News

This is where you can read all my official news. Of course, I will continue to break the news first on my Facebook page.

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16 April 2013

UK’s Oriental Chef of the Year Makes Move Into London

Leading Malaysian Chef Norman Musa, current holder of the Asian Curry Awards’ Young Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year, has launched a Supper Club in East London, with plans afoot for Malaysian street food in the capital too.

Musa, a passionate ambassador for Malaysian cuisine in the UK, known for his charming and engaging presence on festival stages and cookery schools, has brought his ‘Ning’ brand to London for the first time.

Themed around authentic ethnic and regional cuisines of Malaysia every month, his first Supper Clubs were launched exclusively on Facebook in March and were a sell-out success. This month his menu takes on the fresh, fragrant and complex flavours of ‘Nyonya’ – sometimes known as Peranakan – cuisine. Unique to Malaysia and Singapore, this fusion style of food is influenced by the Malay, Chinese and Portuguese heritage of Malacca, the ancient trading port.

“I love to see more and more people getting passionate about Malaysian cuisine, and my new London base allows me to interact with my guests while cooking”, says Musa, whose canal-side apartment near the Olympic Stadium is set up rather like a “chef’s table”. “It’s also a great way of connecting more personally with my fans in London and the South East”, he added, referring to his 51,000-odd Facebook fans.

The open plan nature of the venue allows guests to see Musa at work and also keen ones to cook along with him, as they eagerly want to learn from the master how to cook Malaysian food at home.

Following this initial success in London, Musa now has hopes to bring Malaysian street food to some of the capital’s burgeoning markets and street food locations.

Musa, who has previously worked on the Formula One circuit for Lotus Racing (now Caterham) Founder and QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, is somewhat of a household name back in Malaysia and has spent the last 3 years promoting Malaysian food at numerous food festivals and shows around the UK and Ireland. He has restaurants in Manchester and York.

19 January 2013

Award-winning Malaysian chef on epic mission to unearth new recipes and their stories

Chef Norman Musa’s road trip of Malaysia is clocking up hundred of miles in search of the most famed, most delicious regional street food.

Two-thirds of the way through his trip and he has already covered 11 of Malaysia’s 13 states in as many days, with the final two – Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo – scheduled for this coming week.

With his TV personality status in Malaysia, including his appearances on MasterChef Malaysia, he has often been spotted along the way, obliging in his usual amicable style with an autograph or photo. Keeping in touch with his 50,000 Facebook fans has also facilitated fan meet-ups along the route with a big finale Get Together with Chef Norman Musa planned on 28 January in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

But it is the food that he, of course, has come for and what a feast he and his team have experienced wherever they go. “I’ve learnt so much more myself about the rich diversity and heritage of my country’s food”, says Norman, “and met such great personalities along the way; the chefs and ‘aunties’ behind the food who work tirelessly every day to serve the best of a particular dish. Like my late mum, they are the unsung heroes who make Malaysian food so exciting and why I’m passionate about it.”

Collating information about the popular dishes, stalls and their owners will form a key backbone to Norman’s next book for which he is researching on the trip. People like Mastura who runs a fabulous roadside restaurant serving up ‘Nasi Kerabu’, a famous dish in northern and central Eastern parts of the country made of rice that it is dyed blue by the natural extract of pea flowers and served with a sprinkling of grated roasted coconut, or Pakabu who serves up the most amazing roti from his unassuming roadside restaurant north of Kuala Terengganu.

Business partner Andy Spracklen and Facebook fan-now-assistant Louise Cooper are accompanying the passionate chef, along with his driver Zuhhad Salleh. They are tweeting, blogging, photographing and, of course, eating their way around the beautiful, exciting and diverse country.

Norman is also meeting business contacts during his Malaysia visit and gaining inspiration for his Ning restaurants back in the UK. He returns early February 2013.

8 January 2013

Award-winning Malaysian chef tours Malaysia in search of the finest street food

Ning restaurant’s Chef Norman Musa – who was recently awarded Young Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year – is renowned as a chef on a mission to make Malaysian food big in the UK.

His latest mission is taking him the length and breadth of Malaysia in just 2 weeks to search out and research the heritage and location of the country’s most famed, most delicious regional street food.

Musa, who has a Facebook following of nearly 50,000 fans, has enlisted his fans to tip him off as to where such food can be found and has created an exhaustive road trip itinerary during January 2013. The aim is to produce his latest book from it.

Business partner Andy Spracklen and Facebook fan-now-assistant Louise Cooper will be accompanying the passionate chef, tweeting, blogging, photographing and, of course, eating their way around the beautiful, exciting and diverse country.

Taking in such distant towns and cities such as Kangar and Alor Setar in the north close to the Thai border to the capitals of the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, the extensive itinerary will demonstrate the diversity of food across the regions and take in the beautiful East Coast and the highlands interior.

In keeping with Musa and Spracklen’s first book, which sold 6,000 by their own efforts, the second street food-themed book will be more than just a recipe book. It will take in the stories of the places, the people and of course the food. Thanks to Manchester Confidential, such anecdotes will also be blogged on their website, underlining Ning restaurant’s – which was also recently awarded Best Malaysian Restaurant – pre-eminence in the field of Malaysian cuisine.

26 November 2012

Manchester chef honoured with major national awards

Malaysian chef Norman Musa, Executive Chef and co-owner of Ning restaurant, was crowned Young Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year last evening at the prestigious European Asian Curry Awards in Park Lane London’s Grosvenor House – earning himself a place in the sought-after Young Hall of Fame at the Hospitality Guild.

Presented with his Chef of the Year trophy by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the UK, Musa becomes the first Malaysian to receive such an award and the first Malaysian to be given such high recognition by the UK’s Hospitality Guild.

He will be collecting his Hall of Fame accolade at the House of Commons in early December.

Shocked by the announcement, Musa was praised by the judges for his unparalleled contribution and energy to promoting Malaysian food in the UK and Ireland, as well as for his charm and engaging approach.

He was presented with his trophy at the VIP-studded event – also attended by Vince Cable, the Business Secretary of State – by Lukwesa Burak formerly of Sky News.

Commenting afterwards to the Malaysian national press contingent, Musa reflected, “6 years ago I was a quantity surveyor, but by following my passion, I have proven that anyone can fulfil their dreams. You just have to go for it!”

Later, to his 46,000 Facebook fan and customer following, he announced, “This is for you.”

Musa’s double accolade, along with his awards and celebrity status back home in Malaysia, cements his position as Europe’s leading Malaysian chef.

His tireless promotion of Malaysian food, supported by the Malaysian Government’s trade commission, MATRADE, continues this week as he heads to the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham’s NEC.

9 July 2012

Malaysian chef causes lengthy queues at the start of his 2012 tour

How one chef’s mission to raise demand for his native cuisine is turning into reality

Leading Malaysian chef Norman Musa has kicked off his summer and autumn tour of food festivals with his best-ever audiences.

Having seen a 20% increase in interest in his Malaysian cuisine in Dublin last month, he caused a real stir at last weekend’s Foodies Festival on his home turf of Manchester.

In spite of the mud-bath fields, 300 people packed into the cooking theatre on Saturday to watch the affable and entertaining chef cook up a great Malaysian Lime Curry and then to pick a member of the audience to join him on stage for some wok theatre!

Cooking up – indeed tossing up – some famous Char Kuey Teow noodles, his up-for-it student, Bex (in photo shown), rose to the occasion to prove Chef Norman’s mission that making a Malaysian meal is easy.

Demand for his cookbook afterwards was so high that the organisers had to hastily move book signing to a dedicated stall outside. Julie Umpleby, who was one of the 60 or so people who queued later emailed Musa, “I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the demonstration at the Tatton Foodies Festival on Saturday, in spite of the mud! I have never experienced Malaysian food before, but your enthusiasm and the beautiful aromas inspired me to buy your book with a view to trying to make the chicken curry you showcased.”

Chef Norman, who was also working in his York ‘Ning’ restaurant that evening, later travelled to Cardiff over the weekend. Making a welcome return visit to the ever-popular Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival at Cardiff Bay on Sunday, he pulled in a crowd of 120 despite another momentous event happening at the same time – a certain men’s final in tennis!

“All my hard work pays off when I see audiences’ reaction and hear of people inspired to cook and eat Malaysian food,” said Musa after his epic 48 hours of crisscrossing the UK; “The momentum is really growing for Malaysian cuisine and I’m glad that I can be such an ambassador for it in Britain, with the support of the Malaysian government.”

Chef Norman’s programme of events are supported through the Malaysia Kitchen campaign by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, MATRADE.

He is next demonstrating at the EAT! NewcastleGateshead event on 28 July, 1pm, by the Eldon Square Shopping Centre.

8 May 2012

New Malaysian Food Proves to be a Hit in York City Centre

Top Malaysian chef Norman Musa opened his new restaurant in York on 1 May and is already picking up plaudits from customers and bloggers alike.

Ning, Chef Norman’s second branch to his original in Manchester, has been a rapid rebranding of the former Jade Garden Cantonese restaurant, opposite the city’s Clifford’s Tower.

Now serving predominantly Malaysian cuisine alongside some Chinese classics, the menu suits a range of tastes and wallets from simple great tasting street food to exquisite sophisticated specialities.

Featuring Ning’s famous 2 Course Deal at just £13.95 per person most of the week, the contemporary chic venue with bespoke wallpaper manages to balance a sense of relaxedness and value, with style and quality.

“I have always taught my staff to treat our guests as though into their home. That’s what we call Malaysian Hospitality,” remarks Chef Norman who has been spending a lot of time in the York kitchen training up his capable team. “I can be quite a perfectionist, but I’m definitely not pretentious; something we’ve always tried to avoid at Ning. Fresh, authentic and friendly is our approach, and our customers so far are clearly liking it that way.”

Ning, whose name derives from a musical note of traditional Gamelan music, also takes a contemporary approach to its marketing, preferring to focus on word of mouth and social media. Guests such as Debbie Fixter of Yarm have already been posting comments on the new restaurant’s Facebook site, stating “Had a fantastic night on Saturday, the atmosphere was relaxed, never rushed even though we were last there and the food was exceptional. The staff were lovely and welcoming, even got to meet Norman.”

The restaurant is also on Twitter, encourages postings from Instagram and Foodspotting, and has quite a plethora of videos on its You Tube channel, Ning TV.

Co-founder of Ning, Andy Spracklen, comments, “At Ning word of mouth has always been fundamental to building our reputation. We’re not here to make a quick buck from tourists, but to establish a sustainable, neighbourhood-style restaurant that residents too can truly enjoy and rely on for great food and a warm welcome.”

The restaurant at 12-13 Tower Street also incorporates a small shop selling Chef Norman’s cookbook and also essential Malaysian ingredients that are difficult to get hold of locally. Musa and Spracklen aim to launch Malaysian cookery classes in York before the summer, and will be taking an active role in the York Food & Drink Festival.

An online booking system for advance reservations is now live on the restaurant’s website –
www.ningcatering.com/york

A VIP event will take place on Thursday 24 May to showcase the new restaurant.

20 April 2012

Top Chef to Open Malaysian Restaurant in York City Centre

Leading Malaysian chef Norman Musa has chosen York as the location for his second restaurant.

The entrepreneurial chef and restaurateur, who was recently listed in Malaysia’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ and is a former chef to the Lotus F1 team, already has a well-renowned Malaysian restaurant in Manchester. In his second restaurant, he is converting the former ‘Jade Garden’ Cantonese restaurant in Tower Street into his ‘Ning’ branded Malaysian restaurant. Due to open from Tuesday 1 May 2012, Chef Norman remarks, “I’m a chef on a mission to make Malaysian food widely known. It’s diverse and delicious, bringing together the culinary influences of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Arab and Portuguese cooking from my country’s heritage. So I’m very excited about bringing this new cuisine to York which has a history of trying new food ever since the days of the spice merchants.”

Chef Norman, who is a passionate ambassador for Malaysian cuisine and regularly features at well-known food festivals such as the BBC Good Food Show, will also be launching his cookery school at the restaurant later in the year. Ning Cookery School in Manchester has successfully taught hundreds of avid amateur cooks since 2007 and Ning’s team hope to emulate that in York, along with the success of the restaurant which welcomed 20,000 guests in Manchester in 2011.

Andy Spracklen, co-founder of Ning, says, “Norman has a unique talent for making Malaysian food popular and accessible. One of Norman’s Facebook fans could see an opportunity in York and approached him with the idea last year. It’s been quietly developing ever since, but the business deal and refurbishment has happened very quickly. The aim is to get it open within just 10 days and incrementally build it up. We believe the concept has great potential in the city.”

Chef Norman, whose engaging and entertaining style has rewarded him with his own TV show back in Malaysia, will be taking a hands-on role in the kitchen for the foreseeable future.

The new restaurant, which will feature Ning’s signature bespoke wallpaper and create up to 10 new jobs, will be trialling its York menu during May before launching formally at a VIP/press event pencilled for Thursday 24 May. Ning will also feature at York Food Festival on 26-27 May, serving up great Malaysian street food at its pop-up stall.

It is hoped to launch an online booking system for advance reservations next week.

23 March 2012

How to spice up your cooking healthily – Celebrity Chef Norman Musa and TV’s James Wong in unique double act

Malaysian Chef Norman Musa to feature at flagship Edinburgh festival event

Curries unduly get a bad name when it comes to healthier eating. Yet in a UK first, TV’s James Wong and Ning Manchester’s Norman Musa will be proving the sceptics wrong on Friday 6 April at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

‘Malaysian Spice Kitchen’ will be a flagship ‘Science on a Plate’ event of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Chef Norman will be cooking up some tasty Malaysian inspired dishes using different members of the ‘ginger’ family, while TV’s ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’ guru James Wong will be explaining the health and science benefits.

Showcasing the excitement of multi-cultural Malaysia and its amazing, diverse cuisine, Norman and James guarantee a family-friendly, fun-filled day of entertaining cooking demonstrations and informative talks. Peppered with cultural dance performances, the all-day event will be held at the architecturally impressive Royal Botanic Garden in Scotland’s capital city.

Chef Norman comments on his sense of anticipation: “Having run cookery workshops last year, I can’t wait to return to Edinburgh with a bigger line-up and joining James for the first time on stage. So many of my cuisine’s ingredients have fabulous health properties that few people are aware of. Cooking with these is a great way of creating a more vibrant and balanced diet. I’m excited that I will be cooking with some more unusual herbs and spices too!”

Notably, two ingredients are being flown over from Malaysia specially for the event, courtesy of Malaysia Airlines; fresh herbs that are grown at the Garden but unfortunately will not be in season in time for the event. The Ginger flower and Polygonum leaf are used particularly in Malaysian heritage cuisine and are rarely available in the UK.

The event is sponsored by Tourism Malaysia. Over the last 5 years visitors to Malaysia from the UK has increased to around  million annually, and is continuing to grow year on year. This event will further inspire visitors to the beautiful South East Asian nation.

5 March 2012

Malaysian chef excites British school children with the wonders of Malaysian cooking

How our celebrity chef knows no bounds when it comes to promoting his native cuisine

Chef Norman Musa, of Ning restaurant Manchester, took the ‘Malaysia Kitchen’ campaign to the school children of suburban Lancashire last week in his ongoing quest to convert the British to Malaysian food.

For the first time, Chef Norman taught two classes of 7-11 year olds how to cook Malaysian food from scratch. Fresh and spicy Fish Curry (Kari Ikan) was first up on the menu, followed by colourful and pretty Malaysian pancakes (Roti Jala).

The children, who were each accompanied by a parent or other adult, were captivated by Chef Norman’s engaging, fun style and the aroma and shapes of spices that were unusual for them.

Teacher, Lynne Wilson, who herself first enjoyed Malaysian by watching Chef Norman at a food festival, invited him to her school, St Antony’s RC Primary School in Shadsworth, Blackburn was delighted. Commenting afterwards she said “The kids have thoroughly enjoyed themselves, learnt so much about Malaysian food and another culture, and for many this is the first time they have cooked something so fresh or complex”. The school is designated a ‘Healthy School’ to promote fresher and more nutritious eating among its pupils, many of whom are from poorer backgrounds.

Sponsored by MATRADE through its ‘Malaysia Kitchen’ campaign, the workshops represent a new front in the initiative to engage the British in Malaysian food. Chef Norman was upbeat: “It was hard work, but the kids really enjoyed it – and their parents too. I’m a great believer in starting young and I love to see people of all backgrounds getting excited about my food. I learnt so much about food from my late mum when I was young and that really put me in great stead for the future.”

Chef Norman, who has had an overwhelming response to the workshops among his 22,000 Facebook followers, added: “If the Education Ministry hears about this, I’d love to think that I could run workshops for school children back home in Malaysia to promote healthy eating too!”

The workshops were featured in the local newspaper and recipe cards were given to every pupil to take home, along with what they had cooked.