Nasi Lemak In Hawaii Farmer's Market Sparks Mixed Reactions From Malaysians
"The flavours of Malaysia are second to none," the American stall owner said.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 22 Oct 2024, 02:25 PM
A recent TikTok video showcasing a nasi lemak stall at a farmer's market in Honolulu, Hawaii, has caught the public's attention
TikTok user @aimanariffinnnn shared his discovery of the stall on 19 October, noting that it was the only stall at the market selling Malaysian food.
He was surprised to learn that the stall was owned and operated by an American man from New York
Andrew Presslar, the owner, explained that he first discovered Malaysian food in New York, where he worked for a chef named Zach Lazio, who ran a Malaysian restaurant.
Presslar told Aiman that he became completely obsessed with Malaysian food after his first taste.
"The flavours of Malaysia are second to none," he said.
"Everything is so bright and vibrant — it's spicy, it's sweet, it's salty, and sour. It all works together so well.
"It's a cuisine that, here in Hawaii, not that many people know about, but once they taste the sample, once they have a plate of nasi lemak, they always come back," Presslar remarked.
Unfortunately, Aiman was unable to review the nasi lemak because it included pork in the recipe
Aiman also expressed his astonishment, noting that it was the first time he had seen pork floss used in the dish.
Netizens had mixed reactions, with many pointing out that Presslar's nasi lemak seemed off — especially the sambal
"Bro, tell him to upgrade his sambal hahaha," one user said.
"But seriously, his sambal looks more like the one for mixed rice, not nasi lemak," claimed another.
"The sambal is not authentic," another person commented.
However, others praised the effort to introduce Malaysian food to a wider audience
"Even foreigners have learned to eat nasi lemak... it's undeniable, that nasi lemak has a unique taste. He even wrote 'Malaysian coconut rice'. How can we not be proud?" said one user.
"Wow... proud and thankful towards that guy... the name remains unchanged... thank you...," said another.
"Nasi lemak is going global," another proudly remarked.
