Ended up putting together what can only be described as an identity crisis on the table; but Hey! It turned out pretty good if I may say so myself.

 

First up, a rebellious take on curry chicken. No potatoes. No coconut milk. Just juicy chargrilled chicken leg in a rich, homemade curry cream sauce. Slightly smoky, creamy, spicy just like if butter chicken and grilled satay had a love child. The kids actually enjoyed this very much, to my pleasant surprise.

 

Then I had some gorgeous calamari, so I gave them a good char on the grill and plonked them on a bed of burnt cherry tomatoes. Sweet, smoky, tangy. Not Thai, not Italian, just... delicious.

 

Next, teriyaki salmon cubes over caramelised onions. This was for my daughter who said, “Can we have something Japanese?” Sure, why not. A sprinkle of sesame seeds for good measure because presentation matters, even when you're making it up as you go.

 

And finally, bay scallop pasta with garlic, lemon and a whisper of chilli padi. Light, zesty, and a total contrast to everything else. But by this point, we had already thrown theme out the window, so it just made sense.

 

The result? Four different countries, one table, zero regrets. No rules, just lots of fun and full bellies. Sometimes the best meals are not planned. They are just made with love (and a bit of culinary chaos).