Taste by Bert was born from these cooking couple goals that started during the COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia.
Food tastes best when made with love, with a couple of cooking goals for photographer Chew Win-Win and her boyfriend, Albert Wong.
During the MCO, I would look longingly at Chew’s food posted on her Facebook Page. I swear we use the same ingredients.
Her hashtags are very encouraging for budding home cooks –
#HomeCooking
#YouMayJustGoogleTheDishName
#EatCheapLookFancy
#OmakaseByWong
#Covid19MCOPhotoDairy
#FoodPhotographer
#FoodStylist
#RealFood
#NothingGoesToWaste
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Contents
“Eat Cheap Look Fancy” Sums Up Their Cooking Couple Goals
I also eat cheaply. I mean, l am your average Malaysian aunty and a Penangite to boot.
Penangites love to save money.
I buy Maggi mee and eat tuna straight from the can when I’m on writing assignments.
But heck, these two take simple ingredients up to a different level.
Wong and Chew’s Round the World Menu
“You may just Google the dish name,” says Win Win Chew. Most of which I can’t even spell, much less pronounce.
- Kaalilaatikko (Finnish Cabbage Casserole)
- Smaženice (Czech Republic mushroom Omelette)
Romantic Recipes for Cooking Couple Goals
When you need a recipe for romance, cook as a couple!
Initially, I thought of fun things to cook together on a date.
Yes, I was dating. A very long time ago. Since it was my turn to buy dinner, I thought I would cook.
I burnt dinner. He ate. Then he said in all seriousness.
“Please don’t cook again, Dory.”
Gulps.
Guys, I pulled out all the stops, okay? I made bacon-wrapped prawn salmon steaks, and I burned the frittata.
Please don’t ask me how. But I managed to do just that!
Relationship Goals – Couples Who Cook Together, Stay Together Builds Cooperation.
So I asked Chew if Wong would cook something to inspire me.
When this foodie couple couldn’t travel or eat out, Wong decided to recreate meals worldwide.
Chew would document each dish in a stunning photo series marked by each day of the MCO.
What better daily inspiration than this.
The recipes are astounding. As a foodie myself, naturally, I was very intrigued (read that as greedy)
Chew and Wong would plate it like a fine dining restaurant even with comfort food.
Why am I not surprised? Their meal with simple ingredients smacks of deliciousness at a LUX level.
I saw the Oeufs Cocotte (Baked Eggs), which is my favorite!
‘Food is the ingredient that binds us together’
Quick and Easy Meals for Two – Date Night
French Egg in Pot (French)
Egg, Bacon, Cream Cheese, Bread, Bechamel Sauce
French Egg in Pot (French) Steamed. Image: WinWin Chew
Ramen Burger (USA)
Instant Ramen, Pork Loin, Cheese Slice, Tomato, Bacon
Ramen Burger (USA). Image: WinWin Chew
Open Face Sandwich (Denmark)
Bread, Scramble Egg, Cucumber Pickles, Sardine in Tomato
Open Face Sandwich (Denmark). Image: WinWin Chew
Spaghetti on Toast (Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain)
Bread, Pasta, Marinara Sauce, Hake with Sprinkle Fresh Parsley
Spaghetti on Toast (Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain). Image: WinWin Chew
Spicy Fish Cake (Thailand)
Tuna in Can, Chili, Kafir Leaf, Bread, Egg
Spicy Fish Cake (Thailand).Image: WinWin Chew
So, I decided to interview Wong and Chew about their couple cooking goals.
Chew is a food and travel photographer. Her boyfriend, Albert Wong, comes from an F&B management background.
The lockdown was a self-improvement challenge they set out to work together as a couple.
They spend their evenings planning meals for the next day, researching the internet, and using cookbooks for references.
They would often discuss some recipes they tried or local tips they picked up on their travels.
It is a good synergy for both of them; she photographs, and he cooks.
Either way, Chew would need to get her camera to photograph before they eat the meal together.
According to Chew, their pet “Blackie… Chill and relax me. He never kacau. He is a very, very good boy.”
Undeterred, I tried to make something without burning food again as part of our couple cooking goals.
I tried my best and came up with my two renditions.
Spicy Ramen
Prawn, Fish Balls, Mustard Greens
Spicy Ramen, Prawn, Fish Balls, Mustard Greens. Image: Doris Lim
Like to know more?
Dory: What’s the inspiration behind your creative cooking?
Wong: The inspiration started when I stayed in Penang, and Chew worked in K.L. Every weekend, she travels back to Penang, and I would make her a welcome meal.
We stop doing this since both of us are living together now.
Both of us were busy working to provide a living until the Malaysian Movement Control was in place – we couldn’t go out to have our meals, so we decided to revive our cooking couple goals.
Dory: Are there any ingredients you don’t use, and why?
Wong: I don’t use stock cubes or MSG as working in a professional kitchen has taught me to cook from the ground up without using additives.
Dory: Would you ever make a Japanese Mom’s Bento? Why yes? Why not?
Wong: Not ever! But ordinary bento, yes. I made over 40 Bento sets for Japanese during my time with a multinational factory canteen management.
Open Face Sandwich
Bengali Bread, Sardines in Tomato, Pickled Japanese Cucumber, Chili, Pink Pickled Onions
Open Face Sandwich. Image: Doris Lim
Dory: What are the most challenging plating and shooting for food?
Wong: Fine dining is considered the most delicate.
Everything needs to be thought through with related themes to play along with all textures, shapes, and even sizes to consider, and, most of all, the meaning of the dish you intend to express or tell.
Dory: How did you create your jumping ingredients photo?
Chew: The jumping food shots are like how they create the now-famous levitation in living room shots.
Nyonya Otak Otak Katsu Sando with Kyuri asa-zuke as slaw and spicy mint mayo to smoothen the whole munching experience!!
Conclusion Cooking Couple Goals: WORK
I admire this couple who made great use of their time during the MCO Lockdown to continue improving their cooking and photography skills and documenting their journey online.
As for me, I was thrilled with my Open Face Sandwich | Bengali Bread, Sardines in Tomato, Pickled Japanese Cucumber, Chili, and Pink Pickled Onions.
The taste is there; the plating and presentation are probably a half-star. I will give myself a 5.5 star for effort. Will I continue to cook after MCO?
My family laughed and said, what you do is called Assembling Food – not COOKING!
Oh well! Live to fight another day, then. We didn’t win at everything. LOL.
Share with us if you have couple cooking goals to strengthen your bond.
P.S. Thank you, Albert Wong and Chew Win-Win, for being so excited to be interviewed.
Update: 28 August 2021
In July 2020, Taste by Bert, a home-based kitchen specializing in making Japanese sandwiches Katsu Sando (カツサンド) is short for Katsu Sandwich (カツサンドイッチ) with exciting fillings and ingredients was born.
Chew and Wong work closely together to make these wonderful Katsu Sando based on original recipes.
Their fans in Penang can’t wait for the day they can travel freely again to sink the gnasher into the sandwiches!
Dory wishes Taste by Bert all the very best as the friendly couple starts their business together!
Some of the delicious Japanese sandwiches Katsu Sando from Taste by Bert
You can contact Taste by Bert for more information on how to order.
