Some Spicy Saturday

A spread of bowls filled with an array of spices teased the senses of a privileged group of 938LIVE listeners on the second floor at Spice Queen Restaurant. This is where celebrity chef Devagi Sanmugam reigns supreme complete with sticks of spices in hand that look like her sceptre. This is where she holds court and makes all who come into her presence cower with newfound respect. She afterall wears the title of 'Spice Queen'.

Spices bring out the taste, add flavour and infuse into life some zing and a sting. Our palates are introduced to (to borrow the words of Peabo Bryson & Regina Bell) 'a whole new world'. The workshop began with morning tea of spiced samosas, murukku-like Indian crackers, some cakes and masala tea. Twas delightful, delicious, delovely!

Having had their fill of a spice-ridden spread, our listeners sauntered into the adjoining room question-ridden and restless to hear about spices - their properties, how to introduce them to your cooking, how to store them and how to tell apart fresh, unadulterated and genuine spices like curry power and saffron from lower grades and counterfeits. With their copy of notes Devagi had prepared, they furiously copied down more points as the Spice Queen took them on a whirlwind tour of her kingdom of spices.

Just over two and half hour later, everyone left and lived happily ever after, sure to return to sign up for other courses offered by Epicurean World or simply tuck into the sumptuous spicy spread at Spice Queen Restaurant.

All hail the Spice Queen.

Spice Queen Restaurant is located at 24/26 Race Course Road.

Spice It Up!

Spices, Spices, Spices. Although Singapore food uses lots of it, how much do we really know about the various types of spices? how to store them? cook them? 

Lucky for us, we had the Spice Queen of Singapore in The Living Room today. She's no stranger to those in touch with the culinary scene here. Devagi Sanmugam is a renowned food columnist, cooking instructor, entrepreneur & author of 16 cookbooks! 

I loved listening to her ~ she talked about spices with such passion. For instance, I learnt from Devagi that if you listen really carefully, different spices give off different crackling sounds when they're cooked, so you can always tell - by listening - when they are ready. Only a Spice Queen can speak of spices like that!

 Queen of Spices: Devagi Sanmugam spices up our morning!

Well, 30 minutes was too short to have all our questions answered. A few listeners called in with queries but we couldn't air them all. The good news though is that Devagi runs a Spice Appreciation Workshop at her cooking school, Epicurean World. And if you're keen to taste her cooking, drop by her newly-opened restaurant Spice Queen @ Race Course Road!

Guess who else spiced up our day? Pierre Png. And if I dare say so myself, he is handsomer in real-life. *wink* 

Pierre came to tell us about a CNY telemovie he's lead-starring in, called A Kucinta Reunion Dinner. We chatted too about his Peranakan roots, his love for food (especially his dad's home-made ngor hiang) and his plans for the Lunar New Year. 

Be sure to catch Pierre, with Mindee Ong (881 fame), on the 2nd day of CNY @ 10pm. Only on Channel 5!