Our friend Lap is a great cook. We were lucky enough to have him cook us up a feast for lunch yes

Our friend Lap is a great cook. We were lucky enough to have him cook us up a feast for lunch yesterday which was so pretty I had to share. Hainanese chicken rice was fantastic, the rice definitely being the star of the show. I already knew he boosts the flavour with chicken stock and a big plug of rendered fat from the chicken’s cavity. But a new trick to me were the little chunks of dried scallop, a luxurious addition. His red-braised pork belly was fantastic, despite running out of Shaoxing rice wine he subbed cleverly with cognac. Melting fat I could munch on all day. Also a lovely, subtly balanced ox cheek rendang, quite different from my version which tastes mainly of coconut and ginger. Finally, a classic cantonese prawn dish, replete with lovingly rendered carrot flowers. I’ll let you know if I can convince Lap to do a pop-up restaurant so you can try it too 🙂