What is Ayam Buah Keluak? It is a Peranakan dish of chicken infused with the flavor of a type of tree nut called Buah Keluak. This is the name in Malay language. The Western equivalent is candlenut. We must follow recommended instructions to prepare the candlenuts, to reduce and remove their toxicity in the shells before consumption.
Ms Chia
has brought a dish and writing together to tell us how they are related. She strongly identifies as Peranankan, also known as Baba / Nonya. This dish is like her identity marker. The gravy consistency of the soup of ayam buah keluak has tided her over thick and thin.
This drawing shows the split lip of the buah keluak (candlenut). The flesh inside looks like a black, oily olive.
Ms Chia narrated her experiences in her professional and personal realms. While successful in her endeavours in marketing, creative writing, yoga teaching and cookery instructor, she suffered two broken marriages. She emphasised how her second husband tried to make amends for his drink addiction and abuse, by giving her expensive presents like holidays, flowers, designer clothes and sports cars. Many years after their divorce settlement, he still gifted her a BMW series 6 sports car.
Reference
Chia, Josephine. (2024). Ayam Buah Keluak And The Art Of Writing: a memoir on living creatively. Ethos Books: Singapore.
This book is part memoir and partly on the process of awakening creativity for writing and other arts. The author has written 14 other books and received considerable recognition.
