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Angela is an exciting find in the asian food scene with a very peculiar skill set. She has traveled the region as a television host, commercial model, and actress. Along the way, she received Diplome de Cuisine from the famed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu, authored a book about Bangkok titled ‘Sounds and the City: Bangkok’, produced and directed her first short film ‘Sweet Sally Smile’ and is currently writing a cookbook. She had the honor in 2009 to emcee the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon where she rubbed shoulders with several culinary icons. Nothing could have prepared her for the face to face encounters with culinary gurus such as Thomas Keller, Joel Robuchon or Daniel Boulud. Even her job as the host for HBO’s First Look; where she interviewed Hollywood big wigs like Kevin Spacey and Tom Cruise didn’t give her the same amount of joy. Harnessing her love of food Angela has also been seen jet setting around the globe shooting ‘Planet Food.’ She was recently seen on Discovery Travel and Living hosting ‘Planet Food’ and ‘A Perfect Meal’ on Channel News Asia. L&S: While on the job you've had the opportunity to meet some of the best chefs in the world such Pierre Herme, Joel Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and of course Paul Bocuse. Please allow us to live vicariously through you for a bit and tell us what that was like:
AM: I love meeting Chefs that I have studied over the years. For example to meet Thomas Keller was like a dream come true as I had always thought he was one of the exciting chefs in the US and his French laundry cookbook was always close at hand as if I could continue to learn from it by osmosis. Having the opportunity to work with Paul Bocuse at his culinary competition is such an honor; an honor that I learn from and I hope that everyone that gets the chance to view the competition will walk away with greater insight into the lives of great chefs. All of these chefs share a great characteristic and that’s the desire to share their knowledge with young chefs willing to learn. L&S: Your travels have taken you to some pretty exciting places. What has been a favourite for you so far?
AM: It’s almost impossible to choose a favorite. I have a nomadic vagabond soul that loves to roam the planet meeting new people seeing new sites. One place that I know I want to go back to sometime soon is Barcelona. The food is so exciting and inventive yet steeped in rich cultural history. L&S: A memorable incident while filming:
AM: After driving up some of the most breath taking winding roads to reach the Omalos Plateau in Crete, Greece a violent storm rolled in. The producers decided we could film in the hotel will all the local shepherds since we were all stuck together huddled around a fire. The shepherds live every moment of life to the fullest and as the evening progressed with an amazing meal and incredibly strong greek wine; the shepherds were happily singing and swaying arm in arm when one of them went to his truck to grab his shot gun which he then walked through our party to shoot several rounds out the window without warning! It was a surprising yet very acceptable way to have a real celebration in that area. L&S: Your love of food is clearly evident. However, there has to be something you wouldn't want to try again:
AM: I’ve eaten some crazy things including eyeballs and cobra blood but the one thing I won’t eat again is shark fin. L&S: Do you have any plans to visit Malaysia if you haven't already? We take our local food pretty seriously over here.
AM: Oh yes I’ve been to Malaysia several times. I love Assam Penang Laska and waking up first thing in the morning and eating Nasi Lemak with my favorite sambal ikan bilis – oh and roti chanai, I love roti chanai! The last time I as in KL I went for the most beautiful treetop walk through FRIM Salleh trail to get a little exercise before my daily eating adventure started.
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