A Cook Abroad

Rachel Khoo's Malaysia

Cook and food writer Rachel Khoo heads to Malaysia, home of her extended family, to explore one of the world's most exciting cuisines. From the tropical shores of a remote fishing village to a foraged feast deep in the jungle, Rachel travels across this multicultural country to find out whether good food can unite a nation. On this journey of discovery Rachel delves deep into her own family heritage. Starting in the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur, she gets her first insights into Malaysian food and culture from family members she hasn't seen since childhood. In her dad's old school she meets cooks and students and begins to find out why Malaysian food is so complex. Finally, in Penang, the undisputed food capital of the country and where her family story began, Rachel discovers why Malaysia is a great place to be young, female and Muslim. As she unpacks the multicultural culinary history of Malaysia, Rachel reveals layers of her own family history and gains a more profound understanding of what it means to be Malaysian.