nobyleongMalaysia’s national dish wouldn’t exist had it not been for a Portuguese invasion in the 16th Century. And Malaysia’s famous chicken rice only emerged after a Christian missionary from Connecticut visited China in the 19th Century.
Behind Malaysia’s most iconic food are tantalising tales, brought together for the first time in a new podcast called Satay? Okay!
I am incredibly excited to launch this series, hosted with Philip Gibson. The podcast examines how events in Malaysia’s past can be seen in the food and culture today. These are stories that will surprise food enthusiasts, tourists and ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) communities alike.
Durian, for instance, was once a venerated fruit and appears in stone carvings in ancient temples. During colonial times, coconuts were used to bind indentured labourers to plantations. While spices kickstarted the rise of modern-day Malaysia more than 500 years ago, when an exiled Prince from Sumatra set up a trading empire in Melaka.
Satay? Okay! features interviews with Southeast Asia’s most important food writers and community leaders including Kalsom Taib, Christopher Tan and Khir Johari.
I was motivated to make the podcast in memory of my mother, who passed away just days before I moved to the UK, and a few months before the pandemic. Grieving through a lockdown in a foreign country, I turned to food.
Satay? Okay! is now available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon on 24 September 2025.
This project is supported by the Golden Chopsticks Scholarship, by the OCC Trust.
