanita Negara Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, 46, has expressed her delight that her 13-year-old nephew, Ahmad Dayyan, has captivated many with his singing talent. In a recent interview with Harian Metro, Siti expressed her happiness that Ahmad Dayyan possesses a talent similar to that of his elder sister, Umai. "It's great that he's got this talent; it clearly runs in my family," said Siti. "Ahmad's name has gone viral, and many people want him to be a guest singer. However, he has to remember that he is still at school, and his studies come first," she emphasised. When asked to comment on Ahmad's recent admission on TikTok that he felt pressure to sing well, Siti believed that with experience and exposure, her nephew would be able to handle himself well in the music industry. "I hope Ahmad doesn't feel pressured, and I believe he can carry himself well in the industry. He is still young and has a long way to go," she said. Ahmad is currently a student at a sports school and is actively involved in sepak takraw. "I hope he can balance his studies and singing, just like I did, so that his teachers don't have any complaints about him," she added. Siti also mentioned that as he grows up, Ahmad will find his own identity. Ahmad, who is also the son of singer Siti Saerah, has become increasingly well-known since his performance at the Violet Skies Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Live in Arena of Stars Concert in early July.
Borneo Post
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Sarawak squash players deliver silver medals at 8th Borneo Junior Open
(From left) Lee Xin Yii and Siti Syaurah speaking to reporters at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Kuching yesterday. — Photo by Kentigern Minggu KUCHING (July 21): Squash players Siti Syaurah A. Sufian and Lee Xin Yii made Sarawak proud after both finished as runners-up in their age group at the 8th Borneo Junior Open 2025 held here yesterday. Siti fought hard to reach the final only to fall 11-7, 7-11, 4-11, 9-11 to Selangor's Niea Chew in the Girl's Under-15 category. 'I feel very happy, a little bit sad. But there's no difference. I'll come back stronger for another tournament,' she told reporters after receiving her medal. Lee pushed Ooi Wen Min of Perlis to the wire in the Girl's U17 final before losing the tight five-setter 12-10, 8-11, 11-2, 8-11, 6-2. 'Of course I was nervous but I overcame the pressure by just continuing to play,' she said. Both girls, hailing from Miri, mentioned top squash players such as Malaysia's S. Sivasangari and Japan's Satomi Watanabe as their inspiration to excel in the sport. Siti also has his uncle and coach Athar Ali to thank for taking her this far. 'The Girls' Under-15 and Under-17 categories are not easy to win. From the first round to the final, you have to fight all the way. 'Today she reached the final, but in the last game, she wanted to give up because she was injured. I told her, 'No need to give up, just finish your match,'' he said on how he tries to offer support and motivation. Meanwhile, Sarawak's Mandy Wong En Tune and Annabelle Marie Teo Shao Ying finished third and fourth respectively in the Girl's U19 category. The tournament attracted 346 junior squash players (males and females) from across Malaysia and from 16 countries competing in U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19 events. 8th Borneo Junior Open squash
The Star
20-07-2025
- The Star
Entry gridlock after immigration gates crash
JOHOR BARU: Chaos erupted at major entry points across Malaysia as tens of thousands of foreign travellers were left stranded for hours following a massive nationwide failure of the automatic gate system. Long queues were reported at KL International Airport and land border crossings, particularly in Johor, where many Singaporeans were caught in the gridlock at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes. 'I never expected to be stuck here for almost four hours,' said a Singaporean traveller, known as Tan, who was among the thousands stuck at the BSI checkpoint. 'The authorities should have had a backup system, especially during the weekend when many of us travel to Johor for leisure and shopping.' Another Singaporean, Siti, said she had to postpone a family outing as a result. 'My elderly parents have knee problems and can't stand for long. With the autogates, we usually clear immigration in 15 minutes,' she said. The disruption, described by officials as the worst in recent years, began around noon on Friday and affected more than 200 autogate machines nationwide. Foreign passport holders were unable to clear immigration via the automated lanes, while Malaysian passport holders continued to pass through without issues. The MyBorderPass system for Malaysians also remained functional. The Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), in a statement, said the failure was due to a data integration disruption, leading to cross-checking delays within the MyIMMs. As a result, autogates used by foreigners were rendered inoperable. The agency said all manual immigration counters were activated and additional manpower was deployed. Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said he had spoken to the Immigration Department director-general about the issue. 'It appears the glitch is linked to the Interpol screening system used for foreign nationals. We've never experienced a breakdown of this scale before,' he told The Star. 'We've received numerous complaints, and we will be holding a meeting to see how we can better manage this situation.' At the BSI complex alone, there are 39 autogates for exits and 29 for entry, while KSAB has 12 in operation. As of press time, some of the autogates were already coming back online in stages nationwide, and foreigners have been able to use them since 4.30pm yesterday. A security official said it would take some time before all the autogates are fully operational. Meanwhile, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who made a surprise visit to the BSI complex, expressed disappointment over the system disruption, which lasted for more than 24 hours. 'Operations at the country's border checkpoints have yet to reach the level of efficiency we expect,' he said. Onn Hafiz added that such incidents not only inconvenience the public but also affect the image of the state and the nation. Since June 1, 2024, visitors from 63 countries, as well as diplomats serving in Malaysia and their family members, have been eligible to use the autogates for faster clearance. The AKPS has assured the public that they are working closely with the Immigration Department to identify and resolve the root cause as soon as possible.
Daily Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Siti Kasim wins suit over unlawful arrest by Jawi officers
Published on: Friday, July 18, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 18, 2025 By: Faisal Asyraf, FMT Text Size: Siti Kasim was arrested during the 2016 raid on a private event. Kuala Lumpur: The High Court here has ruled that the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) and its officers unlawfully arrested and detained lawyer-activist Siti Kasim during a raid on a private fundraising dinner in 2016. Judge Su Tiang Joo said the court was satisfied that Siti had proven her case on a balance of probabilities. Advertisement He affirmed that Siti had been present in her capacity as an assistant advocate when she was arrested at around 10.30pm on April 3, 2016, and held without basis until her release at approximately 2.30am the following day. Su said the religious officers involved had neither the lawful grounds to arrest the plaintiff nor the authority to act on offences under the Penal Code. He then awarded Siti RM160,000 in general and aggravated damages, along with RM100,000 in legal costs. Siti filed the civil suit against Jawi and the government in September 2019, claiming compensation for wrongful arrest and illegal detention. She contended that she suffered 'loss of freedom' for four hours after she was detained by Jawi officers on April 3, 2016 as well as nervous shock, insult and mental anguish. She said she was only carrying out her duty as a lawyer during the raid, and insisted that she had not obstructed the officers from carrying out their duties. Siti was acquitted by the magistrates' court here on Aug 21, 2020, of a charge under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing Jawi officer Nor Jihan Saleh during the raid, which took place at a transgender beauty pageant event. Lawyer A Saha Deva represented Siti, while senior federal counsel Nur Irmawatie Daud appeared for the defendants. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
