PENANG: Recipes & Wanderings Around an Island in Malaysia

Penang: Recipes & Wanderings Around an Island in Malaysia is the second volume in the Apartamento and Belmond’s culinary series, inviting readers on a sensory journey through one of Malaysia’s most vibrant and flavor-packed destinations. Tash Aw’s evocative introduction sets the scene with the island’s warm breezes and bustling atmosphere, where time flows differently and life is lived between markets, kitchens, and the sea.

This book is both a cookbook and a cultural exploration. Chef André Chiang, along with chefs Malcolm Lee and Abby Lee, shares 23 quintessential Malaysian recipes—from the tangy, aromatic Assam Laksa to the rich Three-layer Rice Pudding by Kirthanna Naidu. These recipes offer a taste of the island’s culinary landscape, with each dish representing the diverse and dynamic flavors of Penang.

Vibrant photographs by Luo Yang capture the island’s beauty, while essays by Tash Aw, Anna Sulan Masing, and Kirthanaa Naidu take readers on a tour of regional landmarks, from family-run nutmeg plantations to durian farms nestled in the hills. Penang is a visual and culinary tribute to the island’s unforgettable mosaic of flavors, offering an immersive experience into its rich cultural and culinary heritage.