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New Paper
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Penang crowns new char kway teow champion
It was a fiery showdown as 30 of Penang's top char kway teow traders competed over roaring flames for the coveted title of the state's best. The intense cook-off on June 1, aimed at uncovering the finest char kway teow and ultimate wok hei (breath of the wok), saw contestants battling it out with their own secret recipes. Held at the Toi Shan Ningyang Wui Kwon clan temple at King Street, a smoky aroma filled the air as an eager crowd gathered to see each contestant dish out their version of the popular street food. Contestants brought their own seasoned woks, cockles, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), sauces and cooking oil. Other ingredients including flat rice noodles or kuey teow, eggs, bean sprouts and white prawns, along with stoves and gas supply were provided by the organisers. It took less than two minutes for each contestant to dish out their plate of char kway teow, which was then judged by a panel of six for presentation, aroma and taste. Penang Koo Soo Kwong Choon Tong Restaurant and Tea Shop Association chairman Vinah Yee, who was on the panel of judges, said char kway teow with the most ingredients was not necessarily the best. "Each component should be balanced and complement the dish without overpowering the overall flavour. "One of the key criteria we looked for was the presence of wok hei, that distinct aroma and flavour created when food is stir-fried over intense heat in a seasoned wok. "If the strands of kuey teow stick together, they may not cook evenly, become gummy and lose that wok hei flavour. "High flames may look impressive, but if the heat is too strong, the noodles can become over-charred and have a burnt taste," said Ms Yee. After two hours of sizzling action and clanging woks, Ms Ong Siew Kean, 53, of Hean Char Koay Teow in Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, was crowned champion. "This is my first competition and I am grateful to be recognised. I never thought my char kuey teow was anything special but I'm glad my effort paid off. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, beat out 29 other competitors. PHOTO: THE STAR "Maybe it was my sauce blend that made the difference as soy sauce plays a crucial role in creating a flavourful dish," she said. Ms Ong, who is fondly known as Winny, said she began frying char kway teow in her 20s but took a break before returning to the trade about three years ago. "My brother-in-law taught me the basics and over time, I tweaked the recipe to suit my taste," she said. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, said she was looking forward to an influx of customers following her win. Second place went to Mr Chin Foh Shin, 51, of Hobe Kedai Makanan & Minuman, Butterworth, while third place was awarded to Mr Khoo Kay Keat, 47, of Kong Long Char Koay Teow in Beng Chin Garden, Air Itam. The three winners received RM388 (S$118), RM288 and RM188 respectively, presented by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. The competition was jointly organised by the Village Community Management Council of Padang Kota and Jalan Transfer/Jalan Argyll, along with Toi Shan Ningyang Association, and promoted by Kwangtung and Tengchow Association of Penang.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Penang crowns new char kway teow champion
Visitors to the char kway teow competition on June 1 sampling some of the offerings. PHOTO: THE STAR GEORGE TOWN - It was a fiery showdown as 30 of Penang's top char kway teow traders competed over roaring flames for the coveted title of the state's best. The intense cook-off on June 1, aimed at uncovering the finest char kway teow and ultimate wok hei (breath of the wok), saw contestants battling it out with their own secret recipes. Held at the Toi Shan Ningyang Wui Kwon clan temple at King Street, a smoky aroma filled the air as an eager crowd gathered to see each contestant dish out their version of the popular street food. Contestants brought their own seasoned woks, cockles, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), sauces and cooking oil. Other ingredients including flat rice noodles or kuey teow, eggs, bean sprouts and white prawns, along with stoves and gas supply were provided by the organisers. It took less than two minutes for each contestant to dish out their plate of char kway teow, which was then judged by a panel of six for presentation, aroma and taste. Penang Koo Soo Kwong Choon Tong Restaurant and Tea Shop Association chairman Vinah Yee, who was on the panel of judges, said char kway teow with the most ingredients was not necessarily the best. 'Each component should be balanced and complement the dish without overpowering the overall flavour. 'One of the key criteria we looked for was the presence of wok hei, that distinct aroma and flavour created when food is stir-fried over intense heat in a seasoned wok. 'If the strands of kuey teow stick together, they may not cook evenly, become gummy and lose that wok hei flavour. 'High flames may look impressive, but if the heat is too strong, the noodles can become over-charred and have a burnt taste,' said Ms Yee. After two hours of sizzling action and clanging woks, Ms Ong Siew Kean, 53, of Hean Char Koay Teow in Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, was crowned champion. 'This is my first competition and I am grateful to be recognised. I never thought my char kuey teow was anything special but I'm glad my effort paid off. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, beat out 29 other competitors. PHOTO: THE STAR 'Maybe it was my sauce blend that made the difference as soy sauce plays a crucial role in creating a flavourful dish,' she said. Ms Ong, who is fondly known as Winny, said she began frying char kway teow in her 20s but took a break before returning to the trade about three years ago. 'My brother-in-law taught me the basics and over time, I tweaked the recipe to suit my taste,' she said. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, said she was looking forward to an influx of customers following her win. Second place went to Mr Chin Foh Shin, 51, of Hobe Kedai Makanan & Minuman, Butterworth, while third place was awarded to Mr Khoo Kay Keat, 47, of Kong Long Char Koay Teow in Beng Chin Garden, Air Itam. The three winners received RM388 (S$118), RM288 and RM188 respectively, presented by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. The competition was jointly organised by the Village Community Management Council of Padang Kota and Jalan Transfer/Jalan Argyll, along with Toi Shan Ningyang Association, and promoted by Kwangtung and Tengchow Association of Penang. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘I have another 8 or 9 years to live': HK star Law Kar Ying battles cancer for 4th time
Law Kar Ying revealed in a recent interview with Chinese media that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time. PHOTO: XIAOHONGSHU 'I have another 8 or 9 years to live': HK star Law Kar Ying battles cancer for 4th time HONG KONG – Veteran Hong Kong opera star and actor Law Kar Ying has been leading an active lifestyle in recent years. Despite his seemingly robust appearance, the 78-year-old revealed in a recent interview with Chinese media that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time. He is currently on tour in China with Hong Kong actress Athena Chu for a Cantonese stage play. Although Law said doctors estimate that he may have around eight years to live, the From Beijing With Love (1994) star added he is not fearful and has chosen to forgo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 'I have another eight or nine years to live. Ninety years old is already a long life. What's the point of living longer? I'm not afraid at all,' he said. 'I won't undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy. I want to be comfortable as I bid my friends goodbye.' When asked how he is dealing with the latest diagnosis, Law responded: 'You come (into this world) empty-handed and you'll leave empty-handed. I have no worries. That's life.' His positive attitude and outlook have impressed netizens, with many praising him for appreciating and making the most out of the present moment. Law, a member of the Hong Kong Celebrity Football Team, is married to Hong Kong actress Liza Wang, 77. He was first diagnosed with stage three liver cancer in 2004 and had to undergo surgery to remove part of his liver to save his life. With the support of Wang, he remained optimistic and ultimately overcame the disease. The couple later wed in the United States in 2009. In 2014, a routine medical check-up revealed a 2cm tumour in Law's liver, and he went for surgery to remove the tumour. In 2019, doctors found cancerous cells after a prostate biopsy. He underwent a prostatectomy, a procedure to remove part or all of the prostate gland, and was in remission after that. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Johor expects surge in visitors as school holidays kick in on both sides of causeway
Johor expects surge in visitors as school holidays kick in on both sides of causeway JOHOR BAHRU - Johor's tourism industry is bracing for a surge in visitors with the school holiday period being observed in Malaysia and Singapore. Local industry players said they are gearing up for a much-anticipated travel wave from across the Causeway. Desaru Fruit Farm director Steve Er said the tourism industry in Johor is experiencing good times again with both local and international visitors. 'With Malaysia and Singapore having school holidays now, we expect to see many visitors at the farm,' he said. Mr Er said many hotels operating in Desaru, which is about 75km from Johor, were highly booked due to the school holidays in both countries. 'We expect June to be a busy month for us, especially from the second week, as Desaru has become a popular getaway for both Malaysian and Singaporean holidaymakers with many attractions in the area,' he added. Mr Er said there are many activities at the farm for the family to enjoy, from tasting various tropical fruits to seeing its many animals. 'Besides hotels in Johor Baru, those in other areas in the state such as Desaru and even Mersing are experiencing a surge in bookings. 'Singaporeans remain the bulk of foreign visitors but we are also seeing visitors from Japan, South Korea and China coming over.' State unity, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar said about 80 per cent of hotel rooms throughout Johor were already booked due to the school holidays. He said that the strong bookings reflect the growing global interest in Johor as a travel destination. 'This is not just a school holiday phenomenon because even on regular weekends, we have recorded impressive numbers, particularly around Johor Bahru. 'Other areas like Mersing are also seeing an increase in visitor traffic,' he said. The school holidays in Malaysia started on May 29 and will last until June 9, while Singapore school holidays are from May 31 till June 29. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
7 days ago
- New Paper
S'porean man and wife nabbed in Malaysia for peddling drug-laced vape liquids to schoolkids
The police have arrested a 41-year-old Singaporean man and his Malaysian wife, 38, at their rented house in Jasin Bestari, Melaka, for allegedly distributing drug-laced vape fluid to schoolchildren. Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the couple, who tied the knot three months ago, were apprehended at 11am on May 26 by a team from the Jasin district narcotics investigation unit. "Preliminary investigations indicate that the couple had been actively distributing various types of drugs in the form of vape liquids, pills and powders across the state over the past three months," he told a press conference at state police headquarters in Bukit Beruang on May 27. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dzulkhairi, said his men seized 127.5ml of ketamine believed to be intended for use in vape devices, 212 ecstasy pills, 212 Erimin 5 pills, 13.7g of methamphetamine, 10g of cannabis and 80g of ketamine powder - enough for 786 drug abusers. "We also confiscated a car and a motorcycle belonging to the couple," he said. "The total value of the seized items and assets is estimated at RM32,650 (S$9,900)," he said, adding that both suspects tested positive for methamphetamine during screening. "The drugs were believed to have been marketed through social media and close personal contacts," Mr Dzulkhairi said. "The couple has been remanded for seven days to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952." THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
