Makan-Makan With The Stars : Chermaine Poo

KL Lifestyle - May 20, 2010

Who: Chermaine Poo
Where: Kechara Oasis Unit 19-LG1,
Level B1 Block D Jaya One,
No. 72A Jln University,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7968 1818
Open daily from 11:30am-3pm (lunch) & 6pm-10pm (dinner).

Wardrobe:

Nila Palacio

Make up:

M.A.C.

Hair:

Nichael & Guys

Almost everyone has heard of Chermaine Poo - the chartered accountant turned entertainment professional who travels the region hosting events and galas, modelling for high fashion magazines while also maintaining a promising acting career. But few would know that the former Miss Malaysia/Miss Universe runner-up is a dynamic and energetic young lady who also has a deep passion for food.

Despite a busy schedule travelling round the world for various shoots, interviews and functions, Chermaine still finds the time to enjoy cooking and eating out whenever she is back in Kuala Lumpur. The versatile lady also happens to be multi-talented in the kitchen. Whether its stir-fries, pastas or double-boiled soups, none of them are a bother for Chermaine, who counts baking as one of her most enjoyable pleasures in life. Inheriting her cooking skills from her mom, Chermaine’s cupcakes and buttercakes rank among her best culinary creations.

When it comes to eating out, Chermaine confesses to have a leaning towards Asian food. Still, when we asked her to take us to one of her favourite restaurants, it was a little surprising to find ourselves in the confines of Kechara Oasis, a vegetarian restaurant in Jaya One. Surely this was too restrictive for a woman of such developed food affiliations?

As horrible memories of rubbery mock meat and bland sprouts came flooding back to mind, we were surprised to find a beautifully presented Mandala of 5 Prosperity (RM58 for small) on the table. It was a platter containing a selection of starters which quickly put to rest any nightmare of unsophisticated vegetarian food. This was certainly haute vegetarian if such a term did exist.

Laid out on the plate were Buttered Mushroom, BBQ Satay Skewers, Sweet Peas with Lily Bulbs and Mushroom, Vietnamese Spring Roll and Five-Spice Spring Roll. One of Cher- maine’s favourites from the platter is the But- tered Mushroom. Imagine crispy, deep-fried, earthy mushroom covered in a sweet, buttery glaze and you wouldn’t be far off from one of Chermaine’s dream foods.

The wonderful Amdo Yak Beef with Tingmo (RM28) followed closely behind. The Amdo Yak is of course imitation meat made from oats and a type of chick pea, cooked in a dark, luscious sauce. This is a Tibetan dish with strong punchy aromas. Besides being difficult to tell its texture from that of real meat, it had an excellent flavour that was ideal with the tingmo, a type of fluffy Tibetan steamed bun, which the Amdo Yak is usually served with.

It was becoming a real education in Tibetan food when more specialities were wheeled out. Momo (RM15) - a Tibetan dumpling eaten with spicy chilli oil was very good. It looked like a gyoza but was stuffed with potato, Himalayan herbs and vegetarian cheese. The Kechara Salad (RM25) was not just light and refresh- ing, but good for you as well. Raw vegetables, nuts and four types of seaweed went into this crunchy salad, the most unusual of which was translucent seaweed available only from Japan. Healthy food never tasted this good.

On top of tasty and healthy food you would be consuming at Kechara Oasis, a portion of their proceeds are also donated for good caus- es and they are also involved with schemes to help feed the homeless. It is the ideal way to enjoy good food and for a good cause at the same time