By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Marketing In Asia
  • Marketing
    • Viral
    • Expert Opinions
    • News & Trends
    • Research
    • Market Podcasts
    • Market Videos
    Marketing
    This category deals with best news and updates on marketing and branding news and events.
    Show More
    Top News
    Malaysia’s Forex Market Booms: Over 2.2 Million Investors and Counting
    2 days ago
    KRAFTON-INDIAS-BGMI-Ki-Boli-Campaign-A-Celebration-of-Linguistic-Diversity-in-Gaming
    KRAFTON INDIA’S ‘BGMI Ki Boli’ Campaign: A Celebration of Linguistic Diversity in Gaming
    2 days ago
    Dil Jashn Bole - ICC 2023 Anthem
    ICC World Cup 2023 Anthem: A Marketing Triumph or Missed Note? 
    2 days ago
    Latest News
    Unraveling the Modern Consumer: A Deep Dive into APAC’s Shopping Behavior
    8 hours ago
    Adidas Fuels India’s Cricket Aspirations with ‘3 Ka Dream’ Ahead of 2023 World Cup
    13 hours ago
    Why Is The iPhone 15 in High Demand: A Deep Dive
    1 day ago
    Thums Up and Disney+ Hotstar Team Up for a Game-Changing Cricket Experience
    1 day ago
  • Startup
    • News from Startup world
    • Startup Stories
    • Trends and Opinions
    • Startup Podcasts
    • Startup Videos
    Startup
    News and articles from startup and venture investment world
    Show More
    Top News
    Good Vibes Festival Crisis: Was it Avoidable?
    Good Vibes Festival Crisis: Was it Avoidable?
    2 months ago
    protein start-up Green Rebel
    AirAsia Teams Up with Green Rebel to Serve Plant-based Delicacies 
    2 months ago
    Alvin Kwock
    Hailstone Labs Backs OneDegree Group in a Move to Pioneer Digital Asset Legalisation 
    2 months ago
    Latest News
    Unlocking the Future of Game-Tech: Ampverse Acquires Championfy’s Assets, Exclusive Insight
    7 hours ago
    Koltiva Secures Seven-Figure Funding: Redefining Supply Chain Transparency for Agribusinesses
    3 days ago
    Qashier Secures $10 Million in Series A Funding: Pioneering the Future of Fintech in Southeast Asia
    3 weeks ago
    Indian Celebrities Invest in Environmental Startups: A New Wave of Sustainability 
    1 month ago
  • Business
    • Feature Stories
    • News
    • Business Podcasts
    • Business Videos
    Business
    News and press releases from business world of Asia
    Show More
    Top News
    Unraveling the Modern Consumer: A Deep Dive into APAC’s Shopping Behavior
    8 hours ago
    Amazon prime video on TV screen
    Ad-Supported Amazon Prime Video Set for 2024 Launch
    8 hours ago
    Brawl-Stars-Joins-the-Elite-2-Billion-Club
    Brawl Stars Joins the Elite $2 Billion Club
    8 hours ago
    Latest News
    Vietnam’s Financial Sector Embraces Digital Transformation with Vigor
    7 hours ago
    Apple Emerges as the Largest Smartphone Exporter from India: A Game-Changer in the Tech World
    7 hours ago
    Qualcomm Announces Job Cuts in Shanghai Amid US-China Tech Strains
    7 hours ago
    Unlocking the Future of Game-Tech: Ampverse Acquires Championfy’s Assets, Exclusive Insight
    7 hours ago
  • Society
    • Inspiration
    • Destinations & Travel
    • Food & Gourmet
    • People
    • Young Voices
    • Society Videos
    • Society Podcasts
    Society
    News and articles from and for societies around us
    Show More
    Top News
    TUMI-Unveils-the-Pinnacle-of-Innovation-with-Its-Alpha-X-and-Alpha-Hybrid-Collections-in-Fall-2023-Campaign
    TUMI Unveils the Pinnacle of Innovation with Its Alpha X and Alpha Hybrid Collections in Fall 2023 Campaign
    1 day ago
    KRAFTON-INDIAS-BGMI-Ki-Boli-Campaign-A-Celebration-of-Linguistic-Diversity-in-Gaming
    KRAFTON INDIA’S ‘BGMI Ki Boli’ Campaign: A Celebration of Linguistic Diversity in Gaming
    2 days ago
    Love, Bonito Debuts Its Largest Store in Hong Kong’s Pulsating Retail Hub
    2 days ago
    Latest News
    Unraveling the Modern Consumer: A Deep Dive into APAC’s Shopping Behavior
    8 hours ago
    ICC Introduces Vertical Video Feed for 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup
    10 hours ago
    Ericsson’s Connected Mangroves Project: A Shining Example of Tech for the Environment 
    10 hours ago
    Neeraj Chopra: JSW Group’s New Face of Steel, Cement, and Paints
    12 hours ago
  • Stories
  • Videos
    • Videos Gallery
    • The Opinion Scout
    • MIA Spotlight
  • Impact Circle
Search
Technology
  • Hot
  • Trending
  • Editor’s Choice
  • NSFW
  • Reactions
  • Authors
  • Viral on Internet
Other Pages
  • My Bookmarks
  • Customize Interests
  • About Marketing In Asia
  • Business Register & Login
  • Startup Register & Login
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
© 2023 Marketing In Asia Sdn Bhd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Makan! (Yes, Eat..)
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
Vietnam's Financial Sector Embraces Digital Transformation with Vigor
Vietnam’s Financial Sector Embraces Digital Transformation with Vigor
News
Prime-Minister-Kishida-Plans-to-Boost-Foreign-Investmen
Prime Minister Kishida Plans to Boost Foreign Investment: A Bright Future for Japan
Open Category
Apple Emerges as the Largest Smartphone Exporter from India: A Game-Changer in the Tech World
News Technology
Qualcomm Announces Job Cuts in Shanghai Amid US-China Tech Strains
Qualcomm Announces Job Cuts in Shanghai Amid US-China Tech Strains
News
Unlocking the Future of Game-Tech Ampverse Acquires Championfy's Assets, Exclusive Insight
Unlocking the Future of Game-Tech: Ampverse Acquires Championfy’s Assets, Exclusive Insight
Acquisition Brand Highlights Business Interviews News
Aa
Marketing In Asia
Aa
  • Hot
  • Trending
  • Editor’s Choice
  • NSFW
  • Reactions
  • Authors
  • Viral on Internet
  • My Bookmarks
  • Customize Interests
  • About Marketing In Asia
  • Business Register & Login
  • Startup Register & Login
Search
  • Marketing
    • Viral
    • Expert Opinions
    • News & Trends
    • Research
    • Market Podcasts
    • Market Videos
  • Startup
    • News from Startup world
    • Startup Stories
    • Trends and Opinions
    • Startup Podcasts
    • Startup Videos
  • Business
    • Feature Stories
    • News
    • Business Podcasts
    • Business Videos
  • Society
    • Inspiration
    • Destinations & Travel
    • Food & Gourmet
    • People
    • Young Voices
    • Society Videos
    • Society Podcasts
  • Stories
  • Videos
    • Videos Gallery
    • The Opinion Scout
    • MIA Spotlight
  • Impact Circle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2023 Marketing In Asia Sdn Bhd. All Rights Reserved.
Marketing In Asia > Blog > Business > Feature Stories > Makan! (Yes, Eat..)
Feature StoriesFood & GourmetPeople

Makan! (Yes, Eat..)

profile
Last updated: 2022/08/03 at 7:48 PM
Faizal Sohaimi
Share
9 Min Read
Kari kepala ikan
SHARE

MAKAN!

What would you say is Malaysians’, or most Malaysian favorite word, thought, or subject? Aside from sex – that is predominantly men. What’s the other one?

Makan – lah!

We are a country that eats many times a day. We eat breakfast, morning tea/coffee, lunch, afternoon tea/coffee, dinner, supper, and sometimes early morning supper (after clubbing)!

If Ray Charles sang “Georgia On My Mind”, we’d sing “Makan On My Mind!” On MY mind at least…

Malaysia’s Favorite Topic

I always posted about makan (food) on my LinkedIn; about Malaysia’s favorites – nasi lemak, char kway teow, mee curry, etc. Only one person objected. I believed that even after many years, he hadn’t enjoyed being here, in Malaysia.

I don’t know many other nationalities or people who talk so much about food. About the dishes they enjoy, the way the dishes were cooked, etc. – other than Malaysian. Except for maybe Singaporeans, Indonesians, Thai, and probably Vietnamese. I had never visited the Philippines; thus, I can’t comment.

Reference & Memories

When we talk about food, many would have their “reference” – the best food of that kind; the best they’d ever tasted. Often, this would bring childhood or teenage years memories.

I give you some examples here: when the words like “masak lemak cili api” (meat cooked in a yellow coconut gravy spiced up with tiny bird’s chili), “nasi lemak” (rice steamed with spiced coconut milk and served with piping hot fried chicken, sambal, etc.) or maybe “char kway teow” (flat rice noodle stir-fried with cockles, eggs, bean sprout, and chives) – our inner child would transport us to our childhood.

Often, the people who cooked those delicious dishes were our mother (typically), grandmother, a favorite aunt, or at least a helper at home whom we were close to. I am writing from my own experience at least.

My Mom

My mom, as a girl growing up, was not a great cook. A tomboy, running barefooted jumping into the nearest “parit” (irrigation canal) – which had 1001 things in it. Once her kids started to eat rice and dishes, however, she started to notice that when we ate out, or at my grandmother’s house, what were the things that we liked. She started to learn to cook those.

She had a challenge to even fry the whole chicken drumstick and thigh – to ensure that the inside was fully cooked, yet the skin was nicely cooked and crispy. Today with the air fryer, microwave, and whatnot this task was simple enough. But in the days that our gas stove was the size of Astro’s dish…

She went on to make her superb nasi lemak, fish soup, kueh slopes, etc. Many more, became the yardstick for my 3 siblings and me. Even my father started to “tune” into her style of cooking.

Talk About Makan

One of my favorite topics when it comes to selling, or teaching about selling, is how we use food and “makan” to connect. I am talking from my experience selling and developing business in Southeast Asia, at least. It holds true too as far as Japan, but I don’t quite recall me talking about fish “n” chips except for what’s a “Dory” or “Orange Roughey” – with my crew in New Zealand.

I remembered in Japan when my manager tried to “yucks!” me out when he ordered a freshly prepared “unagi” (freshwater eel) straight out of the fish tank; complete with the blood mixed with sake (methinks!). It tasted so dang great!

Makan is our go-to icebreaker in most Asia/Southeast Asian countries. In Japan, other than the unagi, the boss tried to shock me with that thin layer of wasabi within the sashimi. In India, we gobbled the freshly fried vadai or boiled chai masala tea – by the drain!

While most westerners, and even Japanese talk about the texture and taste of the body of the food i.e., the texture and “sweetness” of the fish, the lobster, the fresh asparagus, etc., most southeast Asians, Malaysians typically talk about how the special blend of spices, married well with the meat.

The Indians have a different blend of spices for the various styles of curries – vindaloo, parattal, varuval, korma, etc. In Malaysia, we have the localized Indian curry powder mix for fish, chicken, beef & mutton. Though the Chinese don’t cook many versions of curries, they have their own concoction of spices too. The Malays, with Malaysia being the “melting pot” of these cultures, enjoy various mixes and many had been tweaked to suit local tastes, together with infusions from the islands of Java and Sumatera in Indonesia.

Heritage As a Topic

With this rich heritage (we are still talking about only food) there is always something that someone in Malaysia loves. The nasi lemak; or at least the humble “roti canai”. What is a roti canai but a mix of flour, water, oil, and pinches of sugar and salt, kneaded to produce a lightly fried magic, dipped in delectable dhal curry with just the right consistency?

Mention that to me, will evoke the memories of my grandmother making her dhal and roti canai. Maybe a tear or two… Which is your favourite roti canai?

Tonight, my wife made some killer “fish head curry”. Not many westerners would know what it is, much less appreciate this. However, if you’d lived long enough in Malaysia – especially Kuala Lumpur or Penang – I’m sure that you might have been introduced to Restoran ZK or Kari Kepala Ikan Tugu; and Hameediyah in Penang. It is an acquired taste I must say…

Roti canai n fish curry… or bread.

Talk About Curry…Or Maybe Nasi Lemak

My son acquired that taste this evening in a homemade version – my wife’s cooking. Finished his rice, he took two pieces of Gardenia bread and lapped up the gravy. He also scooped some curry into a small bowl and slurped it!

Curry, nasi lemak, crispy fried chicken, roti canai, poori, or whatever – there will be something that will trigger a Malaysian or a foreigner who has adapted to the food here to tell a story. You want to bring that story out.

When you have that story out, and you pay attention to it, the person will like you, bordering on loving you – guaranteed.

When he likes/loves you, you will be his friend. When you are his friend, you’d begin to understand his need and wants and look at crafting a solution for him.

Remember Dr. Covey’s habit #5 – seek to understand. We do this first by connecting. Makan is one of the best ways I know to connect.

You Might Also Like

Ericsson’s Connected Mangroves Project: A Shining Example of Tech for the Environment 

Neeraj Chopra: JSW Group’s New Face of Steel, Cement, and Paints

Discover Luxury: Unveiling Asia-Pacific’s Hidden Gems & Unique Experiences

ESports’ Asian Games Debut: A Leap Towards Olympic Recognition

Beyond the Field: The Digital Revolution in Sports Coaching

Get Latest Job Updates on Whatsapp and Telegram
SCIKEY Logo
Whatsapp
Telegram
TAGGED: connect, evoke, favorites, food, ice-breaker, memories, people

Sign Up For MIA Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest updates about the Marketing world delivered straight to your inbox.

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
    Faizal Sohaimi August 3, 2022 August 3, 2022
    Share This Article
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
    Share
    What do you think?
    Love0
    Happy0
    Joy0
    Surprise0
    Sad0
    Angry0
    Cry0
    profile
    By Faizal Sohaimi
    Follow:
    A seasoned salesman and engineer who loves to share observations on selling, business and life. Now and then I'll share observations on socio-politic too.
    Previous Article India Economy India Economy Displaying Signs Of Silver Lining Amidst Talks Of A Global Recession
    Next Article Customers Retain Should You Bring More Customers Or Retain The Ones You Have: A Constant Dilemma For Brands

    Follow US

    8k Followers Follow
    3.4k Followers Like
    1.2k Followers Follow
    200 Followers Follow
    176 Subscribers Subscribe

    Latest News

    Vietnam's Financial Sector Embraces Digital Transformation with Vigor
    Vietnam’s Financial Sector Embraces Digital Transformation with Vigor
    News 7 hours ago
    Prime-Minister-Kishida-Plans-to-Boost-Foreign-Investmen
    Prime Minister Kishida Plans to Boost Foreign Investment: A Bright Future for Japan
    Open Category 7 hours ago
    Apple Emerges as the Largest Smartphone Exporter from India: A Game-Changer in the Tech World
    News Technology 7 hours ago
    Qualcomm Announces Job Cuts in Shanghai Amid US-China Tech Strains
    Qualcomm Announces Job Cuts in Shanghai Amid US-China Tech Strains
    News 7 hours ago

    PropertyGuru

    property guru

    You Might also Like

    Ericsson’s flagship mangrove forest reforestation project in Malaysia
    NewsPeopleSociety

    Ericsson’s Connected Mangroves Project: A Shining Example of Tech for the Environment 

    10 hours ago
    NeerajChopra
    BusinessNewsPeopleSports

    Neeraj Chopra: JSW Group’s New Face of Steel, Cement, and Paints

    12 hours ago
    Destinations & TravelPeoplePress ReleaseSociety

    Discover Luxury: Unveiling Asia-Pacific’s Hidden Gems & Unique Experiences

    2 days ago
    ESports
    NewsPeopleSocietySports

    ESports’ Asian Games Debut: A Leap Towards Olympic Recognition

    4 days ago
    //

    Get Asia to Notice You

    Quick Link

    • Contact
    • RSS Terms of Service
    • Policies & Standards
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms Of Service
    • Privacy Policy

    Top Categories

    • Marketing
    • Startup
    • Feature Stories
    • News
    • People
    • Inspiration

    Sign Up for Our Newsletter

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      Marketing In AsiaMarketing In Asia
      Follow US
      © 2023 Marketing In Asia. All Rights Reserved.
      • Disclaimer
      • Terms of Service
      • Privacy Policy
      Join the growing tribe of Marketing In Asia!

      Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest updates, news, videos, podcasts etc..

        Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.