Paper banana leaf

[khiemtran]

As long-time readers might know, we always like eating at banana leaf restaurants when we're in Malaysia. Last time we were there though, we came across a new innovation: paper banana leaves!



As you can see, the paper leaves are shaped roughly like the real ones, a little squarer perhaps, and feature a ridge down the centre. The rules are still the same - order your roti canai or thosai when you sit down, ladle the curries on top of them when they arrive, and then pick and choose from the other dishes when they come around.



Eating with your fingers is still preferred (although I must say I use a fork and spoon now - it's not quite as sensual, but it's also easier to keep your hands clean). When you're done, fold the "leaf" over away from you.



Is this the future? It's easy to see how it might be more attractive for the operators. The paper leafs are not doubt cheaper and more hygenic. No-one needs to be paid to clean them or check for those that are the wrong size or which have tears. I imagine the waste disposal is easier too. And, to be honest, I couldn't really taste any difference from curry served on a real leaf. It's just... somehow, there's still something missing, compared with the real thing. I wonder if one day all the banana leaf restaurants will be using artificial leaves and we'll look back and wonder at the days when we used to eat off real ones.

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I would definitely feel something was missing, getting a paper leaf. :P

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the original idea of banana leaf curry just came about because they were cheaper than plates. And now the leaves themselves are too expensive.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*nods* and you make a good point about finding "perfect" leaves. In Mayotte, I liked to make a Farsi dish that calls for the fish to be cooked en papillote in banana leaves. I would spend a lot of time walking around looking for leaves that weren't damaged. And then I'd have to clean them (without tearing them), and yeah, not easy....

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

you must know so many delicious recipes….

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sure this is it--or maybe it was always traditional to use leaves? And plates were just an unnecessary expensive item?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd much, much rather have a real leaf, though! Although yeah, I can see how the imitation ones might be the wave of the future--I'm thinking about the fake greenery that you get with sushi. But there's nothing like a real leaf!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

In some of the (relatively) upmarket restaurants, they'll still put a square of banana leaf on the plate when they serve nasi lemak. I'm not sure I can taste the difference, but it certainly feels different.