Food - the story of a culture

Ask me about many of the places I've travelled to and I'll probably resort to photos to jog my memory. But ask me about the food and, well, let's just say that a stomach never forgets.

From the good (most of the places I've been, really!) to the bad (hello London), food tells you a lot about a culture.

This week I was fortunate enough to attend a blogging dinner at a Malaysian restaurant in Melbourne. Why? Because I'm a blogger ambassador for Malaysia Kitchen, a campaign to promote Malaysian food in Australia.

I dined with the lovely ladies from Ogilvy PR and other bloggers Karen, Christine, Jolie, Carly and Candice.

LaksaMe is one of those little hidden treasures that Melbourne is famous for. Tucked in an unassuming laneway, a quiet spot despite its position off one of the busiest streets, it's sitting there just waiting to be found.

And the food was delicious. I thought that perhaps I had unknowingly tried Malaysian at some point, but I think not. It's spicier than I expected (note to self: ask for mild dishes!), and the traditional flavours used in original and modern ways was a perfect fit. Head chef, Allan Woo, spoke to us about the different spices used and how he created the dishes we had eaten.

Food is more than sustenance, it is a story of a culture, and hearing someone's take on that story is always intriguing.

Now, my role as an ambassador involves going out for Malaysian meals a few more times. (Tough gig, this.) Look out for more posts on the hidden treasure that is Malaysian cuisine.