Cook Like a Chef — Free Cooking Masterclass at Penang Marriott Hotel!
Here’s your chance to Cook Like a Chef — and take home a piece of Malaysian food culture!
At The Malaysian Kitchen, Level 2, Penang Marriott Hotel, you get more than just a taste.
You get the experience, the stories, and the sizzle.
If you’ve ever dreamed of making your favourite Malaysian dishes the right way, this is it.
This is your moment to get up close with the chefs and learn hands-on.
No stuffy demos.
Just flames, laughter, and every dish telling its own story.
Dory’s own foray into cooking didn’t start with Jamie Oliver’s Naked Chef (though she did binge-watch those episodes).
It all began in Domestic Science class at CLS, where she learned to boil water without setting off the fire alarm.
Later came the scones… and the near oven disaster.
There’s something deeply nostalgic and hunger-inducing about watching a real chef stir a bubbling pot of ayam rendang or flipping wok-charred koay teow like second nature.
Meet the Chefs Behind the Flame
Watching Chef Linggeswaran, ably assisted by Executive Chef Lee Keen Suaan from Penang Marriott Hotel & Marriott Executive Apartments Penang, was no exception.
When you smell the ghee melting and the spices toasting, you know you’re in for a treat.
Thanks to Marriott Bonvoy Dining, food lovers can dive deep into Malaysian food culture with a year-long culinary celebration aptly titled The Malaysian Kitchen.
Throughout 2025, guests and diners can sign up for the one-hour masterclass Cook Like a Chef at Penang Marriott Hotel.
And folks — it stirs more than just pots.
It stirs memories.
And oh, when the Chicken Biryani was cooked?
The rice glistened like jewels under warm light.
We all lined up eagerly, eyes wide, bellies rumbling.
Dory?
She behaved like Oliver Twist — both hands cradling her plate, asking Chef Linggeswaran sweetly (but firmly) for double serves.
Determined to eat fresh from the pot!
What Makes a Good Moist Chicken Biryani?
A very good, moist Chicken Biryani offers a harmonious blend of flavours — a true gem in Indian food culture.
The tender chicken is infused with aromatic spices, while the rice is fluffy and slightly moist.
It’s rich, satisfying, and full of depth — a dish you feel in your bones.
Key Taste Elements
Tender and flavourful chicken: The chicken should yield to a fork yet stay intact. Every bite is steeped in spice and marinade.
Aromatic rice: Basmati rice, traditionally used, must be fluffy and slightly moist, soaked with essence from the chicken and spices.
Balanced spice profile: Spices like garam masala and turmeric sing in harmony. Nothing should scream. Everything whispers, “eat me.”
Richness and depth: Ghee, yogurt, and sometimes nuts lend body and heartiness to the dish.
Slightly sweet and tangy undertones: Caramelised onions? Lemon juice? Together they add an unexpected twist that ties the whole pot together.
Cook Like a Chef Recipe — Moist Chicken Biryani
(As Taught by Chef Linggeswaran) Serves: 4 | Time: 1 hour
Chicken Biryani Ingredients
For Chicken Marinade
- 500g bone-in chicken (thigh preferred)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Juice of half a lime
For the Rice
- 2 cups basmati rice (soaked 30 minutes)
- 4 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, 3 cardamoms
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp ghee
- For Assembly:
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp biryani masala (optional)
- Coriander and mint leaves
- Fried shallots for topping
Instructions
- Marinate chicken with all marinade ingredients. Set aside for 30 minutes (or overnight for best flavour).
- Boil basmati rice in water with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, salt, and ghee until 70% cooked. Drain well.
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 tbsp ghee and cook onions until golden.
- Add marinated chicken and cook until halfway done.
- Layer the par-cooked rice over the chicken. Sprinkle biryani masala (if using), coriander, mint, and fried shallots.
- Cover pot tightly, reduce heat to low, and steam for 20 minutes.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before gently fluffing the rice. Serve hot.
Looking for the Best Nasi Briyani in Penang?
When it comes to Malaysian food, it’s more than just taste — it’s memory, culture, and love ladled into every bite.
This moist, spice-laced masterpiece served hot from the pot might just be it.
Now, go Cook Like a Chef.
Or at least, eat like one — because nobody trusts a thin chef!
Penang Marriott Hotel
55 Persiaran Gurney, George Town, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 4-5661888
Blog Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post, but all opinions are mine. Thank you Penang Marriott Hotel for the media review invitation.
