Indeed, in today's get-2-gather as in our previous meetings, the strong bond of ASEAN solidarity and togetherness were truly felt by all. Since the day of its establishment almost a year and half ago, the registered members have worked as a team and all decisions were based on consensus which was exceptionally awesome and delightful!
Today's event saw all ladies from the six ASEAN nations came not empty handed, instead with potluck foodies both savory and desserts while our ever smiling hostess and her ladies prepared the venue and other refreshments at her green back garden full of fresh flowers, pandan leaves and tall banana trees, facing the sandy beaches in Shatti Qurum. Mrs Capt, Ms Y and I contributed our most popular Malaysian cuisine the nasi lemak bungkus together with dadeh as the dessert. Our hostess the ever hospitable ThaiLand prepared refreshing fish ball soup as starters for all to savour. They also prepared beautifully decorated chocolate cakes as desserts! Indeed, I fell in love with the intricate and beautify designed sweet course that surely conclude a wonderful meal :D
Brunei came with her most sought after fried vermicelli and nicely rolled kuih ketayap which were scrumptious and mouthwatering, followed by Singapore with their delicious kuih bakar Kemboja. Then came our friends from the Philippines who brought along a truly succulent grilled chicken which complement well with the nasi lemak. They also made lovely Filipino noodles which we adored!
And, of course not forgetting the Indonesian ladies surprised us with tasty macaroni and lip smacking kuih pau! But it seems that all those hearty and superb dishes still weren't enough for the ladies because on the Buffett tables were healthy natural coloured fruits as 'pencuci mulut' or finale although some preferred to have them as starters.
All in all, the supposed breakfast turned brunch was delightful to all the ALC ladies! And, while we were having our brunch we shared stories, jokes and more often than not we shared recipes from each other. In fact, I was fascinated with one of our friends who among us was the 'Best Chef!' So, we probed her on how she started to like cooking? She revealed that she comes from a family who did catering business but when she was young, she was the pampered one and like other teenagers at that time who were busy with studies and what nought, so cooking wasn't her forte or perhaps the least in her mind.
Yet, the secret of cooking and all started when she got married to a wonderful man and indeed she wanted to impress her late MiL. So, she took the big leap and tried to cook foodies for her. But her first soup was too sweet and Oh! She was feeling Helpless and Cried. Luckily, her elder sister was nearby and came to rescue or in other words to 're-cook' for her which she then served to her MiL and Wallah - she received a thumb's up and good praise :D. Similarly, she also tried to impress her MiL again with Black Forest cake as special dessert but it turned out like 'flowing lava' which made her eyes welled with pearly tears! But, this time she did not lose hope and intelligently instead convinced her niece to buy a ready made sweetie Black Forest fit for her MiL which brought wide smiles to her motherly face.
Although she was happy that her MiL loved her 'cooking' yet she did not feel right nor good inside her heart because the foodies weren't hers. Thus, she finally got the courage and told her MiL the truth and fortunately in returned her MiL taught her the secret of cooking, which to this day she has mastered it. Wow! Bravo my friend and after listening to her inspiring little secret all of us wish and aspire to follow our dear friend's foot step. Insyallah.
While still savoring the luxurious hearty desserts Kuih Pau and Kuih Ketayap with Asian style tea or famously known as teh tarik on this beautiful day with cool breezy air surrounding us, we also thanked His Almighty for not only the fascinating brunch for the 'ravenous' tummies, but most of all for the wonderful time out together which we spent and enjoyed. It was as the Latin says carpe diem for all of us :)
To 'wrap up' the day, we also had quiz Know Thy Neighbours competition among the members. It was fun and hilarious! They were simply quizzed inter alia, what are the national flowers of their neighboring countries, the capital cities and names of popular dance or well known festivals, etc. It was more of a general knowledge thingy and yet the ladies did 'crack' their minds and brains to remember and memorize the Head of States' names, the full names of the current Ambassadors and their spouses and others! That was exceptionally awesome gals. For I strongly believe, to know our neighbour is to love our neighbour!
In sum, it was an interesting and stimulating exercise for the minds. As the saying implies, we don't only need Foods for Bodies but we also need Foods for Thoughts! So, we finally killed two birds with just one stone > savoring healthy homemade foods while shaping our heathy minds! Finally, to all ALC Ladies, till our next get-2-gather, I Thank You Dear Friends for I truly enjoyed our day out and brunch this morning. Long Live ALC!
ALC Group Photo for remembrance!
Snap shots of the home cooked delicious foodies by ALC members. Bon Appetite!
Malaysian representatives with our lovely hostess. Big Thank You, Madam D!
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