“I always like a bite of food to feel like the Fourth of July in your mouth: small explosions of flavour where each bite is different.” Welcome to our summer Food & Drink-themed mini-series, where every Wednesday for four weeks, an expert teaches us something new. Lilah’s second guest is Ayesha Nurdjaja, executive chef and partner of Shuka and Shukette in New York. Ayesha is an expert at flavour. Her Italian and Indonesian heritage, childhood in Brooklyn and travels to the Middle East have fused into a signature style. She explains how balancing flavour is like making music, how to develop and push your palate, and how to taste.
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Links and mentions from the episode:
– Ayesha is on Instagram at @ayesharare
– Ayesha teaches us to cook shakshuka: https://www.today.com/video/learn-how-to-make-shakshuka-a-one-pot-meal-for-the-holidays-127622213623
– Ayesha shares her mother’s Italian meatball recipe: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=580377019271350
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This episode was produced by Molly Nugent. Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco.